the art of ropes, or Japanese bondage

Shibari is a fascinating practice. Ropes, impressive positions, suspensions, all with a real connection to BDSM … But beyond the aesthetic aspect, the shibari – also called kinbaku – is a discipline which requires precision, but which is associated also to meditation on certain aspects.

Shibari, also called kinbaku, is a form of bondage where ties are made with ropes and according to very specific codes. Inherited from Japanese martial arts, shibari is essential when it comes to BDSM (for “bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadomasochism”). This requires real knowledge of handling ropes and making knots. Are you going to be seduced by this Japanese art with erotic connotations?

What is shibari?

This art of bondage originated in Japan in the medieval period, when it mainly served warlike interests. Indeed, at the time the Japanese soldiers used ropes to immobilize or punish the captives. Only certain samurai were able to string them up, and this in a very codified way. They were called the “nawashi”. A prisoner could at the time be tied up or suspended in public, especially in the context of a judicial conviction. Depending on how the criminal or prisoner was tied or suspended and depending on the pattern of rope used, the public could determine their social class and the crime they had committed. The sex, age and occupation of the victim were also decisive for the bonding techniques used.

Today, however, the practice has greatly evolved. It is indeed much less question of social rank, we adjust the strings and the models to the desires of the partners.

Bondage, kinbaku, shibari: what’s the difference?

But then, do we say kinbaku or shibari? In reality, we should speak of kinbaku. This word refers to the martial technique of attaching and restricting bodies, but common usage in the West prefers the term shibari, which refers to the art of tying parcels, which is therefore less meaningful. Especially today, Japanese bondage is no longer used as a practice of torture but only for pleasure and aesthetics, since it was forbidden to tie up and suspend someone for punitive views in Japan in the 18th century. .

How do you practice shibari?

Sexual and sadomasochistic shibari practice remains confidential for a long time. It was only in the 20th century that shibari became a clearly erotic practice, appearing in many adult magazines in Japan. The shibari gradually became calmer, moving away from the brutality of hojojutsu to focus solely on the complexity and aesthetics of kinbaku.

Slowness is one of the essential characteristics of shibari bondage: you have to respect both the imposed motives and be careful not to injure the person in the ropes. A nerve can quickly be pinched or a flow of blood cut, which is why this practice requires many basic safety rules and often even lessons to get hold of the rope. Many tutorials are available on the web, but you can also train with master shibari and kinbaku in specialized courses given all over France: Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux… Find out more about training courses near you.

Regarding the few safety rules to apply to practice shibari and bondage in all serenity, they are simple: do not squeeze arteries or veins, do not pass a rope in a fold (armpit, elbow or knees), have safety scissors in case a rope or a knot gets stuck and finally practice in a healthy area (clean floor, warm and dry place). To this is obviously added a prior discussion to establish the desires and limits of the partners. Consent is essential for all practices of a sexual nature, and takes on a whole new aspect when a person is tied in this way.

A rope, and that’s (almost) all

You don’t need much for a shibari session. You will need a rope, sold in love shops or online. The ropes for bondage and kinbaku are made of jute or hemp, and are between 4 and 6 millimeters in diameter. They are generally sold over a length of 8 meters. This string is more or less the same as the one used for practical work, with the only difference that it is treated with a wax to make it supple and soft to the touch. Be careful, the strings present in DIY stores are not suitable for erotic use like the kinbaku. The same goes for the satin cords sold in many erotic shops, and which are not suitable for the practice of shibari either.

No need to invest in dozens of ropes to attach either: for a practice on the ground, 3 or 4 ropes are more than enough. However, when the practice of shibari is combined with suspension, the need for ropes increases. To practice this even more impressive version in a safe setting for you as well as for your partner, you will however need a little more material, starting with an attachment point to the ceiling (beam, bamboo, ring, etc.), which are located easily in BDSM store or specialized in bondage.

The BDSM dimension of shibari

The practice of shibari or kinbaku may or may not be accompanied by consensual physical abuse. As in classic bondage, it can be impact (slapping or spanking), restriction of the senses (gag, blindfold…) and various gentle tortures. Traditionally, we associate the art of shibari with a visual restriction provided by the tenugui – a kind of cotton scarf decorated with a pattern – and with wax play. Wax play is a BDSM practice consisting of pouring drops of hot wax on the person tied up in the ropes, to cause him or her to experience an erotic burning sensation.

Why do we practice shibari?

Shibari bondage is an erotic practice, but above all a psycho-bodily practice that requires commitment from both sides of the rope and is based on mutual trust. The practice of shibari therefore participates in letting go and promotes confidence in the other, since the model, that is to say the attached person, must let himself go to the “rigger” (the attaché, the one who encorde, editor’s note). Indeed, a model that is too tight will be difficult to rope, and risk being hurt. It is therefore essential to be able to communicate about your fears and desires, in order to listen to your body and that of your partner.

Tying up and meditating, the double aspect of shibari

Beyond the sexual aspect, it is possible to practice shibari as a method of meditation. We completely abandon erotic bondage and the BDSM universe to immerse ourselves in relaxation. Kinbaku requires being relaxed and attentive, learning to open your mind to sensations, and many people report feeling reassured, “like a cocoon” when practicing shibari. In addition, the ropes, well knotted, rest on the pressure points of the body and are similar to the practice of shiatsu in traditional medicine. It is therefore a complete discipline with many facets, which will not cease to amaze you.