Mastery in a white belt

         I really enjoy helping out at the level 1 class and watching the white and yellow belts perform.  It's so interesting to see the way each of them interpret what they think they should be doing and how their body's move.  It becomes apparent what it is they're probably thinking about, or not thinking about, or thinking too much about something.   Watching them and having the opportunity to teach and help them out has really progressed my own training.  I really have to think bout how I do things and why, while also realizing that just because I do something a certain way and it works for me, does not mean it will work for everyone else.  I understand there are fundamental laws at place, but we all get there a little differently because our bodies are all different.  Also, I don't try to reinvent the wheel when teaching, I use lessons that I found really useful when I was a white/yellow belt and apply those with the knowledge I have now.  Mostly I just watch and use my eye for detail to see what a student is doing and go from there, with lots of positive reinforcement.  

        Brings me to my next point.  When another student asks me about how I do something or what my thoughts are, lately my answer is "I do what I have to, to get x,y,z....".  I know what I need to do to get the result I want, doesn't mean that will be the right thing for someone else.  I've also been focusing on changing my intent rather than trying to force a new muscle pattern.  My thoughts will determine how my body will move.  So if I need more hip engagement in a technique, then I'm going to think about engaging that hip and seeing how my body responds, instead of keeping the same intent from before and forcing the hip to engage.  Doesn't work as well that way.  For me.  For instance there has been some sticky points in a couple of my forms involving spinning out of an open x.  The one in particular is at the end of the butterfly sword form.  At first I was too narrow after the spin and losing balance.  I've since corrected that, but am working on consolidating the contraction and expansion more in that technique.