Best products from r/shibari

I also thank you very much for the effort putting together the resources.

 

Sorry for being such a nit-picker and please, don't take me wrong, I don't want to be rude or anything, quite opposite, I just want to friendly let you know (and possibly help) that:

• The second link is broken but it's still hopefully seamlessly accesible via Internet Archive - for example through this link.
  
• The same applies for the fourth link - a link via archive (not sure whether all pictures works correctly and I also wasn't able to retrieve an english version of the site/instructions, but I just qucikly skimmed across it so far).
  
• Unfortunately, the sixth link isn't working too. I think the updated link to the publisher's site might be this one (but not sure, it seems that's a different author than the one stated in the resources list. But it's a book so I think the most important information in that resources list is how to order a PDF:) Or maybe the name of the author, anyone can google...
  
• The number eight I was again able to get via archive here but the videos aren't obviously working there. (From my quick research I think that the author of the site moved here: http://shibaritutorials.com/.)
  
• The links from the number nine looks also broken (except possibly the last one) but I'm personally on the beginning of the researching your amazingly beautiful and aesthetic interest so I think I'll be good to sticking to your advice "for a beginner I would recommend cotton":) I'm pretty sure that in-depth details of the materials I can postpone for later. (I'm on the VERY beginning - gathering information etc, not planing to tie anyone in the near future.)
  
   
  
  Okay, that must look very nitpickingly:D Sorry for that, I don't really mean it. And it gets even weirder because the main reason I'm writting this comment is completely different. I've found this archived thread - A Beginner's Guide to Kinbaku (#10 from the list) - where there're a four recommendations for a books on the topic, suitable for beginners.
  
  They seem lil bit older (10+ years) but I don't mind that at all. On top of that, it seems to me there are many many others. (From what I've quickly skimmed so far - this one looks interesting. But as I said, just from a quick Amazon search of the term "shibari" there is a whole lot of others. Also, this piece called The Beauty of Kinbaku somehow got my attention... that it might be very profound or something. (But I suppose not much suitable for completely newbie looking just for how-tos for tying and (a lot of:)) introductory-type of information.)
  
  So as myself being hopeless bookworm (and admittedly a paper/e-ink dinosaur) could you recommend - or anybody from the whole community - the best (in your opinion) 1-3 books suitable for beginners? Or do you know if there's a good (curated ideally) list of beginners books on shibari/kinbaku (short descriptions with an evaluation, pros and cons, etc)? Or just which one would you recommend the most to start with?
  
  (My goal is to learn as much as I can on my own... maybe later try some entirely safe basics with my (uninterested) friend(s)... before I get involved IRL in the community. In short, at the moment I'm just doing my research:) I don't haste anywhere, it may take me months or even years, I don't have any special intention, just a pure interest or fascination of your amazingly beautiful art:))
  
  Thank you in advance.

Hey,
Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage by Midori is a delicate way to introduce someone to the pleasure of rope bondage especially if they have no prior experience in kink. The techniques introduced in the book are easy to follow and honestly, the style of the author is truly enjoyable and erotic. The ties are fairly simple so if you know how to tie a double column tie you probably will get more benefits of the next book.

Essence of Shibari: Kinbaku and Japanese Rope Bondage by Shin Nawakari provides a less entertaining but way more professional/technical focused approach. It still starts from the real basics but by the end of the book, intermediate ties are introduced. I recommend this book from my heart to someone who already knows that they are into shibari.

The static picture-based guides might be hectic in the beginning but luckily https://crash-restraint.com/ has plenty of high-quality videos for free.

---

For intermediate and above progression I was studying from https://vimeo.com/ondemand/shibaristudy. Superb content with advanced techniques and bondages mostly for suspension. (In this level, it might be also good to join your local shibari community and learn directly from more experienced people.)

Here you are!

http://www.reddenmarine.com/commercial/seine-gear/rings.html

Then a carabiner is about 5-10 dollars. I love this one, but I'm only now getting into it:

http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-Ovatti-Screw-Locking-Carabiner-Black/dp/B008KEC71S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1462529489&sr=8-4&keywords=fusion+carabiner

I've read that oval is better, but I've also heard you want flat ends. Up to you I guess.

If you don't care about vertical space, get one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-Delta-Swivel-Black/dp/B00AEL8KX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462529556&sr=8-1&keywords=swivel+climbing

If you do care about vertical space, get this:
http://www.amazon.com/Fusion-Shackle-Swivel-Black/dp/B008KEDXXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462529588&sr=8-1&keywords=fusion+shackle

Being a poor college student, I've done a good bit of research on the best bang for the buck for suspension equipment :)

Have fun

Microwave_safe_bowl is right.

Myerchin Knife Stainless Steel Marlinspike Spike A008 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01882RIHE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lh-kzbKJTFK8X

I'm a fan of Myerchin Marlinspikes for sailing. Haven't needed one for shibari yet but they are a nice tool to have when working with ropes. The blunter tip won't damage your rope like screwdrivers or other tools.

Another solution for undoing a jammed or tight knot is two parts. Try twisting the line along the direction of the lay and push. This will tighten up the line in that section and sometimes allow the line to get by. Work from the bitter end first but sometimes you have to work both sides of a knot a few times. Some knots untie easily once folded in half breaking their back. Bowlines in particular but not sure how to explain that without showing it.

Very curious about this too! I've been wanting a portable hard point, so far have looked at:

• custom welded brackets for swingsets - easily slide some beams into bracket, a easy big heavy A-frame thing (https://www.walmart.com/ip/Swingan-A-Frame-Bracket-Green-Powder-Coating-Set-Of-2/55553867)
  
• used a portable hanging chair stand - support legs/base directly under hard point. simple and portable, ends up being awkward https://www.amazon.com/ProSource-Steel-C-Frame-Hammock-Chair/dp/B0033Z1RFG
  
• bamboo/poles lashed in tripod - definitely simple and sturdy, have found wildly varying safety advice on selecting bamboo/materials.
  
• various tall stands for silk aerials/acro-yoga/trapeze stuff - looks nice, but expensive https://trapezerigging.com/products/indoor-rigging?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI74290JjG1gIVEJt-Ch3crAQ6EAQYAiABEgJJvfD_BwE
  
  Anyone have advice on picking something, or cheaper portable metal designs?
  
  edit: and of course, wouldn't we all like one of these?

So funny idea. I was on Amazon looking for a new water bottle holder and I stumbled across this. Anyone could do their own ties on the bottle and get some interesting designs out of it. I doubt anyone in public would even realize is was anything other than just a regular water bottle nest.

The Beauty of Kinbaku discusses the history from hojojutsu to kinbaku very well. Essentially, the idea is that hojo was used in historic battles to capture important people.

Later, they wanted to portray this battles and capture scenes in plays. But hojo ties were both dangerous and difficult to see since they were almost entirely on the captured person's back. So this led to the development of less dangerous ties that had "front" elements that could be seen by the audience without the tied person having to turn their back to the audience.

It's a fascinating book!

I do similar, only I use a mix of tsubaki oil (https://smile.amazon.com/Organic-Camellia-Bottle-Sweet-Essentials/dp/B01KY9LVH2/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1500319608&sr=1-5&keywords=tsubaki+oil) and raw beeswax. Definitely don't overwork your rope, especially if using it for suspensions of any kind. Work the oil in using your preferred method. Bake it if you like, but just enough to work in the oil mix and make it pliable.

Ahh gotcha. Amazon has some decent entry-level nylon that comes in 100ft lengths if you don’t mind cutting the lengths yourself and finishing the ends. I’ve suspended with it and it’s alright. Might be suitable depending on shipping.

I asked this question a while ago. Since then I've tried both. Here's my findings.

I prefer whipping to a stopper knot.

Stopper knots
pros:

• quick and easy
  
• rarely come undone, if ever
  
• reliable
  
  Cons:
  
• stopper knots are hard to pull through when you go under a pre-existing line
  
• aesthetically not appealing
  
• uncomfortable at times
  
  Whipping
  pros:
  
• they have a low profile, so they're easy to slide under tight already-laid lines
  
• pretty
  
• variations on how to finish them, a) cut them short and abrupt for a neat end, or b) brush the strands out so they finish with a horse-tail end (very pretty)
  
  Cons:
  
• difficult at first
  
• requires practice
  
• can be unreliable* (see point below)
  
• ideal whipping material can be hard to come across** (point two)
  
  I fucked up with whipped ends when I first did them. I made them way too long and they slipped off. The length of them should be 1.5x the width of the rope used.
  
  The trick is to wrap around the rope really tightly. I also put a overhand knot in the rope lower down to prevent unraveling.
  
  I've used cheap sewing thread, but you really need to get your hands on some waxed thread.
  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01EHQ4738?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_pd_title
  
  This is the method I follow. No needle needed: https://youtu.be/Cj_Cq5Ocn3w