Shibari Academy

In our lesson on the X-Friction, we reviewed what Frictions are, when to use them, and the benefits they provide vs tying a knot. Now, I want to delve deeper into how Frictions work. For clarity purposes, when I write Friction with a capital F I am referring to the Shibari technique, friction with a lowercase f refers to the force of friction.

A Friction is created when you tie the rope on itself. The rope's material naturally creates friction when in contact with itself, especially if you are using natural fiber ropes such as hemp or jute. The more times you tie it upon itself, the sturdier the Friction will be. In other words, the more you loop the rope around itself, the stronger the friction generated. 

What type of Friction you use and when depends on what you want to achieve: 

1. There are simple Frictions such as the cross-hitch friction which will add some structure to your tie while still allowing some movement.
   
   
2. Others such as the hitch are great for finishing ties.
   
   
3. When two half-hitches are used together, they are strong enough to attach rope to a fixed anchor or post.
   
   
4. You can use the X-Friction when you want to securely attach ropes that cross each other in a T-shape, allowing for no wiggle room.
   
   Or you can use a Square Friction to achieve this as well. Which one you choose depends largely on your personal preferences. The pictures above illustrate the use of the Square Friction which is why you see the initial structure of a chest harness. The actual Square Friction is just the bottom center twists and turns.

Understanding why Frictions exist and when to use them is paramount to mastering the practice of Shibari and will aid you immensely in creating your own ties. 

Have fun tying!

Eve