with Gestalta & Asimira | This workshop will be taught in English

Unlock the beauty and potential of the Takate Kote, a timeless staple of Japanese-inspired rope bondage. 

Workshop Description

The Takate Kote (also known as TK, Gote or Box Tie) is a complex tie, containing a wide range of valuable principles and techniques that have applications in many other areas of shibari practice.

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Unfortunately, in recent years, the TK has gained something of a bad reputation due to the potential of discomfort and injury. Gestalta used to find being in a TK easy for their body, but after many years of physically stressful rope bottoming has developed a much more complex relationship with it, yet despite this still personally loves this tie both for its feeling and its flow and firmly believes that with conscious and skillful execution, it can be tied relatively safely, and adapted to suit a broad range of individuals. Asimira used to believe the TK didn't work for her body, but through understanding the mechanics of both the harness and the body now deeply loves being in it. She will add her knowledge of anatomy and body manipulation gained through her physiotherapy training and experience as a rope bottom to help us gain a much fuller understanding of the mechanisms at play beneath the surface.

In this carefully crafted workshop, participants will take a deep dive into different ‘families’ of TK, to understand the underlying principles behind their specific constructions, and also to gain extensive insight into the practical techniques for safely and comfortably tying TKs. We will cover anatomy, nerves and shoulder positioning, common safety issues, and the way uplines impact the harness. Through emphasising the variations among different body types and how the rope interacts with the body, this workshop is designed to empower both tops and bottoms with valuable skills and awareness.

We will cover

• Anatomy: nerves, arm positioning

• Comparison of different families of TK

• Modifications for adapting to different body types

• Considering the physics of uplines, and how this affects different TK’s and body types.

Further Details

• Prerequisites

  This workshop is open to anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of the TK.

  Participants must have at least some familiarity with a TK (of any variety) and also be familiar with single column ties, basic frictions (x-friction, l-friction, nodome etc.), hojo cuffs, applying wraps with even tension, and reverse-tension.

  It would help us greatly if anyone planning to bottom during this workshop send us an email to let us know any specific issues you may have had with TK—hyper-mobility, lack of flexibility, injuries or pain etc.

  If you are unsure if this workshop is for you, please contact us.

• Switching

  Switching is not recommended. If you must switch, we ask that you do so only when we have finished focussing on one family of TK, and have started on the next. Unless both participants are already very advanced, the workshop will not give sufficient time for two people to practice one pattern, receive meaningful feedback, correct any problems, and then switch.

• Booking & Pricing

  Tickets and early bird discounts are released to those on the waiting list first.

  Regular
  240€ per couple for the entire weekend

  Supporter
  260€ per couple for the entire weekend

  Low Income
  220€ per couple for the entire weekend

  If this is unaffordable, please get in contact.

• About the Teachers

  Read more about Gestalta and Asimira by clicking the links.