Kinbaku, meaning Japanese-style bondage, undoubtedly is among the geekiest variations in the already pretty geeky world of kink. The mere technique and skills involved in attaining a good-looking – and possibly safe – tie require lots of studies, so it is no surprise for entire websites to exist dedicated to the appreciation of this erotic art. One I especially like is Kinbaku Today, characterized by a really serious approach which is miles away from your average «Here’s a pretty girl in lots of rope. Now shut up and wank, you pervert!» attitude favored by so many “specialized” outlets.
To find proof of this, you don’t have to go much farther than their World Rope Bondage Report, a survey held last December to assess the state of the international kinbaku scene. I was allowed to share their findings, who are probably way too detailed for anyone who doesn’t lives and breathes bondage, but interesting nonetheless.
Also, the author asked me to invite you to take part in this year’s edition of the survey, featuring slightly different and potentially very poignant questions. You only have until the new year’s eve to participate, so don’t dally, please!
As we wait for the new results, here is the often self-explaining diagrams that came out of the 2017 round…
The author of the survey acknowledges that the respondents were quite self-selected among a specific niche of Western readers particularly into Japanese-style bondage and the above-mentioned technical approach, but this is going to get rather interesting.
Most of the respondents had four years or less experience with ropes.
The growth in popularity of bondage compared to the previous years closely reflects the survey population, so I wouldn’t take that skyrocketing blue line as the umpteenth proof of an erotic fad.
Get ready for a surprise: while lots of enthusiasts will claim that theirs is mostly an artistic pastime when asked in person, three-quarter of them do admit their passion for ropes has a sexual raison d’etre. I can’t fathom the reason for such shyness, but the diagrams below really felt like a relief to me.
Oh. So, even among the dedicated public of a highly specific website, the majority of the respondents don’t really indulge very often in their passion.
Turns out that 35.3% of the surveyed population didn’t have a teacher nor a “peer” (read: other beginner) to help them spot their possible mistakes and correct potentially dangerous tying practices.
Why am I not surprised that the above diagram closely reflects the stereotypical cultural attitudes of the various continents?
Here comes the part that most interested me. The following charts basically show the answers when people were asked about their actual proficiency with ropes.
«Sure, pal! I am not very experienced, but I customarily do put my partners in extremely complex and dangerous situations anyway!»
I am terrified by that 10%-plus of absolute beginners who immediately dive into suspensions, especially when the actual experts on the leftmost side of the chart seem to agree on how hanging people from the ceiling isn’t that important after all to have fun.
«Hi! I profess my undying love for kinbaku, but you won’t catch me in an actual Japanese bondage class if my life depended on that.»
Next time you choose your bondage teacher, just remember that scary spike in “professional” nawa-sensei after three mere years of dabbling with ropes.
Below, a summary of the cutest survey answers.