We decided to conduct some rather Heath Robinson tests to determine the loadings on the two wraps of a t-k during suspension. We always knew some orientations like face-downs with the legs pulled up high near the axis of suspension produced crushing constriction on the upper wrap but not relatively how much or how much …
We were doing an experimental shoot with this evening with MaYa as model and, as is often our practice, a dog-earned copy of one of Sugiura’s books for tying inspiration. As most of his photos seem to feature old style rigs on bamboo, we set up the pole and the newly recovered backdrops I had …
I recently received an email from a self-professed “local known expert” and veteran educator of some 20 years experience after making my post asking what could be done, if anything, to protect people from incompetent teachers. His reply was strewn with personal insults and made light of my concerns over nerve damage saying: “Nerve issues …
Ever wondered how to do kinbaku with no rope? IMHO, this is as close as you can get and if you can exude this energy with a piece of rope, you are as close as you can get to real kinbaku! Now try to imagine this performance with the dancers stumbling mechanically through their steps …
I spent this afternoon photographing and documenting the 30 steps of my own box-tie this afternoon. It is the culmination of a series of experiments to come up with a version that doesn’t use conventional cinches, yet has sufficient stability and benefits from the comfort factor of an extra upper wrap. Why did I bother? …
Like many others, I have been constantly frustrated by the instability of the standard shibari knot, often called a ‘boola boola’, used to close things like single and double column ties. In my experience, it has been something of a hit or miss affair whether this knot locks or collapses into two half hitches. In …
I have deliberated much upon the short-comings of the traditional reef knot style tie off used in, for example, the wrist tie of many takate-kotes. It seems to me that this type of knot is most unsuitable for a load at 90 degrees as this will often capsize the knot into hitches, which have the …
No, aural, i.e. sound, not oral sex! Not that anything precludes the latter, of course. As I frequently say, kinbaku is not about knots and all about the way you use rope to create the experience. I often compare ‘just tying’ with eating simply to fill your stomach, which could be achieved with a bag …
I recently ran intermediate and advanced courses in which I taught the standard OS TK (actually more correctly called a ‘gote or ‘gote shibari as it does not exhibit the typical ‘high hand’ position) and revised the tie with those who professed to know it. Almost all of those who already had a good idea …
Written by Rida after a newaza session with me at Kinoko’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’ happening bar during the Toubaku week. I take her words as a great compliment as they echo my feelings about the session and express very eloquently what effect kinbaku can have when one uses the rope and doesn’t just tie mechanically. It …