of Ropes is the first French school offering structured and supervised training in Japanese bondage . We offer numerous sessions to discover this practice, including shibari and kinbaku classes . Japanese bondage is the product of history that is worth exploring to deepen one's knowledge.
The origins of Japanese bondage
This practice originates in feudal Japan with hojojutsu, the art of capturing and binding prisoners. This martial art, unlike modern-day Shibari, was dedicated to torture and physically incapacitating prisoners.
Very popular during the Edo period, prisoners were publicly exhibited and tied up using various techniques until they died.
The knots, the type of rope, and the positions depended on the individual's rank and the type of crime they had committed. The sexualization of Japanese bondage was nonexistent, and there was no connection or communication between the rigger and the bound. This practice of shibari was therefore very different from the modern practice that would later develop.
Ito Seiu, the father of Japanese bondage
This artist, who lived in the 1900s, discovered a passion for torture and rope-based punishments. To perfect his knowledge, he dedicated a portion of his life to reproducing the knots and positions seen in older prints and Shunga (erotic prints). He practiced these techniques on his various wives and mistresses, increasingly exploring the beauty and eroticism of suffering . He experimented extensively to find the expressions that most inspired him; for example, he made his wife walk for a long time in the snow, or suspended her by her ankles while pregnant. To prepare his prints, he took numerous preparatory photographs, which he eventually published. His work resonated with many authors of erotic fiction, who developed a whole imaginary world around these images and Japanese bondage.
The rise of Japanese bondage
Later in the 1950s, BDSM magazines like Kitan Club emerged. These magazines began publishing erotic stories by authors inspired by Japanese bondage and, a little later, sought to illustrate them. They commissioned photographers and Japanese bondage enthusiasts who had followed in the footsteps of Ito Seiu to provide images of bound and restrained men and women. Techniques became increasingly sophisticated, and the images more and more impressive; the first suspensions appeared. Bondage iconography grew richer, and the images more and more beautiful. The idea was to capture the emotion conveyed by ropes and Japanese bondage.
The distinctive aesthetic of shibari was thus born, becoming a very important element in the philosophy of Japanese bondage. The figures must conform to a highly refined visual style, sometimes offering spectacular views.
The practice then evolved, particularly through its internationalization. Through contact with new cultures, traditional Japanese bondage sometimes evolved into new forms. This is notably the case with American bondage , which emerged from the presence of the American army in Japan from 1945 to 1952.
Practicing Japanese bondage at the School of Ropes
If you want to learn more and practice Japanese bondage, the Ecole Des Cordes offers:
Twice a month on Saturdays, a workshop is held . We teach Japanese bondage and offer kinbaku and shibari lessons . Beginners and those new to the practice are welcome.
We offer classes 3 Tuesday evenings per month and 2 Saturday afternoons per month for people starting out in the art of Shibari.
For more experienced practitioners, the School of Ropes offers various workshops to refine their bondage skills. These sessions can be held in a completely private setting with the instructor or semi-private in a small group. These sessions allow participants to explore new Japanese bondage techniques and deepen their practice. The School of Ropes also offers easily accessible online tutorials for practicing at home with the correct techniques.
Before embarking on the practice of Japanese bondage, it is important to know the basic techniques and to use the right equipment (jute ropes) in order to avoid accidents that could cause injuries.
The School of Ropes also offers BDSM sessions as well as sex therapy sessions to help people fulfill themselves and discover more about their own pleasure.
Access to this site is restricted to adults only. This website is intended for a mature audience. It contains texts and images of shibari, Japanese bondage, and kinbaku, some of which are classified as X-rated, erotic, and BDSM, which may be disturbing to some viewers and are prohibited for minors.