The Gote Shibari (TK): the iconic harness and foundation of the practice
The Gote Shibari , also called TK (Takate Kote), is one of the most iconic harnesses in traditional Shibari. It constitutes an essential basic technique , serving as a foundational technique, a tool for restraint, and an entry point to more advanced practices.
At the École des Cordes in Paris, we consider the Gote harness to be a piece of equipment that must be perfectly mastered . Poorly executed, it quickly becomes dangerous. Well-constructed, on the other hand, it offers stability, clarity, and safety.
Why Gote Shibari is a fundamental figure
The Gote Shibari is often one of the first harnesses taught, and this is no coincidence.
- It structures the posture of the upper body,
- It creates a clear and legible constraint,
- It serves as the basis for many traditional positions
- It is the starting point for semi-suspension and suspension.
Mastering the Gote is not just about knowing how to reproduce it, it's about understanding how the body reacts to stress and how tensions circulate in the strings.
A harness that paves the way for semi-suspension and full suspension
Gote Shibari is a technical prerequisite for accessing more advanced practices such as:
- The semi-suspension,
- Partial suspension lines,
- The complete suspension.
Because it concentrates the stress on the upper body, the Gote demands absolute precision. The slightest error in placement or tension directly impacts the safety and comfort of the model.
Safety: a harness that must be perfectly mastered
Gote Shibari is unfortunately the primary cause of radial nerve injuries in Shibari. These injuries are almost always due to:
- Incorrect arm positioning
- Unevenly distributed tensions across both towers
- A harness that is too tight or, conversely, insufficiently structured,
- A lack of knowledge of anatomy and areas of risk.
An incorrectly executed Gote harness can lead to numbness, loss of sensation, or more serious nerve damage. Therefore, this harness should never be taught hastily.
A course dedicated to Gote Shibari
This 2 -hour Gote Shibari course is entirely dedicated to understanding and mastering this specific harness.
We are working on it in detail:
- The correct positioning of the arms ,
- Managing the right tensions on both towers ,
- The overall balance of the harness,
- Points of vigilance related to nervous system safety.
Each step is broken down precisely so that you can understand not only how to do it, but above all why .
A gradual and repeatable learning process
Gote Shibari is a complex harness technique that requires time and repetition. This course can be booked multiple times to consolidate skills, refine movements, and improve fluidity.
Revisiting this harness allows us to correct dangerous automatic movements, improve the readability of tensions, and build a sustainable and responsible practice.
Building solid foundations to go further
Gote is not an end in itself, but a foundation. Once mastered, it opens access to more intense forms of constraint, a more refined reading of the body, and advanced practices such as semi-suspension and suspension.
At the School of Ropes, we advocate a rigorous, conscious and respectful approach to Gote Shibari , so that each practitioner can progress safely and with confidence.
