"Let's repeat it."
The participants resumed the drill.
Derek watched for another minute, then moved toward Brooke's station.
Brooke was teaching positional control.
She had arranged the athletes in pairs and was explaining how to maintain a stable position without relying entirely on strength.
"Your goal isn't to squeeze as hard as you can," she said. "Your goal is to understand where your weight belongs and what your partner can still do from underneath you."
A young athlete asked:
"What if the person underneath is stronger?"
"Then you need better positioning."
Derek laughed.
"Or stronger pressure."
Brooke looked at him.
"Pressure helps when it's applied correctly."
He shrugged.
"Strength helps too."
"Of course," she replied. "But strength doesn't replace understanding."
Derek glanced at the athletes.
"That's a comfortable way to teach."
Brooke's expression remained pleasant.
"It's an effective way to teach."
A few participants smiled.
Derek moved on.
At Tessa's station, he found a different approach.
She was explaining how to transition between ranges without forcing a predetermined sequence.
"An athlete has to recognize what the situation is giving them," she said. "If the entry isn't available, you don't keep forcing it just because you planned to use it."
Derek crossed his arms.
"That's why people hesitate."
Tessa looked up.
"Sometimes hesitation is a mistake."
"Usually."
"Sometimes it is recognition."
Derek smiled.
"You're all very fond of explaining why not to do things."
Tessa closed her notebook.
"And you're very fond of explaining why people should do things whether the situation supports them or not."
The room became quiet for a second.
Derek laughed.
"Fair enough."
But his expression suggested that he did not consider the exchange finished.
Nia spent the morning moving between the stations.
She helped participants identify habits they had developed without realizing it.
She showed one athlete how to stop crossing his feet when retreating.
She helped another recognize when she was holding her breath during defensive movement.
She reminded a third participant to relax his shoulders before attempting a transition.
None of the corrections were dramatic.
She did not demonstrate flashy techniques or announce her competitive history.
She watched, asked questions, and gave each athlete enough time to understand what had gone wrong.
At one point, a young man named Lucas approached her.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"How do you know when you're being patient and when you're just being passive?"
Nia considered the question.
"What are you trying to accomplish?"
"Get into a better position."
"Then patience means you're waiting for the right opportunity to improve your position. Passivity means you're waiting without a plan."
Lucas nodded.
"So I should always be doing something?"
"Not necessarily."
He looked confused.
Nia smiled.
"Sometimes the best decision is to hold your position and let the situation become clearer. But you should know why you're doing it."
She demonstrated a small adjustment.
"Your partner moves here. You have two options. You can force the next step, or you can recognize that the movement has created space."
Lucas tried the adjustment.
Nia watched.
"Good. Now do it again without rushing."
He repeated it.
"Better?"
"Much better."
Lucas smiled.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
A few feet away, Derek had been watching.
He looked at Lucas.
"That's all you need? A little adjustment?"
Lucas glanced toward him.
Derek continued.
"At a real competition, you don't get unlimited time to think."
Nia turned.
"That's true."
Derek looked at her.
"So?"
"So you need to practice recognizing the right decision before the pressure becomes high."
Derek smiled.
"Sounds good in theory."
Nia nodded.
"That's why we practice."
She turned back to Lucas.
"One more time."
Derek watched them for several seconds before walking away.
At lunchtime, the participants gathered in the common area.
Some sat at the tables. Others ate outside. A few continued discussing techniques beside the equipment shelves.
Nia sat with Madison, Brooke, and Tessa.
Madison was reviewing her notes.
"That went better than I expected."
Brooke nodded.
"Most people listened."
Tessa smiled.
"Most people."
Madison looked toward the water station.
Derek was standing with two coaches.
"He hasn't stopped talking."
Brooke glanced over.
"He's been correcting everyone's teaching."
"Not everyone," Tessa said. "He hasn't corrected Daniel."
Madison laughed.
"Maybe he knows better."
Nia opened her lunch container.
"He has experience."
Madison looked at her.
"You're being generous."
"Experience is real, even when someone uses it badly."
Brooke considered that.
"Do you think he's trying to provoke you?"
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know."
"He keeps looking at you."
"I've noticed."
Madison leaned forward.
"Then why not tell him to stop?"
Nia looked at her.
"Because watching me isn't against the rules."
Tessa laughed softly.
Madison shook her head.
"You're impossible."
Nia smiled.
"Maybe."
Brooke lowered her voice.
"Do you think he's going to ask you for a round?"
Nia took a moment.
"Probably."
Madison looked at her.
"Will you do it?"
"If Daniel believes it's appropriate."
"That's not what I asked."
Nia smiled faintly.
"I know."
Madison leaned back.
"You're not afraid of him."
Nia shook her head.
"No."
"Then why avoid it?"
Nia looked at her.
"I'm not avoiding him. I'm avoiding turning the seminar into something it isn't."
Brooke nodded slowly.
"That makes sense."
Madison looked toward Derek again.
"He won't see it that way."
Nia closed her lunch container.
"That's his choice."
A Name From the Past
After lunch, the association coordinator gathered the instructors.
Her name was Rebecca Shaw. She had been working with regional amateur programs for more than a decade and had helped organize several development events.
She reviewed the afternoon schedule.
"We've had a few requests from participants who want to see how experienced athletes respond to unfamiliar styles."
Daniel nodded.
"We planned for that."
Rebecca looked at Nia.