Ichinawa

Ichinawa - also called Ipponnawa - is the practice of using a single rope during rope play. It is linked to Japanese bondage and uses style elements from Hojōjutsu. Often the style is more flowing and less static. Because the rope is limited, untying and re-tying is part of the process. You will also see more predicament type ties as limited rope forces tyers to work with what they have in creative ways.

Note: One rope does not directly translate to a longer rope. A Japanese bondage rope is typically around 8m (26ft) long. This is true in Ichinawa as well.

Origins of the Term

The term is a fairly literal description of using one rope. This translates to: "one", in Japansese "ichi" 一 (いち), and "rope", in Japanese "nawa" 縄.

Ichinawa vs Ipponnawa

There is some debate about the correct term for this type pf play. Both Ichinawa and Ipponnawa are used, but some sources say that Ichinawa is more appropriate.

• Ichi: "one in a general sense can also mean best"
• Ippon: "one as in one two three… for long cylindrical things, The ‘hon‘ category!"

Both are correct in description and thus both are used.