Is the size of the Rope important in Shibari?

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Is the size of the rope important in Shibari? Yes, because there are ropes of different sizes and each one of them serves a different purpose. For Kinbaku, tops use equal length ropes of 7m-8m. This is because that size of rope is actually easier to handle.

The size and length of the rope are a matter of personal preference. The only recommendation is to ensure the rope is no more than 4 times the span of your arms. That way you can pull the rope in one movement. If the rope is too long, you will need to pull too much rope in every knot you make. If you think you might need more length in certain knots, you can always tie another rope in order to make a larger one. This will save much pulling through of rope and will speed up your work.

Regarding the thickness of the rope, it is usually around 5-6mm if it is used for suspension, and a thinner cord -around 4mm- if it will be used for floor work or detailed bondage. Anything thicker than 6mm becomes very hard to work with and it will result in bulky and unaesthetic knots. Besides, they will not be comfortable for the bottom. A thinner rope will also be uncomfortable and will deffinitely cause more damage than a thicker one. These standards for Shibari ropes are the result of accumulated experience. Therefore, there’s a rationale behind their measures.

So, the answer to the question is the size of the rope important in Shibari is yes.

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