Bondage knots is about the use of ropes to restrict movement, tie up or suspend a person as part of BDSM activities.
Here you will find everything you need to know about bondage for beginners.
Why are ropes used in BDSM?
Using ropes during sex is a form of dominance. So, if you are the dominant person in the relationship, you will surely enjoy tying up your partner and doing whatever you want with him/her. If you happen to be on the other side of the spectrum, the feeling of restraint and loss of control will take you to new heights of pleasure.
BDSM is derived from the Japanese bondage art form Shibari. The origin of shibari comes from the martial art of captive bondage Hojōjutsu. From 1400 to 1700, ancient samurai warriors used various shackling techniques on their captives to show the honor and status of the captive. However, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, a new form of erotic Hojōjutsu called Kinbaku, the art of erotic bondage, developed. However, especially in the West, the art of erotic bondage is usually referred to as shibari, which is an art of erotic spirituality.
Things to know before you start
- Price – When getting started in BDSM, everyone wonders: is it expensive? Yep. So, if you go to a reputable sex store, you could spend a lot more than you have to. Usually, a good hardware store will have the things you need for a starter kit.
- Diameter – Bondage rope diameters usually range from 4 to 8 mm, with most people opting for 6 mm. Small diameters create knots that are slimmer and are ideal for more detailed work. Larger diameters have more surface area and provide more comfort, but also make the knots bulkier. But small diameter rope should not be used as it can cause injuries such as skin burns, circulation problems, bruising or even scarring.
- The braiding – The braiding affects how tight or loose the knots will become and how difficult it will be to untie them.
- The cutting – You shouldn’t be afraid to cut the bondage rope.
- Care – If necessary, you should wash the bondage rope and store it in a protective cover so that it doesn’t get damaged. You should also cut off loose fibers and loosen the rope in water before using it if it gets too stiff.
- Relax – There is no right or wrong with BDSM. Just relax and experiment with your:mate:in.
Types of Ropes
There are two types of bondage ropes – natural or synthetic. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, but in the end it all comes down to your personal preference.
Natural types of ropes
- Cotton – The material cotton is excellent for bondage fesslung. It is tear-resistant and durable. Also, due to its soft, flexible nature, it does not chafe the skin. One disadvantage of cotton is that it gets dirty quickly and easily. Fortunately, you just need warm water and soap to clean it. I don’t recommend this one for beginners because the knots will get very
- Hemp – Hemp is often used for shibari and is very traditional. Also, hemp is stronger and can be used in suspension. The disadvantage is that its durability is affected by washing, fibers may fall off and allergic reactions may occur.
- Jute – Jute, like hemp, is also commonly used for shibari and is very traditional. However, jute is more expensive, washing or cooking damages the fibers, and it takes more time to break in. The advantage of jute is that the quality improves with each use and is easy to unknot.
- Silk – Silk is similar to cotton in some ways, but better. It is flexible and soft. Silk has low stretch and good durability. But, as you might have guessed, it’s pretty expensive.
- Linen/Fleece – Linen/Fleece is expensive and harder to clean, but those are about the only drawbacks. On the other hand, it has good strength, flexibility, and durability. It doesn’t need to be worked in before use and has no allergy issues, but be careful as it can still leave marks.
- Bamboo – This one may cost a bit more money, but it’s definitely worth it. Flexible and soft, with low stretch and moderate friction, bamboo rope is one of the best you can use. It has good durability, less grip than silk, and antibacterial properties.
- Sisal – Sisal are quite uncomfortable, less stable and do not have enough strength for suspension. Also, the can definitely be used for ground work, but expect to get burned on the rope.
- Coconut – coconut is even more uncomfortable than sisal. It is used when rope burns and discomfort from the bondage rope itself are part of the plan for the scene.
Synthetic types of rope
- Nylon, Paracord, Polyester – Most commonly referred to as nylon rope, bondage rope is smooth and soft, easy to find and clean, very durable and allergy-free. The disadvantages of this type of bondage rope are that it is slippery and rope burns are much more prominent.
- Synthetic Hemp – Synthetic hemp is similar to natural hemp in that it falls off and has no color options. It is cheaper and easier to keep clean. Other advantages are that bondage knots don’t get very compact, supports suspension, and since it’s synthetic, it doesn’t cause allergies.
- MFP Multifilament Polypropylene – The advantages of this type of bondage rope include: low friction, good strength, softness and suppleness, easy to find, no allergies and many colors. Disadvantages are that it is not suitable for suspension and there are more rope burns.
What kind of bondage rope is my favorite?
After trying different types, I have to say that a cotton bondage rope is my absolute favorite. It is ideal for the sensational feeling of rope on my skin. The bondage rope is 10 meters long and allows for a variety of knots and positions. I would recommend it to beginners and experts alike
My first time with the bondage rope in BDSM
I used a BDSM rope for the first time with my partner at a hotel we had booked for the night. We thought it might make the sex more interesting. And it did! My partner had more experience in the BDSM world, so he already had a soft bondage rope.
It was a Saturday, so we had all the time in the world to experiment and try different things. The rope felt a little weird on my skin at first, but as my partner kept adding BDSM knots all over my body, I started to relax and enjoy it.
After hours of experimentation, I was so aroused that I almost burst. I felt every touch on my skin so intensely that I could orgasm at any moment. And I did. That was the first time I used a rope in BDSM, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Once we even used handcuffs as an alternative and I got the same reaction.
The other bondage rope I like to use.
Although this is my favorite, there are many that are pretty equal and comparable to this one. Here are some of them.
Fifty Shades of Grey Bondage Ropes
These special Fifty Shades of Grey bondage ropes are made of triple twisted silk and have no elasticity, so they are great for strong and secure bondage.
They are available in two colors (red and black) and are suitable for both beginners and experts to live out their BDSM fantasies. They are suitable for wrist and ankle bondage or for more complicated full body bondage.
Silk Bondage Rope
This silk bondage rope can be used in any way you desire and for anyone you want. It is perfect for beginners and advanced users.
This extra long rope is great for artistic designs and full body bondage. The soft and shiny surface feels great against your skin.
Japanese style bondage rope.
The soft surface makes it delicate for your skin and has almost no rope burn. You can use it to tie up wrists and ankles or make a nice body harness for your partner, just make sure you have scissors handy in case the knots get a little tight. It is machine washable and can be used countless times.
Bondage knot tutorial
Don’t know how to make beautiful bondage knots? Luckily, there’s YouTube.
Instructions for beginners
Here are some YouTube videos that are perfect how to make different bondage knots.
There is an age restriction on YouTube for the videos. So you have to sign up for YouTube and then you can watch all the videos; if you are already signed up, you shouldn’t mind.
The Basics
The Standard Knot
Here Ater Crudus shows step-by-step a variation of the simple bondage standard knot.
A variation of the standard knot
Here Ater Crudus shows you a variation of the standard bondage knot, the Two Column Tie.
Hand and foot bondage
Here you see bondage knots with which everything starts in bondage and then you can tie up more complicated figures from there. Lisa Grüner shows it primahaft!
Handcuffs Bondage Knot
With this bondage knot you can virtually create handcuffs from a bondage rope. Alternatively, you can also buy sex handcuffs that are specifically designed for BDSM.
Instruction for advanced bondage knots
The hip bondage
Here Eru from Berlin Bondage shows a not so restrictive bondage exercise. Here are the best bondage belts.
Frog Tie
This is a double-sided lacing that is designed to connect the ankle to the thigh. Do you want different types of thigh cuffs to be compared?
Tie up on the bed
Here again Ater Crudus shows with this tutorial how you can decoratively tie your partner to the bed with the standard knot. If it’s more practical to buy a bed restraint set, here are some options for you.
Additional ideas that can be used
Restriction
Try to create variety by tying your partner to a chair, a bed, a sturdy pole or anything else that will catch your attention and can hold a bondage rope.
A popular rack is the SM Andrew cross. Most are made of painted wood or metal, which you can either mount on the wall or have standing in the room. There are several restraints on these crosses so that your sub can be submissively “nailed” to the cross by you.
The suspension
This requires additional equipment (hooks or bars with rings hanging from the ceiling), but if you do it right, it can be a lot of fun.
Safety measures
Safety is your number one priority! Bondage doesn’t just mean applying any bondage knots to tie someone up. You absolutely must make sure that the bondage knots are not allowed to tighten too much under stress, and that you can untie them quickly in case of an emergency. Please have safety equipment on hand in case something goes wrong. Quite simply, if you’re doing a complicated rope bondage, buy a pair of safety scissors and keep them handy just in case you need to cut the ropes to free your sub quickly.
Also use a safeword to let your partner know that something is wrong.
Please never tie anything around a person’s neck or in the front of the neck or in a way that can constrict or pull on the neck. This is extremely dangerous!