Shibari – The art of Japanese rope bondage

The first time I ever heard of the word ‘Shibari’ was from a podcast called My First Time. I wasn’t too keen on the topic because of the unfamiliarity of the word, but a new episode automatically played while I was driving and I was hooked. What is it? Shibari literally translates to “to tie” or “to bind” which refers to the intricate and beautiful knots and patterns used to refrain and give sensation to the body. It has its roots in Hojōjutsu (a martial art performed by the Samurai to capture, torture and refrain prisoners), Kabuki theatre (classical Japanese dance-drama), Shunga (erotic art in Japanese) and other art form. So in a way, Shibari – or Kinbaku as it is traditionally called in Japan – is a marry of both erotic play as well as performance art. Shibari vs Normal Bondage Normal rope bondage is about restricting someone in order to do something else to them. Shibari however puts emphasis on the process of tying as the journey in and of itself. From the first moment one takes the rope into their hands to the last moment when the rope leaves the body of the person being tied is a whole journey. Why are people into it? For many reason. It’s not exclusively for BDSM or kinky pleasures – although, it can most definitely be that in order to spice things up. However, many practise it as a form of meditation, a tool to create connection and intimacy with a partner, or simply enjoy it because of its beauty. Some even see it as a form of healing. I find Mila’s account interesting. She experienced Shibari and wrote that the whole experience was a healing process for her.

“To say that it was a healing experience hardly does it justice. It was transcendental. The discomfort and consensual retrain undid layers of trauma and pain inside me. The surrendering and letting go and allowing released hard edge I’d been holding on for so long. The release was a type of therapy I could never had guessed at.” – Mila Kriletich, Shibari: The Healing Properties of Japanese Rope Bondage

Safety and concerns Communication and consent is important before a session commences for Shibari or any form of BDSM activities. The rigger (the person tying) and rope bunny (the person being tied) must first discuss expectations, limits and safe words in order to ensure safety for all, especially the ones being tied. (Source: Menshealth, Killing Kittens, Wikipedia)