Shibari styles are based on theoretical and philosophical principles that define their essential elements and unique characteristics.
These concepts are not always clearly outlined or defined, as these ryûs have often developed in a somewhat unplanned way, and they're relatively new.
They are often inspired by martial arts or Taoist and Zen philosophies, Probably the best known framework is the "Nine Gates of Osada-Ryû".
The principles of a school or style should act as a unifying thread, influencing all its techniques and forms consistently.
In theory, that's how it should work. But more often than not, these principles end up being little more than exotic-sounding fluff, meant to make something seem deep, when in reality there isn't much beyond what you see on the surface.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of these conceptual foundations, hoping to spark ideas and suggest perspectives that might enrich your shibari practice - or at least give you something interesting to think about.
The Nine Gates of Osada-Ryû
These are the best-known precepts. Not being an expert in this style of shibari, I’ll simply outline them here:
- Tachi-ichi (立位置) – Position. Refers to the positioning and dynamic between the person tying and the person being tied, known in this style as Bakushi and Ukete, respectively.
- Ma-ai (間合い) – Proximity. Describes the distance—or lack thereof—between the two parties.
- Sabaku (捌く) – Rope handling. This involves moving the rope with elegance, efficiency, and minimal friction.
- Urawaza (裏技) – Hidden techniques. These are subtle interactions between the two participants that remain imperceptible to the audience, as this style is highly focused on public shibari.
- Ki (気) – (Energy). A mystical Eastern concept that, in this style, refers to the "energy exchange" between the participants.
- Kankyû (緩急) – Tempo. Covers pauses, changes in rhythm, and the flow of time throughout the session.
- Kan (勘) – (Intuition). Refers to the ability to intuitively anticipate the next steps and emotional states during the shibari encounter.
- Muganawa (無我縄) – (Empty mind). A special mental state achieved when all the previous precepts align, resulting in extraordinary clarity and focus.
- Kuden (口伝) – (Oral tradition). The direct, vertical transmission of knowledge from the sensei, passed down through verbal teaching.
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