Simple Shibari Glossary: The 20 Key Terms to Know When Starting

When you begin practicing Shibari, you’ll quickly encounter Japanese words or BDSM jargon that can be hard to understand. Here’s a clear, useful, and direct glossary of 20 essential terms for a safe and confident practice.

Roles

  • Rigger: the person who ties.

  • Model / Rope bottom: the person being tied.

  • Switch: someone who alternates between both roles.

Gear

  • Rope: the central tool, usually made of jute or hemp, 6 to 8 meters long.

  • Tenugui: a Japanese cloth strip, often used as a blindfold or gag.

  • Ring: used for suspension; made of metal, wood, or bamboo.

  • Anchor point: a fixed support (ceiling, beam, tripod) where ropes are secured.

Techniques

  • Nawa: Japanese word for rope.

  • Nawashi: literally "rope master," a highly skilled practitioner.

  • Futomomo: tying the calf to the thigh.

  • Takate Kote (also TK or box tie): a classic tie with arms behind the back.

Concepts

  • Semenawa: an intense style, focused on physical or psychological pressure.

  • Aesthetic Shibari: style focused on the visual beauty of ties.

  • Connection: a core concept in Shibari—the quality of the relationship between partners.

  • Intentionality: giving meaning to each movement, each rope tension.

  • Aftercare: post-session care to ensure physical and emotional well-being.

Safety

  • Safety scissors: always within reach, used to cut ropes quickly in case of emergency.

  • Radial nerve: a nerve to absolutely avoid when tying—risk of paralysis.

  • Safe word: a word or gesture agreed in advance to signal a boundary or stop.