Shibari: the art of Japanese rope bondage

Perhaps you’ve seen some photos or read about it: shibari. But what is it exactly? And how can you learn to do it yourself? We will tell you everything you need to know in this blog post.

What is Shibari?

Shibari (also called Kinbaku) is a Japanese form of symmetrical rope bondage that is all about erotic art. It wasn’t created to be an erotic activity; samurai used Shibari as a martial art. Nowadays, rope art has become increasingly well-known and it has grown into a beautiful part of BDSM, where patience and pleasure are the most important.

The erotic beauty of Shibari

Shibari is a sexual activity where art, erotics, and bondage are combined. This makes it one of the most beautiful forms of rope art. Those who have experienced it will tell you that you will feel completely relaxed in an erotic way and you will be fully absorbed in tying knots and creating your own art work. If you are a beginner, then of course you start with the basics of tying knots. The works of art created by experienced artist are extremely impressive. But let’s start at the beginning.

Why people enjoy Shibari

The reason that people are aroused by Shibari is different for each person. Some artists, also called riggers, enjoys transforming their bunny (the person being tied up) into a naked and erotic work of art. Others are aroused by the bondage aspect and the uncomfortable positions and sexual pressure points that come with it. Letting your fantasy run wild, the feeling of coarse rope on your smooth skin, and hard knots pressing into your soft curves are reasons for bunnies to experiment with Shibari. It is an erotic and mental form of stimulation and it provides a relaxing experience. And if it is done well, you’ll end up with an exciting and beautiful work of art.

Shibari is about the art of bondage

Bondage gear is essential for this art form and you’ll need plenty of it. It doesn’t matter if you prefer ropes of ribbons. The colour, length, and coarseness of the material doesn’t matter either, as long as it is right for your art. Use what you like and think is beautiful, as long as the material is strong enough. There are riggers who only like to use one particular material, while others like to vary in material and colour. As long as the knots you create are safe and comfortable, there aren’t really any rules for the kind of materials you can use.

• Base your choice of bondage ropes on comfort, usability, and safety;
• There are ropes available that are specially made for Shibari. These Japanese ropes are long, soft, and strong;
• Go for various lengths and colours if you want to create a diverse work of art. This bondage set is a good basis for example.
• Make sure you always have special bondage scissors at hand, so you are able to cut the ropes at any time.

How long does a Shibari session take?

There are couples who dedicate an entire day to their erotic Shibari session. You can make the knots as intricate or creative as you like. The further you go with this, the more time it will take. Start small: use ribbons, create an elegant pattern around the breasts, or go for kinky arm bondage. There are straightforward and elegant knots, but there are also weaving patterns. The latter is mainly suitable for experienced artists as it doesn’t just take a lot of time to knot, but also to untangle.

Learn the basics of knotting through tutorials

Practice makes perfect. That’s also the case for Shibari. You can learn the basics by watching tutorials. There are many intruction videos on YouTube and several BDSM websites that you can use to master Shibari. If you’re practising on your bunny, make sure the ropes are not too tight. Safety first!

Shibari: the technique used by samurai

Shibari was developed as an old Japanese warrior method. Samurai treated prisoners with respect and they showed that respect by tying them up with extensive, artistic bindings. It used to be called ‘Kinbaku-bi’, literally ‘the beauty of tight bindings’. Nowadays it’s mostly referred to as ‘Shibari’. So originally, it wasn’t a form of BDSM, but a functional and pure art form. That doesn’t take away from the fact that it appeals to the imagination however. It looks so beautiful and sensual that it’s not surprising that it’s now used for erotic purposes.

Becoming a master in Japanese rope art

Bondage is exciting, seductive, and initmate. A rope can be a way of connecting with each other in a different way and doesn’t have to be complicated. Do you want to study Shibari? And be able to tie knots in such a way that you can elegantly display buttocks and breast, make the body looks as beautiful as possible, and learn how to create ‘on the fly’ bondage art (elegantly hanging someone from the ceiling)? Then find an instructor. There are Shibari courses available in many cities. These courses will teach you everything about this form of BDSM where trust is a key element.  You want to be able to tie knots in a safe and comfortable way. As a rigger, your instructor will teach you:

• what kind of material works best for particular knots and functions;
• how to create an ‘on the fly’ art work;
• necessary anatomy. This way you can place knots on pressure points and nerve endings to make the Shibari session even more arousing;
• how to trigger bodily sensations even more;
• possible dangers, the right way of communicating to avoid risks, and sometimes even basic first aid knowledge.

The dangers of Kinbaku

We mentioned it before: this erotic art form can present a certain kind of danger. The most common thing that could go wrong is that you’re unable to quickly untangle all the ropes when necessary. Use the aforementioned special bondage scissors. These kinds of scissors are specially created to easily cut through ropes and ribbons.

Physical therapist and SM practicioner Golden San in Japan emphasizes other dangers: damage to the skin, for example around the breast and erogenous area. Burns causes by hot candle wax are also common. In addition, whiplashes, nerve pain, neck injuries, and jaw problems (caused by biting the ropes) are regular occurrences. This definitely shows that you have to start slow and make sure you are taught well. Taking a Shibari course is perfect for this.