When you ask yourself which surface is best for shibari practice, the answer comes out almost without thinking: tatami, of course.
Yet that certainty fades as soon as we look at it closely. Technically, tatami is one of the least suitable options.
Why such a statement?
Tatami is essentially a combination of straw and rushes used in Japanese homes as insulating flooring.
It is perfect for resting—the futon is laid out on it—and for walking around the house barefoot. But it is a material that wears out easily and that, because of its insulating nature, makes a terrible floor for any activity that requires establishing kinetic circuits, like shibari.
But isn’t it used in some sports?
Yes, but that is a different material: usually a synthetic foam with kinetic behavior and resistance suited to the discipline it is meant for.
What about those dojos with floors covered in straw tatami?
Good question. I suppose it comes from an aesthetic wish to bring in Japanese culture, from fashion or from pure comfort—yes, it is very comfortable for sitting or lying down—but certainly not for practicing active shibari.
A hygiene note on straw tatami
Straw is a clean and relatively hygienic material, but only if it is aired properly and often.
A tatami mat laid directly on a concrete floor needs to be lifted and aired every day; otherwise it becomes a breeding ground for mold, bacteria and dust mites.
So what should an ideal floor for sekibaku-style erotic shibari be like?
First of all, let’s look at what we need.
We will move around a lot, slide, even crawl, possibly with little or no clothing, and we will get the floor dirty.
On the technical side, the floor has to let us transfer the energy of our weight and movements into it and receive it back, without excessive cushioning or stone-like hardness.
At the same time, it should offer resistance to friction—not slippery—but without being abrasive: it can’t burn or scrape the skin.
It has to be durable, uniform, stable and easy to clean.
Two materials stand out among those that meet all these conditions: earth and wood.
The best thing about earth is that it is free.
But careful, not just any earth will do: it has to be compacted, never loose; it needs a certain uniformity; it can’t be too dry—which would make it hard—or too soft; and, of course, it must be free of stones or hard objects that could cause harm.
Most city parks have areas with these characteristics… although, of course, they are public places where it would not be respectful to engage in certain erotic practices.
Wooden floors come second on the scale of recommended materials and are much easier to find inside a home: from simple boards laid on battens to the floating floors that were so fashionable a few years ago.
To be precise: we are talking about wood, not laminate or cork. And be careful with wax: it can become very slippery.
Recommended floors also include all technical sports floors, mainly synthetic: from dance floors to vulcanized martial arts flooring.
They are usually expensive materials, but if they are for a not very large practice space, you can find deals with good value for money.
What to avoid
Any floor that is too soft and absorbs energy (straw tatami), unstable ones (mattresses), unhygienic or abrasive ones (carpet—sorry, British readers) or excessively hard ones (laminate, concrete, tile…).
Sand is not recommended either: it is a good surface for working on muscle strength, but not on the reaction force that shibari needs.
Why we recommend some floors and advise against others
There is a twofold reason.
On the one hand, the technical efficiency of the floor: what helps or limits us in executing the technique.
If it absorbs, if it holds on to energy, if it doesn’t give it back, it will make managing the session harder. But above all, it can cause injuries. Throwing forces against a material that holds them without returning them is like hitting a wall; the body is forced to absorb that impact. Areas such as the knee and the pelvic floor suffer greatly from these stresses, which end up being passed on to the weakest part of the spine.
So let’s not get carried away by fashion.
If you have a tatami floor, make the most of it: it is very comfortable. But, whenever you can, avoid doing exercises that involve kinetic circuits on it.
Is your floor polished concrete? Cover it with something: a rug already helps; dance linoleum or technical flooring—the kind that fits together like jigsaw pieces—are fairly affordable.
Lucky enough to have a floating wooden floor? Enjoy it!
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