Common Positions for Rope Bondage
In rope bondage, people can follow patterns and common shapes. Some have names, others don’t. Most terms refer to a concept that is somewhat fluid, but with some specific versions or variations. The list of terms below is unlikely to ever be complete, but it provides a good starting point for understanding rope bondage.
Positions
Agura (胡座)
A cross legged, seated position that is considered to be “barbarian” in Japan. The position is also a tie called Agura shibari (胡座縛り). It is also sometimes referred to as tailor sitting.
Caterpillar Tie
An asymmetric tie that uses a chest harness that secures the arms to the back. One ankle is tied to the opposite thigh behind, while the other ankle is crossed over that leg in the front. In Japanese, this is known as Imo mushi shibari (芋虫縛り)
Crab Tie
A tie where on each side the wrist is tied to the lower leg of the same side. This looks similar to a "happy baby pose" in yoga. In Japanese, this is known as Kaikyaku kani shibari (開脚蟹縛り).
Daruma Shibari (達磨縛り)
A tie where the legs are folded and tied on the sides of the body, and the arms pass through the legs and are fixed in place to the hips. This creates a very open body position.
Face Down
A suspension type where the person is facing the floor.
Face Up
A suspension type where the person is facing the ceiling.
Frog Tie
A tie where on each side the legs are tied into a futomomo (the upper leg is secured to the lower leg), and the wrists are connected to the thighs, making the person sit similar to a frog.
Hashigata Zuri (橋型吊り)
A suspension where the person creates a bridge-like shape by being lifted from a hip harness in the front and arching the back backwards.
Hog Tie
A tie where the wrists and ankles are traditionally tied together behind the back of the person. In more elaborate variations, the legs are tied into futomomos (with upper leggs secured to lower legs) and the arms are tied in a box tie or gote. This makes the person more compact and looks somewhat like the shrimp tie, but folded backwards. In Japanese it is therefore known as Gyaku-ebi shibari (逆海老縛り), or Gyaku-ebi-zuri (逆海老吊り) when it is suspended.
Inversion
A suspension type where the person is hung with their head below their body. In Japanese, this is known as Sakasa zuri (逆さ吊り).
Kata Ashi Sakasa Zuri (片足逆さ吊り)
Related to Kata ashi zuri (below), but with the leg specifically pulled upwards behind the body to create an inversion.
Kata Ashi Zuri (片足吊り)
Translates from, kata (片 or single), ashi (足 or leg) and tsuri ( 吊り or suspension). The position relates to a single leg being lifted without stating how far and in what direction.
Running Person
Also known as the “running man”, the person is suspended vertically by the chest and has one leg forwards lifted by the thigh and the other one lifted backwards by the ankle. This creates a shape as if the person was running. In Japanese, this is known as Hikyaku zuri (飛脚吊り).
Seiza (正座)
A traditional seated posture commonly seen in Japan and martial arts, where a person kneels with their buttocks resting on their heels. This position is often used as a starting point in Japanese-inspired rope bondage.
Side Suspension
A suspension type where the person is hung on their side. In Japanese, this is known as Yokozuri (横吊り).
Shrimp Tie
A seated, cross-legged position in which the head and chest are pulled towards the ankles, creating a small package. In Japanese, this is known as Ebi shibari (海老縛り). Variations include Ebi-zeme (海老責め) for the torture version, and Ebi-zuri (海老吊り) for a suspension version.
Torsion
A tying position in which the tension of the rope forces the person's body into a twist.
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