That's a primitive approach, both ethically and pragmatically, IMO.
If an animal fights, it is either for its own gain (food, access to mating pool) or its own survival. Neither of those goals is to hurt the other creature(s), except as one possible means to a specific end. Thus it will often do things that do NOT involve harm to another creature(s), such as standing off, flight, causing confusion by various means, shock, and repulsion to discourage or distance itself from danger. If they catch prey, it is not to make them suffer, but to achieve and maintain possession so they may ingest it. In either case, it is about control.
If one thinks of harm as a goal rather than ONE option of means toward a necessary end, they are worse than an animal. And if they can't control, repel, or evade an opponent without harming them, they have a very limited martial skills set.
I have always taught that it takes little skill to hurt or even kill someone. It takes much more to not need to harm them.