with Gestalta
Unlock the beauty and potential of the Takate Kote, a timeless staple of Japanese-inspired rope bondage.
The Takate Kote (also known as 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.
Unfortunately, in recent years, the TK has gained something of a bad reputation due to its potential for discomfort and injury. Gestalta, who personally loves this tie both for its feeling and its flow, firmly believes that with conscious and skillful execution, it can be adapted to suit a broader range of individuals—including those who may have previously felt averse to TKs.
In this carefully crafted workshop, participants will dive deep into the different ‘families’ of TK. You'll gain extensive knowledge not only of the practical techniques for safely and comfortably tying TKs, but also of the underlying principles behind their specific constructions. We'll cover anatomy, nerves, and shoulder positioning, emphasizing the variations among different body types and how the rope interacts with the body—helping us develop a fuller understanding of the mechanisms at play beneath the surface. We’ll also examine common safety issues and how uplines impact the harness, empowering both tops and bottoms with valuable skills and awareness.
We will cover:
Anatomy: nerves and 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 TKs and body types.
A look at the use of the third rope.
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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.
If you are unsure if this workshop is for you, please contact us.
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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.