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All Tied Up: Rope Bondage
January 18, 2010 by Guest Author [605 views]
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This is a guest post for the BDSM Activity Feature Series. patricialynn offers us a look into rope bondage.
Rope bondage is a wonderful thing. Nothing beats the feel of the rope sliding across my skin, teasing, tantalizing, with taunting promise of bondage to come. Under the hands of a skilled rope top, bondage can become more than a simple restraint – it becomes an art form.
Most people look at rope bondage and think “I can tie a knot – this should be easy!” But there is more to rope bondage than simply picking up a rope and tying a sub up. Just like any form of bondage, there are dangers that the participants need to be aware of.
First and foremost, you need to chose the right kind of rope. Most people chose a smooth rope to lower the risk of chafing, but most smooth ropes also tighten when the rope is moved. This is a bad idea if your bottom tends to squirm or struggle against the bonds! For this reason, you want to chose a rope that is smooth but resists being tightened to extremes.
It is also strongly advised to keep a pair of EMT shears handy every time you experiment with rope bondage. Emergencies do happen, and there are times when it is vital to cut the rope. Using a knife in those situations is not advised, as you could cut your submissive by accident.
NEVER play around with any form of bondage in the dark. If your bottom sinks deeply into subspace, she might not be aware if she loses feeling in the bound limbs. It is the sub’s responsibility to inform her Dominate if she/he feels discomfort from the bondage – but it is also the dominates responsibility to watch the bound areas and monitor for circulation issues.
Rope maintenance is another aspect of bondage that most newcomers don’t consider. Like fabric, ropes need specific care depending on what substance they are created from. I am most familiar with hemp rope, which requires regular washing, air drying, and being re-conditioned before use. This is a process that usually takes 3-4 days and hours of re-conditioning. Usually bondage rope is not “ready-to-use” right from the start – it needs cleaning and conditioning before you are able to tie a person with it.
Don’t ignore common sense in your lust for rope bondage. If your bottom has circulation issues or joint problems, severe bondage is probably not a wise choice. If your sub has fibro or other chronic pain conditions, make sure she is not bound in one position for more than a few minutes at a time. Design the bondage to allow her to shift and move to avoid severe pain after the scene.
Like any other kink, rope bondage should be researched before experimented with. There are several wonderful resources available to those with an interest in this artistic form of bondage. Amazon.com has a good selection of shibari books for beginners. Another great resource is twistedmonk.com – not only does that site sell some of the best bondage rope on the market, they also offer free instructional videos.
If you live in a kink-friendly area, there are usually classes that teach the basics of rope bondage. And if you really want in-depth training and background, Shibaricon is held annually in the Chicago area.
Patricialynn is a polyamorous submissive, in a relationship with two Dominants, Mad Baker and Viktor. She is a mother of three, and a stay-at-home mom. She is 31 years old, and has been a practicing submissive for two years.
She can be reached through her blog, patricialynnlady.wordpress.com
photo by Diana Blackwell
1 Comment
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This person may have some experience with Rope but it is obvious her experience is limited. We teach Rope all over the country and have attended MANY rope classes. She discusses using “smooth rope” Many rope people use Natural fiber rope (Hemp and jute) and that is not smooth. Many bottoms love the feel of the “rougher rope” on their bodies and they leave very nice (but temporary) rope marks. The rope in the picture looks to be a climbing or boat rigging rope…TERRIBLE for bondage. It does not hold knots very well and is stiff. In actuality. Smoother ropes have a higher likelihood of tighening than natural fiber.
As to cleaning. It is NOT a good idea to wash natural fiber rope rope. It loses 10-15% of its strength with each washing. My bottom has her own rope that is only used on her…as do most people we tie. We have a public bag that is NOT used on areas with body fluid! Most say to just let the rope lay out in the sun for a couple days. The ultraviolet rays will kill most things. If we use a rope on a private area. I give the rope to the bottom.
Tying in the Dark…Well like most things it is Risk Aware Consentual Kink. Most dungeons are dark. That is why, as a top, I constantly communicate, and check with people in my ropes. We have tied many people who have different conditions as well. There are different ties that can cover a variety of issues (fibro, surgeries, etc) You just have to be creative, swilling to adapt and have the skill to do so