Should a Master be a slave?

[Eraser]

"MAYOR: What a splendid idea, This Christmas sounds fun, I fully endorse it
Let's try it at once" Tim Burtons Nightmare before Christmas.

One of my favorite movies and also a key point I think in this discussion.
This is a point of a personal pet peeve when someone picks up a tool or cap's there nick and calls themselves Master. Master of what? to be a Master you must be an apprentice first.

First off does a Dom NEED to sub to be a better top? No I have worked with some rather talent Dom's in the past that never subbed but had been in the lifestyle decades and knew alot. I've also worked with Dom's that had bottomed and generally speaking those that had were more knowledgeable.

The Old Guard method is to be bottom, personal I feel a Dom at LEAST should be Mentored. Now for those thinking "But I am a born Dominant, I'm not a sub!" I want to clarify something. First Just like with the degree of the lifestyle (see my Vegan thread) Top, Dom, Master or bottom, sub, slave denote a degree of depth to the lifestyle. So I defiantly wouldn't say go out and be a slave. Being a sub/slave and bottoming to me are 2 VERY different things (well 3 technically). Being a bottoming is taking on the role for a period of time, not "Being a sub". Most Dom's are not subs or slaves (accept for the switches out their) they do not feel the gratification from the role of a sub and most likely not have a masochistic streak etc. But that is not really needed heavily at all to be a bottom for a period of time. I would however DEFIANTLY say, go bottom to someone for a few sessions at minimum. I wouldn't recommend doing it with your sub/slave present.

Perfect example, the legs have no (the type is slipping my brain) particular type of artiers that actually constrict to push or pull blood, the action of blood moving from the knee down is done by the contraction and release of the calf muscles. Yes I do know there are 4 artery's from the knee down but there type isn't the right kind to move the blood. So when a person kneels for extended periods of time your legs fall asleep, but have you ever noticed they never fall asleep above the knee? (same thing with your arm above the elbow) So when kneeling for an extended period of time, its very help to flex and unflexx the calf muscles to push fresh blood down into the feet. You average Dom doesn't know this because they have never spent any significant time on there knee's.

Also many tools have a vary of sensation by the technique used, when your going for an effect of a tool, you can only learn so much just giving the blow, you can learn more by doing it. Same with rope bondage I learned that both being tied and by tieing. There is just SO much you can learn on the "other side" about how both to do what you do better as a Dom as well as better understand the experience of your sub. Doing this does NOT in my not so humble opinion (as someone pointed out to me) make you a sub/switch etc
You don't have a sub mentality or the heart, your doing this for the experience and knowledge that you can't get any other way.

If you do choose to bottom, I would also suggest bottoming to some that is a TOP for both genders or for the gender you will also be Doming. That was a mouth full. What I am saying is don't go to a Mistress that only tops men to understand better about to learn about being a bottom or how to top women. Its not going to be as beneficial as it could be.

So, Yes go bottom to someone or at least work with an experienced Mentor it will make you a better Dom, you can't learn everything just by reading and doing, the "cold" training, will do you good in technique, understanding, and safety.

edit:
side note here, read the book The Trainer (The Marketplace Series, 3) The series is my personal favorite piece of BDSM fiction, and the technique's used through the book's specifically this one are delightful and very educational