When free sparring it is courteous to let the higher rank throw the first technique.
Does this also apply in competition sparring?

I asked this a couple of weeks ago and there is no rank privilege with competition/tournament sparring.

Dan is correct

.....but it doesn't hurt to be polite though!
I usually ask "are we being friendly?"........if the response is negative, well -fair game!!
X

You have never asked me that before punching me