Once again, we have invited the internationally renowned kinbaku artists TAMANDUA & BRIKI. This time, they will be teaching a series of four workshops—the PROGRESSIVE SHIBARI SERIES—in Zurich. This is a great opportunity for the growing Swiss rope community to thoroughly and deeply learn TAMANDUA’s particularly sophisticated style.
The series begins with a intermediate-level session on the weekend of July 7–9—this first course is designed for people who have just learned how to use suspension lines and a chest harness and have taken their first steps with them.
Then, every three months, TAMANDUA & BRIKI return to Zurich to introduce participants to more complex and challenging bondage techniques, ranging from suspensions to transitions.
The courses can also be booked individually. Of course, the prerequisites for participation increase from course to course.
Each Friday will be a preparatory day focused on a specific topic and can be booked separately.
Save the dates! July 7–9 / October 6–8 / January 19–21 / April 12–14
See below for prices and booking.
Course language: English.
FRIDAY – OCTOBER 6
Technical Focus Class: Stemless Takate Kote for Suspension
Takate kote, sometimes called gote shibari, box-tie, or most often simply TK, is a popular type of upper-body harness that is iconic to classical styles of kinbaku.
In this workshop, Tamandua will teach his method for tying takate kote for suspension, using his standard pattern, which features a stemless design.
The contents will include detailed technical explanations of the various parts of the ties. How they function—especially under load—and how to apply them to ensure proper tension and body positioning.
Anatomical principles—how the body is affected by being in a TK—are an important topic when learning this tie. While this is perhaps the most popular type of tie, it is also often associated with risks such as nerve damage and (unwanted) shoulder pain.
During the class, we will go over some of the most common causes of problems and ways to resolve them.
Planned schedule for the evening:
Anatomy Course for TK and General Safety
Stemless TK - Basic Pattern
Test under suspension load (semi-suspension)
10-minute break
Third rope variation for added support and aesthetics, with a second trial run
TK with Hojo cuffs instead of lower wraps as an alternative.
Prerequisites:
To ensure that you can participate in the exercises, please be sure to sign up with a partner. If you wish to attend alone, you may do so as an observer. Please indicate this in your application.
All attendees must have prior experience with shibari/kinbaku, including models and bottoms.
Riggers and tops should be able to perform basic techniques—such as the single-column tie and basic knots—by heart, and should have prior experience with some type of harness. Please practice extensively before the event if you feel unsure!
To participate in the portion of the exercises where we load the TK, you must have learned how to make suspension lines from an instructor before the event. If you are unsure of your ability, ask a local rope group or instructor for advice.
Bring:
At least 5 ropes of standard length (about 8 meters)
Safety shears
We strongly recommend using jute ropes sold specifically for shibari, rather than ropes from a hardware store or sex shop. If you wish, we will help you cut the ropes to a length suitable for your partner during the class.
>>Click here for information on the Saturday and Sunday workshop
>> Click here for more information about TAMANDUA & BRIKI
and a few glimpses of their work.
SCHEDULE
Fri, Oct. 6, 2023 - 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sat, Oct. 7, 2023 - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sun, Oct. 8, 2023 - 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
LANGUAGES
English
(Translation into German may be available upon request)
Choose your ticket price based on your own assessment.
With our Low(er) Income Tickets, we want to give low-income individuals the opportunity to attend our events.
We cordially invite high earners to make it with a higher contribution possible for us to make this offer.
With that in mind, we thank you in advance for your solidarity.
For people with particularly low incomes, there are usually additional options available for even lower prices.
Please don't hesitate to write to us and ask any questions. We'd love to have you join us!
You can register for the course(s) as follows:
- Participation as a couple - Rigger & Model
- On Friday only, there are also three observer spots available for CHF 80 each. If you're interested, please let us know in your registration form.
– FRIDAY –
STEMLESS TAKATE KOTE
PRICE PER PAIR
: CHF 190
Low(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 175
II – CHF 160
III – CHF 145
High(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 205
II – CHF 220
III – CHF 235
– SATURDAY & SUNDAY –
BEYOND SUSPENSION BASICS - More Information
PRICE PER PAIR
CHF 570,-
Low(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 520
II – CHF 470
III – CHF 420
High(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 620
II – CHF 670
III – CHF 720
– FRIDAY, SATURDAY, & SUNDAY –
STEMLESS TAKATE KOTE & BEYOND SUSPENSION BASICS
PRICE PER PAIR
: CHF 730
Low(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 660
II – CHF 590
III – CHF 520
High(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 800
II – CHF 870
III – CHF 940
Please also read all further info below, too.
How to apply:
Please send a brief description of your and your partner’s fly-tying experience, along with one or more clear photos showing recent fly-tying work you’ve done outside of a workshop setting. The photos don’t have to be anything complicated or spectacular. Click below to send us an email.
FURTHER INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT
The goals of our events are collaborative learning within the group, supporting shared processes, and personal development. Couples and all other types of partnerships or arrangements are welcome, but you should be aware and open to the fact that the courses are not designed as partnership experiences and that we address each person as an individual. For example: To involve all participants equally, we usually work with randomly assigned partner combinations during the exercises. This means there will be both same-sex and opposite-sex pairings. Participants should generally be open to working with any person and any body. Exceptions can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or membership in groups that are often marginalized—such as BBIPoC, migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA*, people with disabilities, etc.—are not criteria for registration or participant selection. This means that, in principle, everyone is equally welcome, and we strive to accommodate the specific circumstances and diverse needs of each group; however, our resources are limited. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact us.
We expect you to act with care, be communicative, prioritize consent, and be mindful, and we encourage you to respect your own boundaries and take personal responsibility.
Hate speech will not be tolerated. Please bring “Candy Speech” with you.
We reserve the right to ask participants to leave the workshop if their behavior is harmful or overly problematic, and we reserve the right to do so without explanation—though we will likely try to explain it. The workshop fees would then be refunded in full. Any further claims are excluded.
You can read more about this topic here.
PRICES AND IF SOLD OUT
With our Low(er) Income Tickets, we want to give low-income individuals the opportunity to attend our events. We warmly invite those with higher incomes to help us make this offer possible by contributing a bit more. With that in mind, we thank you in advance for your solidarity.
For PEOPLE WITH PARTICULARLY LOW INCOMES, there is usually the option of even lower prices. Please don't hesitate to write to us and ask. We'd love to have you join us!
Is the event sold out on the ticketing platform? Contact us! There may be a waitlist or another way for you to attend after all.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations are free of charge up to eight weeks before the course begins; up to four weeks before the course begins, a cancellation fee of 20% of the course fee applies; and up to two weeks before the course begins, a cancellation fee of 50% applies. Later cancellations and refunds of course fees are not possible. However, participants may find replacement participants to take their reserved spots. If the organizer cancels the course, the full course fee will be refunded. No further claims are permitted.