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, first 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 (#MSAFE: Make Shibari Accessible for Everyone), based on the premise that shibari is accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical condition, knowledge, or skills.
(#MSAFE: 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.
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.
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.
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, working specifically on those aspects that allow them to progress and enjoy shibari in a flexible and gradual way from the very first class.
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.
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.
This course is designed for couples looking to incorporate shibari into their erotic experiences and individuals who already practice it and seek a deeper understanding of their current techniques.
At Yagami Ryu, we focus on three key areas of study. In order for shibari to be considered sekibaku or "Yagami-style," all of these areas must be covered. If one is missing, it cannot be sekibaku.
Each of these areas is essential to fully understand the style. We cannot omit any of them, and it is crucial that skills and knowledge in each area are balanced; this is a requirement at all times.
We approach shibari from a scientific perspective, drawing on fields such as psychology, sexology, communication, and neuroscience to better understand what happens and how we experience and share it.
All of this is done without mysticism, myths, or vague concepts. We work with operational definitions and continuously update our knowledge.
With certified instructors and professional experience in their respective teaching areas.
Shibari is an active, intense practice with risks. Therefore, this area of study begins with biomechanics and focuses on understanding the body, learning how to manage it during a session for its care and protection, while aiming to create a pleasurable experience.
Anatomy and biomechanics are vast fields that encompass a lot of knowledge.
Don’t worry! We will introduce these concepts gradually, with examples and exercises that you can apply from the very beginning, making them fun and easy to understand.
We move away from predetermined patterns and figures to focus on the fundamentals.
This allows each student to use the techniques with security and freedom, seeking their own satisfaction rather than replicating someone else's model.
There are no shortcuts here; these are manual skills that require time and dedication on your part.
First, knowledge must be acquired, especially about yourself. Learning about others takes time and requires interaction.
Next, we dive into the study of anatomy and learn how to manage your own body how to manage someone else's (in that order).
Finally, rope handling is covered..
Let's face it: achieving mastery in any of these areas takes hours of practice—possibly years.
A great advantage of Yagami Ryu is that from day one, what you learn can be applied, turning the practice into something engaging and enjoyable.
We will progress as we use it.
In this online course, given the nature of distance learning, we will intertweave content from all three areas, always indicating to which area each technique belongs to.
The course is taught in English and adapts the concepts and techniques of Japanese Shibari to modern Western culture.
With no cultural barriers, it provides a precise translation of Japanese ideas to ensure proper understanding.
Whether you are a beginner or have previous experience, the course is designed to adapt to the circumstances of each individual student.
We have dedicated ourselves to shibari training for over 20 years, but that is just a number. Experience alone is not enough; we complement it with specific, ongoing, and updated training in the different areas of expertise.
Our instructors are available almost every day and offer great flexibility. No matter where you are in the world, we are sure we can find a way to fit the classes into your schedule.