Table of Contents
Foreword
Back in July of 2008 the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, here in San Francisco, presented CineKinka touring version of the erotic film festival that originated in NYC. On the second day of the festival Coming Out Spanko was featured. Created by, and staring, Tanya Bezreh, Coming Out Spanko is the video diary of a woman processing her sensual desire to be spanked (in a deeply specific way).
Throughout the fifteen minute long film, Tanya speaks directly to the camera, and so the viewer, expressing her fears, social hesitations and sensual needs with disarming honesty and emotional clarity. Watching this film, its hard not to identity with Tanya and her quest for a more pronounced sensual identity.
Whether youre kinky, wiggly or straight, you have a hearta heart that feels, wants and desires. So you can appreciate the magnitude of faith it takes to step out of the fold, hold your head up high and say, I accept who I am, and what I desire. These are simple words; still theyre words with profound meaning in a persons life. As Tanya put it, To share it is to have faith. To share any true voice inside your body is to have a real faith.
There is a sensual desire within us all. In some cases a deeply specific one. Still most dont articulate their desires for fear of being judged, dismissed or forsaken. These fears are partially based upon feelings of isolation, or the belief that our immediate community (our town, city or region) does not possess like-minded individuals. But the horizons that formerly defined community have been broken. We are no longer bound by our towns, cities or regions. There is no longer a reason to feel alone or isolated. The Internet has united our world and the rope bondage community along with it.
You see, when we first started off on this crazy train called Two Knotty Boys we were teaching into a world of separated individualsindividuals whose communities were defined by their horizons. The year was 1999 and the Internet, although available, was still a relatively fledgling endeavor. Social networking sites, video sharing and podcasts were mere whispers of what they are today, and what theyre fast becoming.
Generalist community networking sites have been co-opted and tailored to the specific interests of smaller, more topic centric groups. Video sharing has resulted in the creation of instructional videos, providing free access to information that was historically passed down person-to-person. Podcasts now provide weekly insights into the thoughts and ideas of people just like us.
Through our participation with social networking sites and the instructional videos we produce and post online, weve established connections with hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking to learn about and discuss the topic of sensual rope bondage. People from Iceland, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Britain and Australia, as well as people from throughout the United States and multiple other countries of origin, no longer feel distant or far away. Technology has united us all in celebration of rope as a vehicle of connection.
Though the core of all life experience and exploration is personal, there exists a globally networked community of like-minded individuals that will support and embrace who you area community of one that plays as many. This truth has never been more evident than today, and it is our hope is for a more open, tolerant and compassionate world tomorrow. So as you turn through the pages of this book, exploring, learning, practicing and playing, remember this community; and, if youre moved to do so, share with them the personal joys and connections you experience through rope.
Thank you and keep tying,
Two Knotty Boys
Acknowledgments
For cooperation with and/or inspiration in the production of this book, Two Knotty Boys would like to thank Ken Marcus, our models Heather Gates, Erin Sinclair, Satine Phoenix, Kapono Kobylanski, Miss Pixie, Twink, John Scott Trekauskas, Lexafina, Mina Meow, Charlotte Vale, and Stephan, as well as Simon Blaise, Lee Harrington, SubMissAnn, Cleo Dubois, Jahck, Steve Davis, David Goldburg, George Lazaneo (Bondage a Go Go), Eve Minax, Jimi Tatu, George Sandoval, Andrew McBeth (Green Candy Press), Peter Ackworth, Mistress Melissa, Mistress Snow, Master Feenix (and all the crew at Purgatory at Bar Sinister in Los Angeles), Jenni Romero, Sarah Ton and anyone who has ever hosted or attended a Two Knotty Boys workshop.
And
A very special thanks to Kristen Kakos, for your inspiration, patience, keen eye and sensibility.
Introduction
Since teaming up as Two Knotty Boys in 1999, weve dedicated much of our lives to demystifying rope bondage. Our goal hasnt been to make bondage mainstream, but rather to put it within reach of anyone who has ever been inspired (or requested) to tie it and try itwhether for passion, fashion or BDSM play.
If youre interested in rope bondage, youre not alone. Researchers say that bondage is one of the most popular sensual fantasies. As Psychology Today notes, one in ten people has experimented with bondage. It is popular among men and women of all classes and educational backgrounds, according to psychologists and ethnographers.
Our first book, Two Knotty Boys: Showing You the Ropes, revolutionized rope bondage awareness and education by laying out the process using easy to follow, step-by-step photos and captions. Unlike videos or DVDs that you have to play, repeat and memorize, this format lets you learn at your own pace and refer to it as neededeven right in the bedroom or the dungeon.
Two Knotty Boys: Back on the Ropes does more than take up where Showing You the Ropes left off. It covers sixty-one tiestwenty-four more ties than we shared in our first bookand now its in color. Best of all, we go beyond Showing You the Ropes by demonstrating how to use many of these ties and put them into action with your partner. In total, more than seventy rope bondage ties and techniques are revealed in the following pages.
When writing this book, we decided against making it an Advanced Bondage version or even Volume II of a set. While were proud of the quality, content and contribution of Showing You the Ropes, we didnt want it to be a required purchase to enjoy this book. Thats why we repeat the core knots, ties and techniques that we elaborate upon here in Back on the Ropes. Not only was this the easiest way for us to forge ahead and show you new applications, interactions and adaptations of these pieces, it was our way of assuring you purchased the first book because you wanted to, not because you had to. We have no interest in tying readers into a two-book dealor forcing novices or intermediate players into a choice between one book over another.