In the early years of the Dojo, our instruction followed a methodology that could be described as "Japanese".
In other words, the teacher would demonstrate a technique, and it was up to the student to discover and assimilate the knowledge through practice and analytical study.
This system is not efficient, especially when applied to a modern Western society, where time is a scarce resource, and we are accustomed to more direct and clear educational processes.
At Shibari Dojo - Shibari School, we have been teaching shibari for over 20 years, ifirst to local students and now to students worldwide, in several languages.
This experience, supported by the countless hours we have dedicated to designing and preparing our classes and courses, has allowed us to develop our own educational model (: Make Shibari Accessible for Everyone), based on the premise that shibari is accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical condition, knowledge, or skills.
**** (Make Shibari Accessible For Everyone) is the acronym that summarizes the philosophy of our dojo: *making shibari accessible to everyone, regardless of their background, condition, or circumstances*.
Erotic Context
We understand and teach shibari as a tool for the development and enrichment of eroticism within the couple.
While it is true that, as a tool, shibari facilitates emotional communication and the creation of emotional bonds, in an erotic context, we aim for the satisfaction of desire to strengthen the relationship through intimate experiences.
Our method is not based on repeating patterns; rather, we focus on understanding the technique in order to adapt it to each experience and individual.
Responsibility of Trainers and Students
Learning shibari, like any other technique, requires effort and dedication from the student, and it is their responsibility and obligation.
Our responsibility as instructors is to facilitate the assimilation of the technique, personalizing and adapting it as needed to allow each student to evolve and safely apply what they've learned to their personal erotic experiences.
To achieve this, we work together with tools that allow both the person tying and the one who is tied to explore and better understand their erotic desires, and find ways to fulfill them.
With this system, we aim to both preserve the spirit and tradition passed down by our teacher Yagami Ren, while adapting the forms and methods to contemporary Western habits and realities.
People First
In a healthy erotic dynamic, both participants are equally important and exist on the same level.
This is a fundamental principle: the people and their experiences are at the center, not the ropes.
Based on this premise, we adapt the training to each student individually, specifically working specifically on those aspects that allow them to progress and enjoy shibari in a flexible and gradual way from the very first class.
Training Adapts, Not the Students
With a basic framework and syllabus, the private lessons are adapted to each couple, always keeping in mind that no two people or couples have the same experience.
In our classes, both parties, the person tying and the person tied, are equally important. Both are active and essential parts of the experience, and both receive personalized training.
Therefore, the training includes specific techniques for each one, allowing both participants to better understand their respective roles.
Focus on the Tied Person
Our teaching method focuses on the person who is tied.
In fact, in the early stages of training, most of the work falls directly on the person who is tied.
As the person tying refines their skills, the responsibility will be shared until 50/50 balance is reached.