Shibari Academy

For the person tying, there is nothing particularly difficult about the Elbow Harness. If you have followed our tutorials in order, the lark's head knot and lark's head single column tie have become your best friends by now. You understand the utility of being able to reverse the tension of the ropes while tying using the loops you created with the lark's head.  You will be using these for this tie (If you are not familiar with the lark's head, I recommend you review the following ties before performing this one: Lark's Head Single Column Tie, Lark's Head Heel Tie, Frog Tie, Simple Waist Harness, and  Arm Binder ).

That said, I want to make special mention of a new technique that makes it's first appearance in our tutorials in the Elbow Harness: The cinch. 

A cinch is a way of making a tie more solid. Let's assume you have two columns you want to securely fasten together. You start with a single column tie that goes around both columns. You then go through the space between both columns, over the set of horizontal ropes, and then back through the same space you came through. This is a cinch. A cinch will make your tie more sturdy and reduce the range of motion of the person being tied.

Which brings me to my final observation about this tie: The experience for the person being tied will be one of complete immobilization of the upper arms. Because of the cinch, they will truly have no range of motion. If they want to take the experience even further, you can finish this tie off with a double column tie around their wrists. Being immobilized in such a way is psychologically intense. Ask the person being tied to close their eyes and breathe, relaxing their muscles as they exhale and letting them know they are safe and cared for. 

Have fun tying!

Eve