Getting Knotty – A Guide to Rope Play

The sexy guys from Paris Intimates wrote an awesome guest post a few months ago about blow jobs, so when they offered another post for you guys, I jumped at the chance to publish it! This time, we’re talking about rope bondage. If you’re a beginner, this is a good post for you!

It’s a beautiful thing when sex and art combine. If you follow Rori’s Beautiful Bondage tumblr, you’ve probably felt a mixture of awe and jealousy when viewing photographs of expert rope tying. Rope play is one of the most graceful and artistic forms of sexual expression out there, but the level of skill involved can sometimes be intimidating. Don’t let yourself be dissuaded! With this guide to knot-tying know-how you’ll be earning your rope play merit badge in no time.

A Bit of Background

The most predominant form of rope bondage is shibari, a traditional Japanese form of bondage. Shibari owes its roots to hojojitsu, a medieval form of torture and restraint. Eventually, the rope tying techniques originally used by the Japanese military to torture (and even kill!) captives slowly made their way into the bedroom. As they did, the art form became even more refined, with several masters dedicating their lives to the creation and perfection of new and traditional techniques. Today, rope tying supplies and information are available to shibari enthusiasts all over the world.

Where to Start

The first thing you’ll need when attempting shibari is the right attitude. Remember when you were a child and felt like the world was collapsing around you as you tried in vain to tie your sneakers? Now you lace up without even thinking about it. The same is true to shibari. Don’t get hung up on making your designs perfectly symmetrical or copying a photograph knot for knot. Shibari takes practice, but that practice should be fun. Don’t psych yourself out.

Gear Up!

The two most important things you’ll need to get knotty are a willing partner and professional rope. Don’t try shibari with the first rope you found at Home Depot, as many can cause abrasions or even splintering to the skin. Ropes made specifically for shibari are constructed with a blend of silk that allows for varying pressure and limited pinching or discomfort to the skin. Make sure your partner is truly invested in the process as intricate ties can take time and require a great deal of patience. Shibari isn’t a technique to try for your next 15-minute quickie.

It’s Tie Time

The best tie to attempt first is a basic wrist tie. Follow this easy tutorial to learn how create this simple knot. Beginning with a simple tie like this is best for a few reasons. For one, it allows you to get used to tying without being frustrated by complicated designs. It also allows your partner to grow accustomed to the feel of the rope. The basic wrist tie can be used to bind your partner into positions you’re already familiar with and allows you to play with a variety of positions. As you develop more skill, you can move on to more complicated ties like the tortoise shell or even ties than incorporate suspension. You’ll have to learn the basic ties first.

Professional photographs can make rope play look as intimidating as it is arousing, but you don’t need to relegate yourself to the realm of wistful onlookers. With the right attitude and enough practice you can earn your stripes (and maybe even an impressive reputation) with shibari. Start practicing now and who knows – you could find yourself roped in to some exciting sessions all winter long.

Awesome rope tips, boys! Thanks for the guest post! The picture used (with permission) as part of this post is from Hogtied, an awesome kinky rope play porn site that I highly recommend checking out! ~Rori