The first foundation, or core technique, we will focus on is body posture.
An anatomically neutral posture is one where every part of the body efficiently performs its intended function—without compensation, abrupt movements, or strain. In such a posture, the body will naturally express its beauty on its own.
Posture | Shisei (姿勢)
When we talk about posture, we refer both to the anatomical position of the body and the individual’s mental state. This is the starting point for our exploration of the Yagami Ryu style of shibari.
From the outset, it’s important to understand that this concept, shisei (姿勢), goes beyond mere body positioning. It represents an attitude toward a person or situation—a readiness for whatever may come.
A state of calm alertness. No tension, no rigidity. Open awareness.
An optimal posture is essential for maintaining both physical and emotional balance and stability, enabling secure and effective movement and technique.
Anatomically, we are referring to a "neutral position."
Standing Instructions:
- Keep your feet parallel and aligned, slightly apart, pointing forward.
- Distribute your weight evenly between both feet, creating a tripod between your toes, the ball of your foot, and your heel.
- Keep your knees slightly bent, without locking them.
- Your pelvis should remain in a neutral position, without tilting forward or backward.
- Align your spine, ensuring that your ears are over your shoulders, and your shoulders are over your hips.
- Avoid slouching forward or arching your back.
- Keep your shoulder blades flat against your back for support.
- Engage your core muscles gently—toned but not rigid—to support your spine and maintain a stable posture.
- Let your arms relax at your sides, with palms facing your thighs, slightly rotated outward so your pinky finger is closer to your body than your thumb.
- Keep your head straight, with ears in line with your shoulders.
- Breathe naturally and calmly.
Sitting Instructions:
- You may cross your legs or extend them in front of you—choose the position that feels most comfortable. In either case, ensure your sit bones provide your support.
- Keep your back aligned.
- Maintain flat shoulder blades.
- Use a cushion under your pelvis if needed for added comfort.
- Keep your chin parallel to the floor, with your ears in line with your shoulders.
- Continue breathing naturally and calmly.
- If you feel discomfort, adjust your position as needed. Listening to your body and making adjustments is essential.
If the tied person experiences discomfort or fatigue, they should shift to a more comfortable position. In sekibaku, there is no place for enduring discomfort simply for the sake of it.
The one who ties should be perceptive enough to notice signs of discomfort or fatigue and proactively adjust the posture or position. This attentiveness is a key part of session management and demonstrates care for the tied person.
Maintaining a neutral anatomical position is essential because it helps prevent injuries and enables swift and effective responses to required movements at any given moment.
This posture provides a stable base, meaning you are balanced and ready to move yourself or the other person effectively in any direction.
This allows for smooth, stable movements, turns, and techniques without losing balance or risking joint injuries for both the one who ties and the tied person.
As mentioned earlier, posture affects not only the body but also the mental state. It is an activated state of being—attentive, aware but not tense. It fosters active listening and comprehension.
When applying this technique to shibari, remember it applies to both participants, though differently for the one tying and the one being tied. It is a technique that requires partnership. Both participants should be mentally open, free from preconceived notions, ready to explore a shared erotic experience without ego.
Here, clear intention, shared honesty, and personal responsibility are key elements—these are explored further in the "emotional safety" section.
Balance (バランス)
When we think of balance, we often associate it with "equilibrium." While equilibrium is a result of balance, it’s not the most comprehensive way to understand this concept for shibari practice.
In our approach, balance is defined as the harmony between the forces acting on our body (gravity, personal effort, external actions, and ground response) so that these forces balance and cancel each other out, resulting in a net total of zero.
Balance is an active state. It’s an illusion built from countless small corrections and adjustments. Without these, the body would seek its minimum energy state and collapse to the ground.
In martial arts and sekibaku, balanced positions are often described as square forms, representing a geometry that offers stability and resistance to positional changes.
For example, if your body weighs 100 kg, you must apply an equivalent force of 100 kg to counteract gravity. In a balanced square form with neutral posture, moving would require applying forces equivalent to 201 kg: 100 to overcome gravity, 100 to counteract it, and 1 to tip the balance.
This is simply an illustrative example—later, we will explore ways to reduce the energy required.
The one tying must continuously manage the balance of the tied person. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial.
Alongside balance, two additional concepts are essential:
Imbalance | Kuzushi (崩し)
Opposite to balance is imbalance. The Japanese term kuzushi implies a break or disruption—in this case, the breaking of a sustained balanced state.
We all recognize this from everyday experiences, like stumbling or leaning back in a chair and suddenly losing balance—feeling that split-second vertigo.
Kuzushi is precisely that—a moment. When balance is lost, either it is swiftly recovered, or it is completely lost, leading to a fall.
Balance is a position, a constant sustained over time.
Time—and our inability to stop or reverse it—is a concept worth reflecting on, as it plays a crucial role in managing a shibari session.
In contrast, kuzushi is an instant when everything changes. Learning to detect and respond to these moments is a skill essential to advancing in shibari.
The Zen concept of ichi-go ichi-e serves as a valuable mental framework for cultivating this awareness.
Each unique, fleeting moment requires our full attention to fully enjoy shared experiences.
Heaven and Earth | Tenchi (天地)
This concept, also known as "ground reaction force (GRF)" and referred to as "heaven and earth" in martial arts, is crucial for understanding biomechanics and how bodies interact with their environment.
According to Newton’s Third Law: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
In Taoist philosophy, balance is represented by Yin and Yang—two opposing but complementary forces in constant transformation. As one increases, the other diminishes, and vice versa.
Technically, this refers to the force exerted by the ground on the human body (or any object), equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the force the body applies to the ground.
This is a concept previously introduced and will be key to managing and maneuvering the tied person’s body.
What are we seeing in the video?
In this video, we demonstrate how maintaining an anatomically neutral posture (Shisei) can transform your shibari practice. This technique not only optimizes energy use by minimizing unnecessary effort but also promotes more organic movements, thus reducing the risk of injuries or harm.
First example: The rigger maintains a balanced position with an engaged core, while the person being tied does not.
Can the rigger move the person being tied? Yes, but only through force, without real control. If the person being tied were significantly larger or stronger, moving them would be impossible.
Second example: We reverse the roles. Now, the person being tied maintains a balanced posture, but the rigger does not.
Can the rigger move the person being tied? Barely. Without control and with great effort, even while being larger and stronger.
Third example: Both the rigger and the person being tied maintain a balanced position.
Can the rigger move the person being tied? Yes, easily, effortlessly, and fluidly.
Through these demonstrations, we want to emphasize that sekibaku is a collaborative effort. It's not about resisting or anticipating help, but about responding naturally and mutually.
Of course, it's never about "letting things happen" or "enduring".
This way, we achieve fluid, safe, and organic movements, as well as better session management, taking communication and erotic experience to a deeper and more conscious level.