Training

[Dr_BuzzCzar]

I go way back before internet. Hell, I go back before TV, I'm 62, lol.
Anyway to the point.
Realizing Dominant tendencies: I always was the leader in games, etc. Loved playing games that involved tying up or otherwise controlling another person.

Learn the "technicalities" ( I love that description) I was lucky enough to connect with a man that taught me a great, great deal. I owe him a tremendous debt. This was 1969, so we were not public at all.

Apprenticeship? Nothing formal. Took initial teachings from my friend David and started experimenting, reading, etc. Discovered the internet around 1993. Wow..whole new world of information opened up.

Real life experiences helped? Military especially. I did interrogations for Uncle Sam back in the mid to late 60's so that was very useful. I learned knots in Boy Scouts, later Army, and even later on my own.

Psychological aspects? I've given it little thought actually. I used early military training plus some reading to refine techniques but I'm more of a physical person and the psychological part is an aspect that enhances the physical. The psychological part is never an end to itself.

Lol, now on to reading the rape stories as that's why I came here in the first place.

Note: Edited for spelling.

[Emerson]

I was more self-taught than anything. I've picked up a lot of information from reading stories and tutorials online, but for the most part I've learned by doing, and then talking things over with my sub. I'm probably fairly specialized in that regard, since I've adapted most of my internal whims to fit her interests and boundaries.

As far as life experiences, I think nothing helped nurture my dominant mentality quite like conducting an orchestra in college. The orchestra contained professors as well as students, and at first I was a little overwhelmed by its size and the combined experience of the musicians therein. But in the long run, I realized that if I acted with authority and confidence, they would respond to me by both putting on a good, artistic show, and also by showing up on time for rehearsals, paying attention when I gave instructions, and so on. It certainly is a different venue than bdsm, but the frame of mind is not as foreign as it may seem.