Dark Castle - Sin 
BDSM Canada & Training

by Aramock Nanuck

     November 1977

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The ultimate objectives of training a supplicant are compliance, obedience, and adherence to the practices or approaches desired by the trainer or the dominant individual. Experienced supplicants bring with them habits that are not in keeping with the new dominant's desires; this makes their training even more difficult, as they first have to break old habits. Training a submissive in aspects of BDSM can be a complex and time-consuming process in which the Dominant takes on the burden of:

• Evaluating the Candidate

• Structuring a Training Plan

• Implementing the Training

• Assessing Performance, and

• Reinforcement Training in Areas found lacking.

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There are no wrong ways to train so long as the intent is to educate the supplicant in the skills, practices and activities that they need to perfect. A myriad of approaches exist to train individuals depending on:

• Previous Experience

• Existing Bad Habits

• Focus Area, and

• Available Time and Setting

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The most critical part of the training is establishing a clear plan, corresponding activities and a method to validate the skills acquired.  The latter usually requires in-person training, as compliance tends to slip when remote or long-distance training occurs. 

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​Behaviour Modification

"If you control the mind, the body will follow." BDSM at its heart is a truly mental discipline practiced by a Dominant over a submissive. Mental domination represents a profound and intense dynamic typically used by BDSM Dominants in all their relationships, lifestyle, work and vanilla. The heart of a properly trained supplicant will never consider any action not in line with the Dominant's desires, nor would they consider rebelling against instructions given, unless it was an attempt to (as with most masochists) receive the physical punishment they believe they deserve and crave.

 

Ultimately, the process of training is effectively modifying the behaviour of the submissive to comply with the desires and approach deemed most rewarding by the Dominant. This transcends the conventional boundaries of submissive and dominant interplay that is closely associated with fetishes and BDSM in general. As such, behaviour modification occurs when a submissive willingly relinquishes control over their actions and behaviours to their dominant partner, manifesting complete obedience and transformation.

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Environment is Critical

Mental

The dominant must provide a conducive environment that heightens mental focus to support learning and obedience. Underscoring the reinforcement of shaped behaviour, this mandates the removal of leisure activities, personal freedoms, and privileges. These may be restored slowly as a reward based on the level of compliance and progress by the submissive. This approach leverages the principles of  Pavlovian conditioning to instill desired responses and habits.

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Physical

The location and type of facilities used must be aligned with the training being conducted. The best is if the training occurs in an isolated area or a building with very restrictive access to the outside. It should be soundproof so as not to raise the attention of passers-by or casual visitors to the property. Controls for lighting, temperature and utilities should be exterior to the training location, preventing the trainee from adjusting their environment. Lastly, it should have video and audio recording capabilities, allowing sessions to be played back to the supplicant when correcting performance shortcomings by demonstrating where they failed.

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Factors to Succeed

The level of success is closely tied to meticulous preparation and mutual agreement. Yes, the supplicant must want to submit and become the obedient "slave" most desirable by the Dominant. It requires the unwavering commitment of both parties.

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Willing Participant

The author(s) do not condone enforced training of the unwilling or forced participation. Willing participation aligns with the concepts of Sane, Safe, and Consensual, with consensual being the most pronounced.  Having said this, the main detractor, besides legal implications, to forced participation is the difficulty in achieving the level of obedience desired. As no two people are the same, it may be difficult enough to train willing participants, while non-willing participants become a monumental challenge.  Regardless, harkening back to "Evaluating the Candidate", studying the individual's traits, character, attributes, hopes, dreams, and background will reveal the most effective strategies and approaches to training.

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Affection versus Fear

A decision must be made at the beginning about using high levels of Affection or an All-in-fear strategy. The supplicant will bond more quickly and emotionally with Affection, as it reinforces trust and an appreciation for the care demonstrated. All-in-fear will cause more rebellion in the subject until they are worn down and broken; however, when this occurs, they effectively lose all will for freedom and become permanently dependent on the trainer. 

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Corruption of Values

The values that the supplicant brings with them are a link to their past or vanilla existence. It is a tangible association with their former life. Corrupting these values unbalances and divorces the subject from this bond, freeing them to accept new values in line with their dominant. If more of these values break and are reshaped, the slave will rely on the dominant's perception of values, and instructions to build ned value systems.  Roleplay sessions, which become more intense and extreme, cease to be viewed negatively and become accepted as simply an extension of the lifestyle. Corruption also directly affects a slave's estimated value at auctions.

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The Supplicant Themselves

The qualities of the supplicant towards submission define the level of effort needed to train. Those with inherent submissive traits find it easier as the person is already inclined towards obeying others. Brats, on the other hand, are invariably hard to train as their rebellious nature makes every step and process a struggle, with frequent resurgence of rebellion and "brattiness."

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Willpower

At the start of every training session, it is a battle of wills between the Dominant and the Supplicant. Using Affection and Corruption to offset this may ease the battle of wills, but until dominance is achieved, the struggle between wills, no matter how slight, will exist. This battle of wills is the single most significant challenge to instilling obedience. Similar to Fascism and Stalinist Communism, this is more pronounced in individuals coming from both ultra-orthodox and ultra-liberal upbringings. Although the reasons differ, the effect remains the same. Most slavers want to lower it through degrading acts, harsh job assignments and by increasing Household Demoralization.

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Goal

Establishing the ultimate goal of the training is based on the relationship required. Are you intending on training:

• An obedient fuck-toy?

• A docile labourer?

• A skilled associate?

• A warrior/beast? Or

• A non-traditional "Vanilla" spouse?

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The Training Path

Effective behaviour modification is a journey that demands meticulous preparation and, preferably, mutual consent. Applying all the previous conditions and factors will define the twist, turn, and complexity of the journey taken. A delicate balance between the fulfillment of the dominant's desires and the well-being of the submissive should dictate the guardrails of the training.

 

An all-consuming dominance-submission relationship should not replace real-world obligations and needs, such as employment or education. These realities require foresight and compassion, ensuring the submissive's total surrender is rewarded with respect and appreciation. The Dominant must acknowledge the supplicant's submission as a gift to be treasured in order to maintain integrity and a healthy relationship.

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A 24/7 lifestyle relationship embodies a profound exchange of power and trust. Behaviour modification, as defined above, makes this more natural and fluid. The result is a high degree of commitment, effective communication, and ethical consideration among all participants. It is a journey that, while challenging, offers an unparalleled opportunity for connection and transformation. Relationships of such intensity are built on mutual respect, understanding, and agreement on limits, thus ensuring the journey is as rewarding as it is demanding.

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 demanding.