Unfair tactics

Do you have to use unfair tactics to win?

I don't have the answer but I do have a perspective to share with you this morning.
Let's go back to 1612... More precisely on April 13.

Sasaki Kojiro, was one of the most famous swordsmen of that time in Japan.
He fought with a Nodachi, a long sword that is handled with both hands.
Kojiro's technique makes him a natural predator for those who use short swords.

And this April 13, he has a new opponent, Miyamoto Musashi armed with a dagger and a wooden sword.

He arrived on time for his duel.
Kojiro was waiting patiently for his opponent.
But nobody showed up.
He waited for minutes...
but no one came.

While Kojiro was in place.
Musashi was just waking up.

The sun was already high in the sky but Musashi was not yet up.
A shopkeeper called out to him, "It must be eight o'clock already! "

He was urged to leave but Musashi replied that he had to have breakfast and wash up.

It was after ten o'clock when Musashi arrived.

When Kojiro saw Musashi, he was furious,
"I arrived before my time. Why are you so late? Are you afraid?"
Musashi remained silent.
He just provoked his opponent once again.

The fight began and Musashi struck down his opponent while armed with a wooden sword.

This fight is one of Musashi's most famous and was it part of his tactic to arrive late to put his opponent on edge?
He did it several times but his strategy was not only to be late to have a psychological advantage.

Musashi also knew that Kojiro used an extra long sword and used the long distance.
In order to negate this length advantage, Musashi Sensei carved a longer wooden bokken from a broken paddle during his trip to the island.

And it is with this Bokken that he smashes his opponent's forehead.

Some may say that it is disrespectful to arrive late.
Some will say that when our life is at stake, all blows are allowed.