Shibari Academy

To understand the name of the H-shaped Futomomo, we are going to take a dive into Japanese vocabulary. In Shibari, most of the time you encounter a Japanese word as the name of a tie, it will be a descriptive term that communicates the pattern or the body part that is being tied.

"Futomomo" is a Japanese term that refers to the thigh, or more specifically, the portion of the leg from the knee to where it bends at the hip when seated. In the context of Shibari, "Futomomo" refers to a tie that binds the thigh to the ankle. There are countless kinds of futomomos yet all follow the same basic principle: A way to attach the thigh to the ankle and some sort of pattern that involves going up the thigh all the way to the knee. 

The H-shaped futomomo is considered a medium-difficulty tie because it builds upon the Lark's Head Double Column Tie and takes several minutes of tying. If you have the patience for it, you could start with a Frog Tie and tie up both legs! 

Because this tie takes several minutes to complete, make sure you take a deep breath and don't rush. I recommend you find a rhythm with your breath and stick to it. Being calm and following a constant pace can help you and your partner enter into a meditative state of total trust and relaxation. 

Have fun tying!

Eve