Shibari Myths

As it happens with every practice that is fundamentally about dissidence, there are a lot of shibari myths. That is, information that is either totally false or incomplete about this discipline and its workings.

Shibari’s Initial Truths

Shibari, kinbaku and rope bondage are the different names of an erotic art from Japan. It has gained great popularity in the last years. People know it as a BDSM practice whose its objective is to increase pleasure by tying your partner with ropes. In addition, it is also one of the most aesthetic sexual practices at the moment. If you only know about shibari from videos or pictures, you may have some misconceptions—or, as I called it previously, shibari myths.

Shibari Myths: the Three Most Common

Here we present the three most common myths about rope bondage. Firstly, there’s the misinformation that there are only male riggers. From what you can see in most plays, most scenes have a man as a rigger and a woman as a top bottom. This is completely wrong: two men, two women, or one of each can play as either rigger or bottom.

Secondly, there’s the myth that every kinbaku scene is sexual. Yes, it is true that traditional kinbaku has a deep sexual component. And yes, the process of tying and manipulating the bottom’s body creates a sense of sensuality. Regardless, this does not necessarily have to do with sex. Tying someone requires attentiveness on what your partner is communicating. In truth, shibari is more of an emotional connection between partners than a physical impulse. Kinbaku scenes can be only artistic exercises: it is a play where people perform as professionals, a silly encounter or a connective moment between parties, which has nothing to do with sex mandatorily.

Thirdly, there’s the thought that only “expert” riggers do suspensions. People might think of shibari as someone suspended in mid-air tied with ropes. However, rope bondage is more than getting someone in the air. As mentioned before, it is about connection and sharing emotions, not necessarily about being suspended.

Some riggers only do suspension as a performance or only with specific partners. In addition, some only focus on floor work scenes. There is no master rigger certification, actually. Learning the mechanics of suspension and lifting someone is easy if you have knowledge about shibari and are aware of basic anatomy. A shibari scene always has its risks, so it is very important to be delicate, attentive, and very cautious about safety.

Image Ana Blumenkron