As you know, we have our ears pretty close to the ground at Esinem Towers what with the traffic through here. So, my hot tip for the next sensation on the rope scene? Having had the heads up from Gorgone and checked him out, I’d put my money on Ren Yagami. Here he is at work. In spite of a stage that looks like a shabby office with less atmosphere than a public toilet, I guarantee you will forget all about that and be riveted by his performance….not to mention a stunning model. Erh, well, I did mention it but it’s not like you won’t notice.
Here’s a bit about him. I was struck by the Kanna influence in the video and it was reassuring to see it confirmed in the bio.
Ren Yagami (鵺神 蓮)
Yagami Ren is a kinbaku expert belonging to the young generation and at the roots of the Yagami style of torture rope and Kinbaku techniques with his own original style of hojojitsu (traditional rope techniques of the Japanese police from the 13th to mid 20th century).
Yagami Ren was born on 18 May 1984 and showed sadistic tendencies from a very young age. He had his first successful SM sexual experience while still in junior high school. When he was still 17 years old, he was deeply impressed by the rope of Nawashi Kanna and started kinbaku. After that he developed his technique as an amateur and expanded his deep interest in SM practices at a brisk pace. In 2011, he started as a formal apprentice to Nawashi Kanna (note: Nawashi Kanna retired from the rope scene from 2005 to the end of 2010) and he became professional taking part in various events. In 2012, a severe illness meant that, for a long time, he walked the thin line between life and death. After recovering by chance, he amicably parted with Nawashi Kanna and started to trace his own route.
In 2013, he started to be active in the adult video market, live shows, magazines. From that time, he started to develop the Yagami ryu (Yagami style) – (体を縛り、流れを結 – “Karada o shibari nagare o musubu) “tie the body to establish a connection/flow” – by incorporating some of the techniques leaned from his training in Aikido from a very young age into his style of Kinbaku and creating as well a Yagami style of Hojojutsu.One of his favorite mottoes is (淫縄美縛 – in jou bi baku) “sensual rope beautiful tie” tying a girl in an obscene way to show her seduction power and force out her hidden internal Eros.
As described above, Yagami Ryuu is not so much shibari (art of tying) as an pure aesthetic art form but as a practice deeply grounded in Eros and sex. In that sense, the Yagami Ryuu also teaches that “even without rope one can tie and enjoy SM”.
In 2014 , Yagami Ren established the Yagami Juku as the place ( dojo ) to learn the Yagami Ryu kinbaku and helps its dissemination. The transmitted elements of Yagami Ryu include Kinbaku techniques, hojojutsu techniques, body techniques and are possibly hard to remember but it often reaches its goal of inducing a trance in the person being tied.
In case you are now wondering where you can can see his shows or wondering about tuition, here’s his schedule:
Europe and US Tour with Gorgone
- 27 March : An Intimate Session with Ren Yagami & Gorgone (SOLD OUT) – PARIS (Fr)
- 28 March : Live performance – PARIS (Fr)
- 26-29 March : Masterclass – PARIS (Fr)
- 30-31-1 March/April : 3 days Intensive (Info TBA) – Schwelle7 (Berlin)
- 3-6 April : Masterclass + Show – ROME (It)
- 16-19 April : Masterclass + Show – BELLINGHAM (WA)
Introduction : Yagami Ren Ryu // Yagami Ren Style
Yagami Ren’s style is based upon the idea of “injyou bibaku” which means : “Tying beautifully and intensely in order to reveal the physical and spiritual Eros”. It is very important to create a flow (energetical/physical/psychological) while doing Shibari.
“When I tie I want to push the limits, I enjoy intensity. I don’t have any Love to give, but I want to create a world of authenticity were lies don’t exist.”
★DAY ONE★ sho-den » // basics techniques
► “Ippon-nawa” exercises : Tying with one rope only and learning how to extract its ultimate efficiency.
This exercise will focus on developing the students consciousness that they don’t have to be “the slave of their ropes”, the rope has to be considered as a (crucial) tool in its simplicity.
5 styles and variations around simplicity : exercises and suggestions to tie when we don’t have enough ropes (using tights, stockings, whatever is available!)
► Concept of « in-baku » : Using ropes for sexual play. The importance of freedom and individual expression/feeling while respecting the safety rules.
► Concept of « Kannuki shibari » : Using ropes for more advanced/specific SM.
No suspension during the first day.
★DAY TWO★ chû-den / chû-kyu waza // intermediate techniques
Evaluation and exercises around the ushiro take kote (TK) and its variations :
► Tasuki gake
► Yama kake
► Eri jime
► hotoke jime
► hishi jime
Concept to work on : the “tsubo”, or pressure/energy points that we will focus on > variations and different sensations.
Discovering weak points on the body and using them as an element of semenawa. Understand and learn how to “threaten/scare with ropes”.
We will also work on the following techniques and positions :
► Agura shibari
► kaikyaku shibari
► keshi nawa gake
► matanawa gake
► Ni dan gake / sandan gake
This day will include semi-suspension work.
★DAY THREE★ Kô-den // advanced techniques
Review the Takate kote but this time for suspensions.
Work on the “matome kata” : final arrangements including hair/fingers/mouth. Studying beauty in the variations.
Exercises on the “feel of semenawa” and the use of every knot and their placement.
► Work on complex knots
► Understanding sadism and its aesthetic in different body positions
► The relationship between Top and bottom : responsibility, safety and SM
► Understanding the bottom / What pleases the sadist within the limits to
respect / awareness and consciousness
★DAY FOUR★ Oku-den : Oogi / specific, in depth techniques : “totte oki waza »
In this class about Oku-den we will review the content from the sho-den class with more expertise. Review the techniques, paying closer attention to detail and precision.
This class will focus on each student’s personal style; developing individuality and originality with ropes. The previous three days consisting mostly in the technique, returning to the roots is very important at this point.
► The sensuality of the bond : the “in-baku” / using as little ropes as possible / working on efficiency / focusing on sensory play.
► Using rope as a “safeguard” : how to embrace, control and ‘tame’ your sadistic side.
The class will focus on gauging your own limits and the limits of your bottom.
► Uses and movements of the body : physical connection and moves between the rigger and the bottom. (Yagami Ren’s spanking technique !)
► Using the sound (work on imagination and physical sensations)
► “The orgasm through ropes” : penetrating your partner’s consciousness with ropes.
► In depth lesson on Tori-nawa (Take down techniques) : Learning the specific technique of hojô-jutsu, used in feudal Japan to capture prisoners with ropes. After years of studying Tori-nawa techniques and Aikido, Yagami Ren’s has developed his personal style of hojô-jutsu.
Exercices of tori-nawa in movement.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
A word from Yagami Ren about the workshop :
► This workshop is not about artistic shibari.
► It is about semenawa and its intensive practice.
What he hopes students will get from the workshop :
► Reveal your hidden sadistic nature, maybe not fully embraced before
► Discover yourself, both Tops and bottoms, by understanding more deeply your own sensations
► Understanding the essence of Kinbaku