Rope & restraint
Rope bondage: a beginner's guide
Rope bondage, often called shibari, is as much about the process and the look as the restraint. Tying can feel meditative for both people.
In the quiz
- Rope bondage (shibari)
- Full-body wrapping
- A hogtie, or a tie you truly can’t get out of
- Suspension bondage
How to start
- Learn one or two simple ties from a class or a reputable video course.
- Start with wrists in front, loose enough to slide two fingers under.
- Tie for ten minutes, then untie slowly. The untying is part of it.
- Use rope made for bondage, not hardware-store rope.
How to keep it safe
- Nerve compression is the most common rope injury. Pressure on the outside of the upper arm can cause wrist drop, so keep rope off that area.
- Untie at the first sign of numbness, tingling or weakness.
- Keep safety shears in reach.
- Leave hogties and suspension until after in-person training.
What you need
- Starter: two or three lengths of soft jute or hemp rope and safety shears.
- Upgrade: a local rope class.
Ideas to try
- A decorative chest harness worn under clothes for an evening.
- Tie, take a photo for yourselves, untie.
Is your partner into it too?
Take the quiz on your own phones. You'll only see rope bondage in your results if you both said some kind of yes.
Sources
- (2023). Acute radial compressive neuropathy: The most common injury induced by Japanese rope bondage. Cureus.
- Brown, Barker & Rahman (2020). A systematic scoping review of the prevalence, etiological, psychological, and interpersonal factors associated with BDSM. Journal of Sex Research.
Related guides
- Restraint basics
Being held down or tied up so you can’t do anything but receive. It’s one of the most common kinks, and you can start with hands alone.
Educational, not medical or legal advice. Updated 2026-11-09.