Today we are going to explore a popular shibari tie, the Strappado (arm binder). It is indeed beautiful, but it is a style that needs a lot of skill and consideration while tying. In this article, I will talk about the tie, how to tie it safely, and show you 5 beautiful strappado options that you can try (with video guides!).
But first… in case you are new here …
What is shibari? Shibari is the intricate art of Japanese rope tying, tight binding, if translated literally.
Recently shibari has been getting out of the BDSM scene and becoming more mainstream. It is seen as a contemporary art form and a medium for meditation and connection, inviting an exploration of both its aesthetic and emotional depth.
The practice of shibari originated from Hojōjutsu, a martial art used by Samurai in feudal Japan to capture and restrain prisoners. Over time, these techniques were refined and transformed into an erotic art form, known as Kinbaku, which emphasizes not just the aesthetic arrangement of ropes but also the emotional and psychological play between participants.
Today, we are going to look into one of its more challenging and popular positions—the strappado. This pose, where the arms are bound behind the back and can be lifted, combines vulnerability with the beauty of constraint and gives you a lot of possibilities to create your own designs and shapes.
Strappado is a tie with arms bound straight in the back, also can be called an arm binder. It compresses the shoulders close together and it forces your model to have a very straight posture. There are many ways to tie a strappado, and we will cover 5 of them in this blog.
When I was researching strappados in the Japanese language (did you know I also speak Japanese!?) it gave me some options. I found photos and videos of different strappados under this name - 後手直進縛り gote chokushin shibari 後手 gote - hands in the back 直進 chokushin - straight 縛りshibari - shibari, or one more - Reverse Shakuhachi shibari, and more - “ryo-ude ushiro awase shibari” (literally arms tied together behind back) or Ushiro tekubi shibari (wrists tied behind back).
It left me with questions. Why does this popular style of tie not have a consistent name?
However, I asked the masters in Japan, and thanks to help of Marukunawa, found out this. There is no official name for strappado in Japan. Surprise!
Names are very descriptive, and different masters can name knots in the way they want to. For example, Akechi Kanna (@nawashikanna) uses 両腕後ろ合わせ which does not imply stretched arms in the name.
One more rigger said they use 伸腕後手, which means streched arm in the back. He points out, that kinbaku is very young and most positions don’t have names except descriptive ones and each famous person may have a different name for each position.
To be able to tie a strappado you need a model, 1-3 ropes, and a lot of practice!
You can choose any rope depending on your preferences. Every rigger tends to have their own favorites from the many choices of materials, lengths, and colors.
Personally, I prefer two types of rope - jute or POSH. Jute is a more traditional material, used in Japan more often. My preferred length is 8 meters long and 5.5 mm in diameter. This choice is due to the jute's durability and aesthetic appeal, which aligns well with the traditional look of Shibari. Also, it feels very good on the skin. Jute rope may be a bit rough, but this is why we like it ;) Shop JUTE here.
However, for those who want something silkier, POSH rope—a softer, synthetic alternative—might be recommended for its strength and reduced risk of rope burns or cuts. The rope is really silky smooth, but looks like jute and is more durable! Shop POSH here.
To ensure comfort and safety, you need to ask your model to stretch their shoulders and arms before you begin to tie. Ask them to do a few exercises for mobility, such as shrugging their shoulders and stretching their arms.
Before tying, also check how close your model can position their arms behind their back comfortably. And try to keep this position throughout the whole tie.
Tying quite tight is important for a strappado tie. If your ropes are not tied tightly on the arms they will fall, and it is really sad to see your ropes fall! You need to make sure you are tying your model in the best position they can do from the very beginning, because if they suddenly decide to stretch more and put their arms closer together in the middle or at the end of the tying process - all of your beautiful rope work will just fall off.
So please do not imitate blindly, do your preparation, as this tie requires skill and patience.
Please be very careful tying the strappado, as this tie goes on the arms and wrists and can affect nerves. Make sure to check the safety measures, and rope placement on the body and keep communicating with your model through the whole process of tying.
Remember, this should not be painful! We aim for comfortable shibari here. If your model feels discomfort, tingling, or loses the feeling of fingers, you need to adjust the tie or untie and try a different tie. Some ties just don’t work for some people and that is ok! Everybody is different. There is no universal tie or placement that fits everyone. This is why we have so many ties =)
Strappado can be tied with one rope. This is not going to be a tie that covers the whole arms, but it will hold the shoulders back. You can find this strappado at the Osada Steve website as a part of “aisatsu shibari” - shibari to get to know your partner's arm flexibility.
For this tie you will need a regular length rope (8 meters).
Start with the middle of the rope over the neck and then pass it under the armpits as if you’re wearing a backpack. Pull the middle lower so it is not touching the neck, pass the rope through the middle and direct it downwards.
Then work with 4 ropes at the same time. Pass your ropes to the left arm over the arm, then to the right arm under the arm, then come back and tie all lines together in the middle.
You can see the process on this video, here.
I love the dragonfly strappado. This strappado variation is somewhere in the middle of a decorative and a restrictive tie and you can bring a lot of character into it. You need 2 ropes for this tie.
With the dragonfly strappado, there's no need to bring the arms very close together. In fact, having them too close can be detrimental to the design, as it leaves no ‘canvas’ to work with. By keeping some space between the arms, you ensure that when the main structure is complete, there's room to decorate with the remaining rope.
Just make sure that you fix the arms in one position from the beginning and your model doesn’t put them closer together in the middle of tying - because then your whole work will just slide right down their arms!
The hardest thing here is the start. Here is my instruction guide with photos. Or you can also watch this video to see the whole tie.
Watch Video tutorial here https://youtu.be/CsBm1h2SFYM
If you have already tied diamond karadas or futomomos, you will be able to learn how to tie a diamond strappado very quickly. This strappado also is great for those models who can not put their arms very close together in the back.
Depending on the length of the rope and the size of your model, you need 2-3 ropes for this tie.
This one starts from a double-column tie on the wrists and then builds up. Follow this video to tie your diamond strappado.
This strappado style is best for riggers at an intermediate level, as it requires a little more skill.
You need 2 ropes for this tie. Although this is probably the “simplest” way to tie a strappado, at the same time, is is also the most difficult one! The difficulty comes in keeping everything clean.
You will really face the challenge of having all the ropes straightened out during the tie. My top tip is to keep all 4 lines nice and tidy and then you will be able to do this tie.
Follow this video to tie a Four Line Strappado.
This is my favorite strappado tie in terms of both they way it looks and its functionality. You need 1 short rope and 2 long ones to create this tie. This is a very comfortable strappado that builds up from a double-column tie on the wrists.
This strappado is more comfortable for most models as it distributes the rope tension nicely throughout the arms, has comfortable cinches, and in the end you can add a third rope to create extra line on the shoulders and decorate your tie.
You can learn this harness from Tati Limati online or in a live class. (@tatilimati)
When tying a strappado, the main technical concern is the potential strain on the shoulders and arms. It's crucial to be aware of the body's nerves, especially in the shoulders, arms, and wrists, to prevent any long-term damage.
You need to understand the anatomical risks involved, especially concerning the nerves in the shoulders, arms, and wrists. This understanding not only ensures the physical safety of the person being bound, but also enhances the overall experience by preventing potential long-term nerve damage.
Be sure to communicate clearly throughout the process with your model asking them how everything feels and making sure you don’t put the rope uncomfortably and compress the nerves or cut the blood flow completely.
Check out this article to dive deeper into the nerves: https://ropestudy.com/courses/101/lessons/reducing-risk/topic/nerves/ or https://www.shibariclasses.com/courses/7172/lectures/110914
The complexity of strappado requires clear communication and an understanding of physical limits. Preparations for a Shibari session should include discussions about personal boundaries, and a thorough stretching routine to mitigate the risk of injury. Aftercare is also critical, ensuring that both participants can debrief and care for any emotional or physical aftereffects of the session.
Strappado in Shibari is not merely a form of bondage but a profound artistic and emotional journey that demands respect, understanding, and careful practice.
I hope you find a strappado of your liking among these 5 i have shown you, or even get inspired to create your own. Always make sure to practice safely.
I highly recommend joining real life shibari classes in your area, or if there is no possibility of this, you can try an online shibari class. You can find some here and start learning with Voudou Ropes from any level. Today you can start with this FREE SHIBARI COURSE.
Thank you for reading,
Stay Knotty
Anastasia
