Shibari is the skill and craft of tying by using ropes. This artform can also be called kinbaku, or bondage. 

These are actually just different words for activities that are in essence very similar, or even identical. 

The choice in the name used for Shibari is basically a reflection of the personal opinions and worldviews of the people involved in it.

Every physical activity can be dangerous in general, and that is especially true for challenging physical activities, as they will necessarily involve, to some degree, the risk of injury. 

As such, those who practice Shibari are exposed to a variety of potential injuries, be they orthopaedic or neurological. Reckless practices can even amount to death in some extreme cases. 

However, the reality is that with simple, basic precautions, the odds of getting lesioned are very low and the chances of irreversible damage, completely negligible.

Yes!

Shibari is suitable for every single person that is interested in it. 

Gender, body type, weight, flexibility, etc, aren’t in any way factors that could prevent someone from practicing Shibari. Plenty of adjustments can be made so that Shibari is adapted to the person engaging in it.

Shibari can hurt, or not. 

Pain or pleasure depend on the personal choice of the participants, as the specific activities performed are their decision. 

In general, ground-based ties tend to be more gentle, just as suspension always tends to cause more pressure and challenge to the body, to some extent. 

That being said, a good rope top will know how to fit the tie to the capabilities and wants of their partner.

A Jam is basically a “rope get-together”. It takes place every week, Saturday night, and everyone is welcome to come, meet other people, play, observe, and in general, just have fun and be in good company. 

You can come alone, with a partner, with a group. There are no knowledge requirements or pre-requisites – just a good atmosphere. (By the way, snacks and tasty things are always welcome).

The first class is usually an “Introduction to Shibari” one. We will talk a lot about safety and you’ll be taught a few basic knots, which you can practice on yourself or on your partner. Then we’ll show you some of the applications for those knots, so that you can start using them and having fun right from the start.

We recommend the type of comfortable clothes you would usually wear for sports/gym. 

It’s best not to wear clothes that are too loose, because they can get entangled with the ropes.

For the “Introduction to Shibari”, you can come alone, although we always recommend bringing a partner.

It is also possible to come by yourself to some of the “Shibari Skills” classes, but on others you’ll need to bring a partner, as the lesson will focus on ties that you can’t practice on yourself. 

For the most part, “Applications” and “Advanced” classes are suitable for couples only, unless it was otherwise specified. 

In any case, in the details of each class at our website, it is always written if the activity is suitable for singles or if it’s for couples only.

There are plenty of ways to find a partner to join you for classes or activities:

The studio’s Facebook group (Ka-sure), on our Facebook page (חבלים וחברים), our Telegram group, and also here on our website, in the bulletin board – Connections.

There are many types of ropes that can be safely used for Shibari. They can be made from natural materials (jute, hemp, coconut, bamboo,…) or they can be synthetic. 

It is customary to use natural ropes for Shibari, usually ones made from jute or hemp, with a thickness of about 5-7 mm.

When you’ve just started learning and practicing, two ropes are enough. 

Later on, when you reach classes about harnesses, ground ties and so on, four ropes in total will suffice. 

A full tying set, which includes more complex gear for suspension, usually contains about 8-12 ropes.

Ropes can be purchased at the studio. If you wish to buy ropes from another source (internet, adult stores, construction/climbing stores), we recommend that you consult with us first. Sometimes those ropes aren’t safe to be used for Shibari, even if it says so on the label.

We provide ropes at the studio for learning and training in the basic classes. However, if you want to continue to practice your skills at home – and this is really important – you will need ropes.

Yes, absolutely! Just keep in mind that this is a complex process, and it is recommended that you wait a little bit, and start making your own ropes once you understand more about them, and already know your preferences in terms of thickness, rigidity, type of material and so on.

Shibari is a special way to establish connection. The nature of this connection and all that it entails will depend entirely on the people participating in it, on what they want and choose. 

Many decide to use Shibari in a BDSM setting, but Shibari can also be completely detached from the BDSM world and constitute as a means of communication that is fully separate from this field.

No, Shibari classes in the studio do not include nudity or sexuality!

In order to provide a learning atmosphere and a safe environment for everyone, we maintain a safe space that does not include nudity or sexuality during classes.