What is exactly Bondage / Knotting?
Knotting called in many, by many people but the truth there are two main names: “Kinbaku” or “Shibari”.
These words have different meanings in Japanese, but where did they come from?
To understand batter we need to dig a bit in history.
The modern-bondage world (regardless of BDSM) came out of the Japanese culture, mainly. The Japanese people never invented the term tie bondage, after all, every person can bondage something and tighten it up.
In ancient Japan (1000 AD) evolved different cultures and lots of “clans” (families/groups) fought each other and developed different fighting skills in order to conquer and defend existing land.
The killing was massive but there were people who were captured in many different ways.
In the 15th century, the Ninjutsu came to the world and with it the Ninjas.
During the Ninjas methods evolved and ties became more showy, stylish, and detailed. Every prisoner must be displayed differently, every suspension must be different (for better or worse) and every tie should be complicated and strengthen that the enemy may not be escaped.
At the same time in ancient Japan began the Geisha tradition (7th century CE) and around 1000 to 1500 AD the geisha invitations merged with tie bondage for personal reasons by different people.
At the 16th century, the pace was increased and that is only because Japan began the transformation into one country by reunion the clans, and all the tie bondage and knotting began to accelerate (especially in punishments, torture, culture, etc).
Over time the “kinbaku” (means: tight binding) culture developed שnd when it began to be published in the western parts (the 90’s) it actually gained the name “Shibari” (means: to tie decoratively). In fact, kinbaku and shibari came from the same place (their origins are the same) but people tend to distinguish in every aspect, therefore, along the way the western bondage knotting developed and there is still also the traditional way.
There are main 3 methods today:
1. Traditional knotting bondage – the ancient traditional method that came from Japan.
2. Suspension – ties and hangings in the air.
3. Freestyle – every person tying up how they see fit and regardless of anything specific.
How to begin ?
Safety:
Rope game can be fun but also dangerous. Before you begin you need think of tight binding and understand the risks (no matter the side) that involved.
The human body has a very complex neural system and a lymph node. The main weaknesses can be found in the joints of the body. Every strong/wrong rope tie can cause irreversible damage in one of these systems.
In addition, inexperienced people (the submissive) has a habit to panic and therefore to find themselves in unpleasant situations such as:
– Suffocation – when you get stressed blood pressure raising up and the lungs work faster and if the chest is tied it might cause “excessive breathing” that causes fainting, sometimes.
– Numb – when you get tied for a long period (like suspension) you might lose sensation in particular eras and this can cause blood floods, vulnerability to short/long-term sensations and in the worst case necrosis.
– Chronic Heart Failure – sometimes blood pressure rises to very high level and people who take blood thinners (there are younger people too) and/or suffering from heart problems may find themselves in fainting situation, therefore, it’s best to consult a doctor.
I’m not a doctor and I advise every person to check its own health thoroughly before he/she starts with rope ties.
For people who want to tie, safety education is one of the most important things and no matter how much I will discuss the subject there is always something else to learn scientifically/medically and I highly recommend you to never stop reading about it – in order for the other side to be safer. One of the most recommend things for learning is Shiatsu; you can learn a few quick methods for a better blood flow to numb places in order to to be harmed, only by basic Japanese massage. Anyway, never tie a person without the presence of scissors – no matter your experience level.
For people who want to be tied, never agree to the process if you do not trust the person at one hundred percent and know his/her physical sensitivity. Agreed on a code word or a step that can always be stopped by your request/word – sometimes the one who gets tied wants to stop. Make sure that the person near you understands it in advance.
As I said before, safety can be talked none stop but I will summarize it this way:
1. Familiarity with the nervous system.
2. Familiarity with the lymphatic systemץ
3. Learn how to make ties.
4. Trust a partner.
5. Scissors (preferably medics).
Knotting/Tying:
There are a lot of places you can learn from, on the internet age everything is open and offered in free (or for download).
There are a lot of websites, books, PDF files and even places that host meetings for physical leaning.
I will start with this: for those of you who plan to download something free and/or use clips people produced if eventually, the material helped you support the creator (financially) because time was spent and free work cannot be done.
In order to learn you need to start with the next steps:
1. Knotting types – there are around 10 simple knots and about 50 knots in general.
2. Single column tie.
3. Double column tie.
4. Hands tie.
5. Legs tie.
6.Chest tie.
7. Limbs tie.
8. Ties that include joints.
9. Ties in positions.
10. Suspension.
Until section 9 you can self-learn (even without a partner), you can buy a mannequin and practice, but you will eventually need a partner to make the “transition” from stage 9 to 10.
Stage 10 cannot be done alone and not recommended. It is advisable to come and meet with a local community in order to practice bonding by hanging in the air. Do not just hang hook at home and try because you might kill the tied person (by falling somehow) and it might happen.
Recommendations:
These sites have crazy amounts of materials that are unbelievable – the first recommendation is: Google/Youtube/Vimeo
Google:
Not hard to find stuff, just include the word Shibari or Kinbaku in your search.
Youtube:
Shin Kou Sabre
EpicRope
Patrick Shibari
Shibari Kuma
Nawame Shibar
Vimeo:
Shibari
Kinbaku
Rope Bondage Tutorials
stefano_birdofprey
The other recommendations are:
Websites:
Crash Restraint
The Duchy
RVA Rope
SUSPENDED ANIMATION
Books:
Essence of Shibari: Kinbaku and Japanese Rope Bondage
Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé
Complete Shibari Volume 1: Land
Complete Shibari Volume 2: Sky