Gyaku ebi (逆海老), “inverted shrimp”, covers the figures in which the body arches backward: a back extension (backbend), not a flexion. It is also known as gyaku ebi shibari (逆海老縛り).
Although it shares a name with ebi zeme (海老責め), it really has little to do with it.
Since it is an extension, it is important to stabilize the spine with the psoas, the core and the glutes in the lower part, and with the neck and back muscles in the upper part.
The figure must be built from an extension of the hips and back, in which the arch is even and its curvature is set by the thoracic region, never the lumbar or cervical spine.
It is easy to make the mistake of thinking that the more “curved” the person is, the more intense the experience will be. It is not: forcing the curvature until the lower back or neck folds, or neglecting the thoracic area in search of “more curve”, is reckless and can lead to pain, discomfort and injury.
Built correctly, the figure is less showy but much more intense, and opens up other ways of using and enjoying it beyond simply making a figure.
In suspension, depending on the technique used, it demands more effort from those muscles to stay within what can be considered anatomically safe.
For bodies with internal genitals, gyaku ebi will always be more interesting on the floor than in suspension: building it against the floor adds extra stimulation which, together with the harshness of the restraint, makes it very efficient for exploring the patterns of erotic desire.
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