Shibari Terms: Japanese Rope Bondage Vocabulary Guide
Exploring the intricate world of shibari, the Japanese art of decorative rope bondage? Mastering the terminology is crucial. This beginner’s guide covers essential shibari terms every practitioner should know for clear communication during rope scenes and bondage play.
This article covers:
Introduction to Shibari Ties and Positions
- Chest Harness. A chest harness refers to a series of rope wraps secured around the chest area, typically positioned above and below the breasts to accentuate their shape. This decorative bondage pattern is a example of a shibari “karada” or body harness.
- Single Column Tie. Don’t let the name fool you – a single column tie can involve multiple body parts like wrists, ankles, or thighs. The key is treating them as one “column” secured together by the rope instead of separating them.
- Double Column Tie. Similar to the single column tie, but here the rope separates and wraps between two body parts or “columns” like your wrists or ankles. This ensures the columns remain visibly divided.
- Takate Kote (TK) or Box Tie. One of the most classic and fundamental shibari ties is the takate kote, also called the box tie. This arms-behind-the-back tie has many variations but always forms a box-like shape with the ropes.
- Gote Shibari. Another vital foundational tie, gote shibari involves intricate winding of rope behind the back and around the arms. Like the box tie, it serves as the basis for many complex kinbaku (tightbinding) patterns.
Fundamental Rope Terminology
- Bight. The bight refers to the u-shaped bend or loop formed at the middle of a length of rope when it is folded.
- Ends. This simply means the termination points of a rope length.
- Locks. Locks are non-shifting knots that maintain the structure and shape of a tie, preventing ropes from compressing or giving way under tension.
- Standing End. The standing end (or tail or working end in some texts) is the inactive part of rope not being used for actual tying.
- Working/Running End. Conversely, this is the active portion of rope used and manipulated during tying and knot-forming.
- Wraps/Passes. Each single turn of rope going around a body part is called a wrap or pass.
- Collapses/Capsizes. When knots change shape or shift form due to stress or tension, this undesired effect is known as a collapse or capsize.
Other Key Shibari Terms
- Marlin Spike. A marlin spike is a tool used to untie stubborn knots that have been overly tightened during bondage.
- The Word “Shibari”. Last but not least, “shibari” is simply the Japanese word meaning “to tie” or “to weave” – fitting for this decorative art form.
As you start exploring shibari, master these essential rope bondage terms for clear communication with partners and riggers in the kinbaku community. Keep studying and practicing these intricate Japanese ties!
