An interesting take on the student/teacher relationship. So many facets to this dynamic possible. When I last studied a lifetime ago, the style was Bujinkan. My instructor one of the deadliest men in the world, he developed much of the hand to hand combat that was used by US special forces. He grew up in Japan (his father was military) and from childhood he was trained in the arts, not from the sports aspect that is prevalent in the US.

As deadly as he was, he was open about his respect that bordered on fear with Hatsumi sensei. It put perspective on this for me, to realize this man who had already mastered a different art before submitting to Hatsumi sensei, mastered his art was still in awe/fear of him.

I attribute some of this to the father dynamic. Many of us (males anyway, can't speak for females) grow up in awe of our fathers, thinking them invincible as children. I did, and I saw it in my son in relation to myself.

I often have wondered, especially given the Don Juan assertions, if the deeper teachers are outside of the obvious circle being observed (not discounting the obvious value of the observable teacher).

As to your brilliant analyses on the teacher/nemesis dynamic, to study certain things requires one move through what Castaneda reported were the 4 enemies of man. The first being fear. I often thought to myself one of the first breakthroughs the martial student will have is realizing they CAN function through pain. Most people freeze up at the thought of pain, which is how the bully/tyrant dynamic is so prevalent. It requires one to learn to compartmentalize, something most are never taught to seek out and will (for most) only happen accidentally, as they are never taught to seek it out and flex it like a muscle.

I appreciate this post, your finest in my estimation.