Are you interested in learning more about Shibari, the Japanese art of rope bondage? Perhaps you've seen some photos, videos, or even live performances and it's caught your eye, or maybe you're looking for a new hobby that has some interesting practical applications... !

Come and join us for the next edition of our popular Shibari for Beginners course in April, in which you will build the foundations to start practicing and playing with rope bondage safely and confidently.

This course is designed for beginners and people relatively new to rope. You're equally welcome if you've never explored rope bondage before, OR if you've dabbled a bit and want to bring together what you've been learning in a more structured way. Either way, you don't need any special clothing or equipment to get started - we even provide the rope for you to use during the class!

What to expect:

We run regular events in Liverpool and Manchester with the goal of providing a friendly, non-intimidating environment to explore concepts and themes of kink in a way that centres curiosity, consent, and empowerment.

We will include a mixture of learning through discussion, theory, demonstrations, and hands-on practice.

We will provide all the "equipment" you'll need for use during the class so you don't need to bring anything along, unless you'd like to.It will also be possible for you to purchase a “Beginners Rope Kit” from during the course if you’d like to continue practicing between classes.

You can do many of the exercises during the course solo through self-tying. As we get into some more complex ties towards the end of the course, you may wish to partner up with another participant. We will give you some tools to support you in having really clear conversations around consent and safe practice. If you already have a friend or practice partner who you know is coming, you are also welcome to stick together and practice with each other throughout. We are welcoming of all genders, sexualities, and relationship orientations.

The schedule:

This is a five-week course running on the following Wednesday evenings:

12th April

19th April

26th April

3rd May

10th May

Doors will open at 6.30 pm each week giving you chance to settle in, grab a drink, and mingle (if you like) before the class starts

The class itself will run from 6.45 pm until 9.30 pm each week, and we usually include one short break within this time.

Course outline:

Over the five weeks, we will cover:

What Shibari is (and a little of its history) and what makes it different from other rope bondage

Rope safety

How to negotiate with a potential tying partner

Getting started with rope

Tension - the fundamental skill in tying and its applications

Frictions - what are they, why are they important and how do we use them?

Building bigger structures

Tying with intention - how can we use rope as a language, what can we say, and when should we stop?!

We will send out weekly emails to participants during the course with reminders of what we’ve covered, suggestions of what to practice at home, as well as some helpful resources for further learning.

The venue:

We have selected a great venue, which is designed to be inclusive and accessible. The entire studio is on the ground floor with all doorways allowing a wheelchair to pass through. The facilities include all-gender toilets and an accessible toilet with grab rails. The venue also benefits from free parking and excellent public transport links.

If you have any questions about the suitability of this event, please contact us and we can provide the information you need to make an informed decision.

About your hosts:

Lex is a shame-slaying sex and kink educator who loves nothing more than creating permissive spaces in which people can explore the themes of POWER, PLEASURE, and PLAY. In addition to their professional training as a Conscious Kink practitioner, Certified Dominatrix, Sexological Bodyworker, and Embodied Facilitator, Lex draws upon their (good, bad, and ugly) lived experiences of navigating life “beyond the norms” as a queer, kinky, and non-monogamous person!

Matt balances his professional career with an avid passion for exploring kink and sexuality. His journey into the fascinating world of BDSM began when he discovered Shibari (Japanese rope bondage) around 6 years ago. Alongside his ongoing study of the technique and philosophy of the art, he has been enthusiastically passing on his expertise through one-to-one sessions and delivering rope workshops for groups. He is very actively involved in the kink scene and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from this, as well as a gift for helping people open up to their hidden desires in a safe and well-informed way.

Joining the course:

The intention is for the group to complete all five weeks of the course together so please check that you will be able to attend all of the dates before signing up. We will be building your essential skills as we go and therefore it's not possible for you to only come for the second day.

The general admission price for the course is £150 per person. This works out at around £12 per hour of teaching (not counting the extra support you’ll get in between classes). If you feel that price is the only limiting factor to your attending, or if you would like to discuss a payment plan, please get in touch and we will see what we can do to make this more accessible!

Shibari for Beginners: 5-week course