Articles tagged: Nawasuji (繩筋)

Understanding rope as a tool in the service of anatomy changes the way we approach it, from the first steps in practice to the choice of the right material.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes.

Jute rope did not come to shibari through tradition but through circumstance, and over time the techniques were developed with it. Knowing its characteristics and properties explains how it behaves and why it shapes the way we tie.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes.

Managing tension in body and rope turns the rope into a transmitter of vibrations that allows us to direct stimulation and guide the movements of the person being tied.

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes.

Sabaku (handling – さばく) is the use of rope as a tool within the session; fluid handling, which comes from the core of the person tying, maintains the right tension and leaves attention free for the reactions of the person being tied.

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes.

Adjusting the ropes by slipping fingers under them, lining them up so they are symmetrical, or worrying about twisted ones are common habits that can interrupt the session. In this topic we look at the effect they have on the person being tied, when an adjustment is justified, and how to make it without breaking the established tension.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes.

Untying is as important a part of the session as tying. In this topic we look at how to integrate untying into the play and into the emotional curve of the session, and how to maintain tension while untying so that the structure does not collapse and the person being tied does not suddenly lose the support of the rope.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes.

Ikue shibari (layered shibari – 幾重縛り) is a body-management technique that applies rope folded into several layers; combining it with the fundamentals we have studied allows us to build stable structures simply, efficiently, and safely, without depending on tying patterns.

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes.

The turn of the rope tells the body which way it is going to move. Choosing its direction according to each person and each movement, while respecting their natural asymmetry, allows us to build more efficient ties.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes.

These are the five types of life line. Or rather, the five ways of connecting the life lines to the rope structure wrapped around the body.

Beyond personal tastes and preferences, there are a number of parameters that let us objectively assess the quality of a jute rope for use in shibari.

These are open-hand techniques for handling the rope.

Musubime (結び目) is a compound of 結び (musubi) and the suffix 目 (me).

There are quite a few myths about rope in shibari.

I have heard people say things like: for it to be shibari, the rope has to be of such-and-such a type, or of a particular length.

Nawasuji is not a word in the strict sense, but a concept developed by Yagami Ren to designate one of the areas of study of his style. It is made up of two components:

Unlike other shibari styles built around predefined figures or patterns, Sekibaku places the practical usefulness of the rope within the erotic interaction as its central technical criterion.

The “Clara” soap opera continues. Previously on: rope sold under the “CLARA Esinem” brand and produced between 2024 and 2025 has a serious quality problem: it breaks after only a few uses. After repeated complaints on social media, the distributor withdrew the whole batch from the market, acknowledging a manufacturing defect.

It means “rope handling”.

The way rope ends are finished tends to be each rigger’s signature or hallmark, showing their preferences, tastes and distinguishing touches.

From simple overhand knots to elaborate plaits, through whipping or even metal pieces, in this article we analyze their functionality and the pros and cons of the main options.

Hon musubime (本結び目) is the base knot of shibari: one of the oldest and most widespread knots in the world, found in tied parcels, bandages, garbage bags and even shoelaces.

Everyone has tied it at some point. And precisely because of that, everyone thinks they know how to tie it.

Plant-fiber rope has a love-hate relationship with water.

We update this article over the years because, with time, both materials and experience evolve, and it is worth reviewing what used to be taken for granted.

When you look at a rope folded in half, with the middle pointing up, the fibers trace a spiral. Depending on which way that spiral rises, the twist is called S or Z.

Rope is the first thing that captures our attention when we come to shibari. The geometric shapes, the way it is applied, that mix of erotic sophistication and natural simplicity it conveys fascinate us immediately.

Perhaps that is why students are so surprised when we tell them they don’t need rope.

Historically, there is no specific material associated with the practice of shibari. Everything suggests that each practitioner used whatever they had to hand.