Japanese Shibari Art

Shibari archive for September, 2009

Japanese Bondage Terms

•agura: cross-legged position (seated lotus position)
•asa or asanawa: traditional Japanese bondage and torture rope made of hemp
•dojo: literally, “Place of the Way,” or place of learning (e.g. a school)
•dorei: slave
•gakko: school
•gei: artistic skill
•gyakuebi: Japanese hog tie
•hojojutsu: traditional style of military incarceration and torture used in feudal Japan by samurai and police
•jujun: submissive
•kaikyaku kani: crab leg
•karada: “body”, refers to torso/body bondage
•kikkou: tortoise shell body harness
•kinbaku: (noun) bondage
•kinbaku-bi: commonly referred to as the art of erotic/sensual Japanese rope bondage (a concept formed in the early 20th century)
•kotori: suspention bondage
•mata nawa or sakuranbo: crotch bondage (the cherry)
•musubime: knot
•musunde: tying a knot
•nawa: rope
•nawashi: “a maker of rope;” (general) rope bondage artist; (purist) rope bondage artist whom utilizes solely natural (traditional) forms of bondage, including wood beams and hemp rope (e.g. no metal or synthetics)
•nawa sensei: master/teacher of rope bondage
•nawa shibari: (noun) rope-tying with a rope (an incorrect, “made-up” term, does not exist in Japanese)
•sensei: “One who has gone before” (e.g. teacher/master)
•shibari: (noun) to tie or to bind with a rope
•shibaritai: a top indicating his/her desire for bondage action
•shibararetai: a sub indicating his/her desire for bondage action
•shibaru: (verb) tie or bind with a rope
•shinju / mune nawa: breast bondage (the pearls)
•tori: one who demonstrates an action or technique
•tsuri: “to hang”, partial rope suspension
•uke: passive partner in the demonstration of technique (e.g. the bottom)
•unsui: “cloud and water,” means “seeker of truth” in Japanese (e.g. student)
•ushirote munenawa: arm and chest bondage

Misconceptions of Shibari

There are more questions than answers, when it comes to Shibari..!

• Is it,or is it not, A Martial Art?!?!
  A martial (fighting/warrior) art solely serves martial (fighting) purposes. Shibari is an art of erotic spirituality and NOT a fighting art. Shibari has (some) roots that can be traced down to very ancient martial arts (Bushi Do – the way of the warrior – the godfather of all Japanese martial arts) and Hojo Jitsu (arresting and tieing of prisoners)…but Shibari is not a martial art.

 

• The most common misconception is that Shibari is very soft and romantic. Each individual bondage has specific targets and goals. Their common objective is to stimulate Ki energy flow and start an adrenaline and subsequent combined endorphins, dopamine and enkephalin rush
  (a trance-like experience) for the recipient and an adrenaline/serotonin rush for the giver.

 

More advanced bondages will enhance these effects through introducing sensory deprivation and eventually a different level of reality perception, thus creating a full and often deep trance.

History of Kinbaku Rope

Ever since cheap cotton took over most of the textile industry, other natural fibers lost their market dominance. The USA-inspired witch hunt on cannabis production brought hemp-farming to a complete standstill in the 1980s. As a result, the modern “natural” rope industry produces hardly any 100 percent natural single fiber rope.
For traditional Japanese bondage, use either flax of hemp. Just do not expect to find 100 percent natural, single fiber rope. Good alternatives are:synthetic flax or hemp – used on classic sailboats, hence easy to obtain from ship rigging shops. This is a combination of flax/hemp and synthetic fibers. Provided at least one kernel is removed and the ropes are washed several times, prior to use, this a good and affordable alternative. Climbing rope is fully synthetic and although not “traditional” a very good, affordable, reliable and safe alternative. For ropes with non-twisted kernels the number of kernels should be reduced to one. All ropes should be washed several times, prior to use. Cotton, in terms of rope strength, it is the lowest rope quality. It has an average breaking point of around 50 kilograms (approx. 100 pounds) for 6 mm diameter rope, which makes cotton unsuitable for most rope bondage adventures. It is okay to use it for simple “on body” only bondages though. Hemp, flax or jute are better options, since all are stronger. “Breaking point” means it CAN break at that point, not it WILL break. This makes things quite unpredictable. If Japanese bondage is new to you, synthetic rope is a much better and safer option. One of your best choices is “fallschnur” (a.k.a. “reepschnur”). This is rope, used by mountian climbers as a last resort safety line in case of a fall. It comes in 6 mm diameter, is extremely strong, soft, flexible and easy to use, especially after you have washed it several times.

Spiritual Shibari

Kinbaku (Shibari) is an integrated concept of body, mind and spirit.

The objective is to unlock erotic energy through trance or trance-like experiences. Trance (a different level of awareness) is being achieved through a refined mix of atmosphere, ritual, meditation, love, techniques and intensity of the situation. Most forms of oriental lovemaking are hardly ever straightforward sexuality, but an intriquing game of exploration and challenges and a delicate combination of subtlety and expliciteness. Shibari is no different.

What is Trance?

Trance is a situation where one is so concentrated on one specific goal or situation, that the spiritual capacities of the mind are eniterly dedicated to that specific activity. This opens the mind to be able to experience – and use – things it never could under “normal” circumstances, since the brain will be too distracted and too busy. Certain hormones – endorphins especially – play an important role in trance. Endorphins (morphine-like amino acids produced by the body) are the key factor here. Endorphins are known as the “mood chemicals” in your body. They create your moods, all of them. They come in complex cocktails and also serve other purposes. For example, they are a natural painkiller. Experiencing high doses of endorphins is called an endorphin rush. This is known as the “runners’ high” in athletics and as “subspace” in power exchange activities. A combination of endorphins, dopamin, enkaphelin and adrenalin releases creates “super awareness” and this is the key factor in creating trance. Since experiences such as fear, anxiety, stress and physical impulses such as pain all cause the release of high doses of adrenalin and subsequently endorphins – these impulses are being used to allow you to climb the first steps of the trance ladder. Endorphins have a “sister-hormone” called enkephaline, which works on the spinal cord in the same way enderphines work on the brain. Mood is important as well as atmosphere , which is why -a lot of emphasis is being placed on preparation and the physical area. For this, such things as candle light, aroma therapy (incense or evaporating essential oils), bathing and other rituals and techniques are used to create Makama – the “circle” (area), the physical area where both partners will experience their intense lovemaking. Meditation helps to focus the mind and eventually Ki energy exchange is being used to further enhance the bonding between partners and the forces of gravity and sensory deprivation techniques are being used to create a full effect.