Articles tagged: Shibari basics

We start with a basic question: what do we mean by shibari? We review the origins of the terms shibari and kinbaku and establish an operational definition of shibari as the erotic art of Japanese bondage, the foundation on which the entire course is built.

Estimated reading time: 12 minutes.

What “erotic” means in the context of shibari: how eroticism and sexuality relate to each other, why there are no universal techniques or responses, and what it means to understand shibari as a way of managing desire, far removed from any repertoire of sexual techniques.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes.

The knot serves a specific function in shibari and must meet certain minimum conditions; with it come the first safety rules for using rope.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes.

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.

For anyone who comes to this discipline out of curiosity, safety is among the first things they ask about.

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.

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.