Shibari is the traditional Japanese art of bondage. However, it has been enriched with other cutlural apporaches. Therefore, it is important to know the most common non-Japanese terminology in Shibari. Consequently, any rope lover who enters the Shibari world needs to learn the terminology used.
The most common non-Japanese Terms in Shibari are the following:
-Anchor Point – The support point in a suspension.
-Band – One or more pieces of rope across the body
-Bight – Usually the mid-point of the rope folded against itself; any loop of rope made by folding it against itself.
-Carabiner(biner) – A coupling link with safety closure used in suspension, either attached to the rope on the body or to the anchor.
-Cuff – Two or more wraps, usually around the wrist, ankle or leg.
-Floor Work – Rope bondage without suspension.
-Harness – Any pattern of rope which holds the body and supports its weight.
-Hitch – A method for attaching one rope to another
-Load – To apply force to a tie and the body in the tie through some means of pulling the rope.
-Rigger – The person tying, also called “top”.
-Ring – A metal or wooden ring used for suspension.
-Rope Hank /Bundle – A single piece of rope, usually folded in some way to make it compact, portable and accessible.
-Top – The person doing the tying.
-Rope Bottom – The person being tied.
-Rope Bunny – The endearing term of “rope bottom”
–Running End – The part of the rope you are actively tying with
-Suspension – Using rope to lift the body from the ground
-Up-Line /Suspension Line – the line running from the body to the anchor point.
-Tails /Standing End/ Working End – The part of the rope you are not actively tying with.
-Tension – How “tight” the rope is.
Now you know the most common non-Japanese terminology in Shibari.
Image: Metro