Personally I like to view them as partners in martial arts, and in my growth and learning. They are helping me to get better. There are so few woman training, and it just doesn't make sense to me to not be supportive of every single one of them. I think it's important to overcome your ego enough to be able to think of your competitors as your brothers and sisters, and not just someone who you want to defeat.I've seen some of my Karate Sensei face off against each other year after year at the State Games, and their friendship is not affected by it. They all really want to beat each other when they are competing, but before and after they treat one another the same as always, as Sempai. They are all on the same side. Whether your competition trains with you or not, that is still true...we are all in this together.
They say martial arts begins and ends with respect, and we must have appreciation for the people who are trying to improve themselves through competing, just as we are. Yes, we all want to win, but we should never make that a personal thing. One of my best friends is someone who I have had to compete against in Karate many times. She has won some and I have won some, but neither one of us is counting.
"I never compete against the competition. The only one I compete against is myself, because one day I will beat the competition and then who will I compete against?" ~ Billie Akauola