Shibari Academy

If you don't know anything about Shibari, it is common to believe that once a knot is tied, it is supposed to stay in the same place until it is untied (that's kind of the point of a knot). The Prusik head knot turns this idea on its head by providing a knot that slides when it is not under tension and locks when tension is applied. For beginners, this sliding possibility adds a new dimension to the world of choices in Shibari that can become a little overwhelming. That said, once you get comfortable with the ropes this is a new level of creativity to be unlocked. Now, the ties can move!

First things first, the Prusik Head Knot is a joy to tie. You will wrap the rope twice around  your thumb and then again around index finger. You will then hold your fingers together and slide the loops from the index finger to your thumb. Et voila! 

As it stands, the Prusik head doesn't do much on its own. To truly grasp the functionality of this knot, take another rope and fold it in half. Then, using an overhand knot on a bight, tie the rope around a fixed anchor or post. Finally, place the two strands of rope inside the knot.  Being careful not to create any tension, slide the knot along the rope. You will see that the Prusik slides smoothly. Now, apply tension to the knot. The Prusik creates so much friction that it will lock. Do this several times, allowing yourself to experiment with different amounts of tension and speed at which you apply the tension. 

Have fun tying!

Eve