Disclaimer: Please
remember that intricate rope can be dangerous! Hands and feet
should be checked for circulation regularly, no ropes should
go around the front of the throat, and no-one tied up should
be left alone.
Shibari, or the art of intricate rope bondage for pleasure,
goes back only a few decades in Japan, where it was invented.
On the other hand hojojutsu, which is a school of rope use for
torture, goes back many centuries. The use of ropes, wet or
dry for suspension and maintaining of painful positions is first
recognized in the Edo period (1603-1867). While hojojustu was
used to force prisoners to confess, shibari is used exclusively
for pleasurable purposes, no matter whose pleasure it is. ~grin~
There are four basic principles to consider in shibari
bondage: rendering of the subject powerless, the aesthetic presented
by the bound body, erotic massage from ropes on pressure points,
and time, or the perception of it passing (or in some cases,
not passing). While these are all important in shibari, I'll
focus on the simple mechanics of shibari and introduce two common
ties for you to practice.
The first of these ties is karada, or the rope body harness.
This harness forms the basis for many shibari positions, and
should be practiced repeatedly before moving onto more advanced
forms. The karada harness comes in many styles and variations,
but I'll talk the simplest here.
To tie a basic karada,
take a 30 foot length of rope (cotton or hemp will work best,
but synthetics can also be used. Make sure if you're using a
synthetic that it doesn't have a great deal of stretch in it,
as that will lessen the effect of the harness). Double the rope
by folding it in half and tie a simple knot in the doubled line
approximately four inches from the end, leaving a loop hanging
free at the end. Place the rope around the back of the neck,
leaving the free ends dangling down the front of the body and
onto the floor. Take the free ropes in one hand and tie similar
knots in the doubled line where it hangs between the breasts,
the stomach, the belly button and one on the vagina. Note that
this assumes your bondage partner is a woman. If you're tying
up a man place the vaginal knot at the base of the scrotum.
For added effect another knot can be placed in the doubled lines
over the rectum. Now bring the ropes up the back, tying an equal
number of knots in the back at an equal height as in the front.
Now comes the fun part….
Take the free ends of
the rope and pass them through the loop you left at the back
of the neck. The free ends should now be pointing back down
towards the floor. Now have your partner lift her or his arms
above her or his head and hold them there until you're done,
since the arms are usually free in karada. Take them and pass
them around the body to the front, passing them through the
rope coming down the front of the body above the first front
knot. Bring them around to the back and weave them through the
back lines, once again above the corresponding back know. Going
back and forth like this, weave the free ends around the body,
making sure to pull them snug as you go. In doing so you'll
create a series of 'diamond' patterns down the front and the
back of the body. Note: Make sure the lines aren't too tight!
The nature of karada is that it tightens as it's worn, so you
shouldn't make it too tight to begin with. The more the wearer
moves, the tighter it'll become, until it fits their body like
a second skin.
Once you reach the lower back with the free ends, and you've
pulled as many diamonds as you can through the ropes, tie off
the free ends around the main doubled rope. Try to do so above
the coccyx (the tailbone) and just to one side to avoid unnecessary
tailbone pressure. Congratulations! You've tied your first karada!
Now that you've completed karada, the next step may be to add
shinju, or "the pearls". This is a breast bondage
form done to enhance the look of the breasts and make them more
accessible for your pleasure. The basic variation goes like
this:
Take a 25 foot rope and double it. Holding the loop end in one
hand on the back at breast height, pass the free ends around
the front of the body just under the breasts and pass them through
the loop, giving a sort of lasso around the body. Now pass the
free ends around the front of the body again just over the top
of the breasts, forming a "cushion" of rope above
and below the breasts. Pass the free ends through the back loop
again and over one shoulder back to the front. Pass the ends
under the top doubled rope and over the bottom one, then reverse,
bringing the free ends under the bottom doubled rope and over
the top one. Pull until the top and bottom doubled ropes are
snug, forming a sort of rope bra above and below the breasts,
then pass the free ends over the other shoulder towards the
back. Tie the ropes off at the loop in the back. Voila! A simple
shinju! This can be modified to provide more or less pressure
on the breasts, and again, it will tighten with wear.
Some quick points to remember:
1. Knots
should never be placed directly on the spine. Make sure your
karada and shinju knots are slightly off to one side!
2. Snug
is good! These ties will tighten with wear.
3. Always
keep a free hand between the rope and the skin when pulling
the rope to avoid burning your partner's flesh with high-speed
rope burns.
There are many variations on these basic ties, and many
more ties to go with them. For example, once you're comfortable
with karada you can tie it without knots, leaving the harness
flatter and more aesthetically pleasing. Also, when executed
correctly, karada and shinju can even be worn under clothing,
allowing for exquisite feelings as the day goes on. There's
no limit to the things you can accomplish with these flexible
and enjoyable bondage techniques, so long as you do them safely
and consensually with good ropes and care.
