“Shibari” is the word used in the West to describe Japanese rope bondage (you may also have heard the word “Kinbaku”, which has a slightly different meaning). Here at Brighton Rope we teach methods inspired by “Shibari” combined with modern Western techniques and our own flair, with an emphasis on using rope to connect with our partners. While we do teach some Japanese techniques and patterns, our focus is always on this connection between partners rather than the patterns themselves. For more in-depth information about different types of rope bondage see here.

When you are first getting started, any kind of rope or cord will do. It’s only once you get into more advanced things like suspensions that the type of rope matters.

Our ropes are mostly conditioned natural jute rope, no more than 6mm thick and around 8m long. You can buy them online or in person during one of our classes.

Natural hemp rope looks and acts similar to jute, as an alternative option. We do not recommend using ropes that have stretch to them, as they make it harder to tie with good tension.

Anyone!

Many of the images of rope you’ll see online are of non-disabled, white or Japanese older men, tying non-disabled, white or Japanese, thin, bendy young women.

However, people of all bodies, ethnicities, abilities, genders and sexualities can both tie and be tied. Self-tying is also becoming a popular way of exploring rope bondage.

All rope bondage tuition should consider the needs of people of different body types and abilities, and should teach adapted ways of tying and being tied to accommodate everyone.

Rope bondage has several risks, and there is no way of practicing it risk-free. However, applying the principles of R.A.C.K. (Risk-Aware Consensual Kink) helps to minimise and offset risks.

Common issues and injuries in rope bondage include:

Rope Marks: When we tie (especially directly onto skin, and when doing suspension), the skin can become marked. Usually, marks are mild and fade quickly, however everyone’s skin heals differently, so be aware of the possibility of rope marks being visible after you’ve been tied.
In addition, when ropes are pulled across the skin too fast or hard, or are under a great deal of pressure, it can cause ‘rope burn’. These marks tend to stay longer as they are a sign of broken blood vessels near the surface of the skin. The majority of the time, they fade (although in unusual cases they can produce a scar).

Blood/Circulation Loss: We’ve all slept on our arm and woken up with a dead arm in the morning. That numb feeling goes away when we change position and shake or stretch, often experiencing ‘pins and needles’. Although unpleasant, circulation loss is not dangerous, unless it continues for an extended period of time (depending on the person/body part). The skin often changes colour when a part of the body is restricted, and this can look dramatic for some people but this isn’t necessarily a problem. Some conditions make restricting blood flow more dangerous, but most of the time it is safe to do this for short periods of time.

Nerve damage: When the position of the body, or the placement of ropes, put pressure on our nerves, we risk causing nerve damage. The signs are very quick onset numbness, tingling, sensations of heat/cold, or weakness/mobility in the effected area, which tends to be very specific (eg part of a hand rather than the hole hand).
When you feel the potential signs of nerve damage, it’s important to let your rigger know immediately, so that they can move the ropes or change your position as quickly as possible. Nerve damage ranges in severity from discomfort which resolves as soon as the pressure is removed, to permanent or long term weak/numbness or loss of mobility. Both riggers and rope bottoms should know how to check for nerve damage, and riggers should be confident in re-dressing and adjusting ropes quickly when needed.

Joint injuries: Rope bondage often involves putting someone in a stressful posture for an extended period of time, as well as putting strain on the joints. This can cause stiffness and muscle pain, as do many types of exercise. However, people with hypermobile joints can be at risk of their joints becoming subluxated or dislocated, if care isn’t taken when moving and choosing positions for their bodies.

Falls and drops: When doing suspension, or reducing another person’s ability to move or balance, you can risk injuries from falling. It’s important that riggers take responsibility for ensuring the person they are tying is adequately supported.
There are also rare cases of people being dropped when in suspension; either from equipment failing or from a riggers’ error when lifting/lowering the tied person. Ensure that you always practice within your level of skill and knowledge to help avoid these accidents, which can cause serious injury or even death.

Rigger injuries: Tied people can also sustain injuries from rope. The most common of these are caused by poor posture or bad technique when moving your tying partner. Also common are finger and hand injuries or repetitive strain issues. Both of these problems can be minimised through good technique.

Emotional harm: It is very important to be aware of the potential emotional harm that can be caused during a rope session, or ‘scene’. Both people explore vulnerability and their desires, and this can only be done safely with excellent communication, negotiation and consent practices. There is also an inherent power difference when one person is tying another person. Acknowledging this power difference, and ensuring that there is an equal relationship between the two tying people outside of the rope ‘scene’ is vital to avoid harm to one or both parties.
Any rope tuition should include tuition in how to identify, communicate and respect your own and each others’ boundaries, how to communicate issues during a scene, how to manage and respect each others’ emotional responses to tying in a trauma-informed way, and how to cope and work through it together when things go wrong.

Please use the Class Feedback Form on this page, contact us on social media or email us.

We have a number of low-cost tickets for each class we teach, which you can book over on Ticket Tailor. If you need a low-cost ticket and we have sold out of these, please email us.

Depending on our sales for the class in question, we may be able to offer further low-cost tickets. This availability will vary from class to class.