This image depicts a duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro. Do you know this story?
Musashi was an unconventional Samurai. He preferred to use two swords (Katana and Wakizashi) at the same time and often used wooden swords (bokken) in combat, that were primarily just for training. I assume this caused the Samurai he defeated in a duel to suffered a double insult; getting defeated by a stick.
In this duel, Musashi intentionally arrived hours late to insult and infuriated Kojiro. Anger destabilizes. To make matters worse, Musashi took a boat oar (Eku) and carved it down into a bokken. Knowing the length of his opponent's sword, Musashi fashioned his bokken slightly longer.
In general, being in control of the situation and leading your opponent along is to be in the superior position. Deception gives the opponent a false sense of security, if he believes he is safe when in reality he is being manipulated.
Let the thief in the door...
