Suspension - introduction and theory?

[mirrors2]

I've been trying to find sources on on the basics of suspension play. It seems all I can find are either specific examples ("Tie body part X with knot type Y...") or pretty pictures. What I'd really like to find is an exploration of the basic underlying assumptions, safety rules, and the like. What are the mechanics of weight distribution as they pertain to suspension? What body / harness positions will shift when someone is hoisted, and how? That sort of thing.

Anyone have any advice?

 

[Netzach]

Advice:

1. Get really good at static ties.
Make them quick, pretty, neat, lovely, hot. Try new ones till you can't think of any more.

2. Make sure you have a point that can support weight, not just static load but dead drops, a moving body is more than just its weight. Get real carabiners and know the load rating of your rope (350 lbs per strand of MFP, 700 lbs per strand of hemp and I may be misremembering that but it's general) A 150 pound woman is going to exert more weight than I'd trust to one strand of MFP as her load bearing line, you want more than double the actual weight as load bearing.


2.5 Get really good at partial suspensions You can see a great tutorial for one in the Midori book. They're plenty satisfying in their own right.


3. Save your money time and excitement and go to an event where someone who does this a lot is teaching it. Better yet a lot of people, so you can take what you think works and get some other perspective on it. It's really too visual and too sense-memory a thing to learn from a text and a chart, I think.

. Do not do this unless you've been taught by someone who's done it a lot. I know the temptation, but I have to say I waited it out until I had the funds and resources to go to an event where it's taught. The considerations and specs are really more than most text articles can handle.

There's a yahoo list "adult rope art" run by Jimi Tatu which has a lot of heavy bondage players weighing in on all kinds of topics and you will find great DON'Ts of safety archived there for all kinds of bondage situations.

4. You can always get a hammock, sling, bodybag from Mr. S or something like that, too.

Never rope the neck, never use extremities as load bearing points - the ONLY load bearing points are the chest over the breastbone and the hips/hipbones. I will sometimes tie a simple swiss seat for myself and self-suspend with just that as a starter, the rope looped many times neatly under the asscheeks so it doesn't dig too much..

 

[coyotepondering]

I've been trying to find sources on on the basics of suspension play. It seems all I can find are either specific examples ("Tie body part X with knot type Y...") or pretty pictures. What I'd really like to find is an exploration of the basic underlying assumptions, safety rules, and the like. What are the mechanics of weight distribution as they pertain to suspension? What body / harness positions will shift when someone is hoisted, and how? That sort of thing.

Anyone have any advice?

I'll try to not repeat any of what Netzach said but add a few thoughts of my own.

One, you often don't see people talk about the principles so much because once you start talking about load bearing and all that you get into some real physics. In other words, I'm going to suspend like this, so this percentage will be on this rope, with this much needed on this ring, and I'll move them like this so ... do they break out the slide rule? No, most riggers just learn, often by working with someone else who has more experience and they learn those principles without knowing all the detailed math. Do they know it perfectly? No, so smart riggers err on the side of caution. This leads into two.

Two, buy the best bloody rope you can. Someone will at the very least have bad bruises if you don't and that leads to people not wanting to play with you again. I can't recall if Lit allows us to post links to commercial businesses or not but I've always been very happy with Twisted Monk's hemp and you can google him pretty easily.

Three, safety. The human body is an odd machine. What one is fine with others aren't so talk to each person about any circulation issues and look out for trouble signs just as you would with any bondage such as them turning blue or losing sensation. There are also reports in rope climbing about people have horrible spontaneous reactions to suspension that are life threatening. I remember a vibrant discussion about it on Adultropeart a few years ago and in my own reading there are varying opinions. But, be warned.

And I'm sure there's lots more but I can't think of it right now.

 

[YourCaptor]

I have never done this, never seen it live, and don’t really understand the point. I’m curious though, what is the appeal here, from a dom point of view?

 

[LunarKitten]

I'll try to not repeat any of what Netzach said but add a few thoughts of my own.

One, you often don't see people talk about the principles so much because once you start talking about load bearing and all that you get into some real physics. In other words, I'm going to suspend like this, so this percentage will be on this rope, with this much needed on this ring, and I'll move them like this so ... do they break out the slide rule? No, most riggers just learn, often by working with someone else who has more experience and they learn those principles without knowing all the detailed math. Do they know it perfectly? No, so smart riggers err on the side of caution. This leads into two.

Two, buy the best bloody rope you can. Someone will at the very least have bad bruises if you don't and that leads to people not wanting to play with you again. I can't recall if Lit allows us to post links to commercial businesses or not but I've always been very happy with Twisted Monk's hemp and you can google him pretty easily.

Three, safety. The human body is an odd machine. What one is fine with others aren't so talk to each person about any circulation issues and look out for trouble signs just as you would with any bondage such as them turning blue or losing sensation. There are also reports in rope climbing about people have horrible spontaneous reactions to suspension that are life threatening. I remember a vibrant discussion about it on Adultropeart a few years ago and in my own reading there are varying opinions. But, be warned.

And I'm sure there's lots more but I can't think of it right now.

If I may add one thing:

DON'T USE NYLON ROPE!!! Rope burns, bad, bad, bad.

 

[coyotepondering]

I have never done this, never seen it live, and don’t really understand the point. I’m curious though, what is the appeal here, from a dom point of view?

I can't speak for all dominants, certainly not all doms enjoy every form of play. It certainly grants a great deal of control though, can be a fun part of a multi-component scene and for myself I enjoy the ritual and process itself and its demands on me.

 

[coyotepondering]

If I may add one thing:

DON'T USE NYLON ROPE!!! Rope burns, bad, bad, bad.

Unless you're going for the slightly charred sub look. :caning:

 

[BiBunny]

I have never done this, never seen it live, and don’t really understand the point. I’m curious though, what is the appeal here, from a dom point of view?

You can't see the appeal in "Whee! Swinging subbie pinata?" Come on.

 

[coyotepondering]

You can't see the appeal in "Whee! Swinging subbie pinata?" Come on.

OK, I'll admit, that was better phrased than my reply. And frankly, a great image. I now want to do a paper mache mummification / suspension. We can combine it with little play by putting little bags of candy outside the rope to break and let the boys and girls gather it up. Just to take this to the silly extent we can break the bags open with a single tail.

And now that I've made a mockery of my own thread hijacking, I bow out.

 

[BiBunny]

OK, I'll admit, that was better phrased than my reply. And frankly, a great image. I now want to do a paper mache mummification / suspension. We can combine it with little play by putting little bags of candy outside the rope to break and let the boys and girls gather it up. Just to take this to the silly extent we can break the bags open with a single tail.

And now that I've made a mockery of my own thread hijacking, I bow out.

*Giggle* That's awesome. I'd volunteer for it...to be beaten 'til candy falls out.

 

[LunarKitten]

OK, I'll admit, that was better phrased than my reply. And frankly, a great image. I now want to do a paper mache mummification / suspension. We can combine it with little play by putting little bags of candy outside the rope to break and let the boys and girls gather it up. Just to take this to the silly extent we can break the bags open with a single tail.

And now that I've made a mockery of my own thread hijacking, I bow out.

Paper mache mummification? Ummm.... *looks around for volunteers and takes a step behind them*

Though I am thinking the little play combination is a great idea....might have to bring it up the TPTB in our little group up in Raleigh

 

[coyotepondering]

*Giggle* That's awesome. I'd volunteer for it...to be beaten 'til candy falls out.

I have no reply but happiness.

(Yeah, I love tying up cute girls, what can I say.... the candy is just bonus.)

 

[coyotepondering]

Paper mache mummification? Ummm.... *looks around for volunteers and takes a step behind them*

Though I am thinking the little play combination is a great idea....might have to bring it up the TPTB in our little group up in Raleigh

Anytime you can get adult women in pigtails running around scooping up candy underneath a nude woman tied up and swinging back and forth is a day that I get an image to keep me warm at night. Not that I need it, I have you to keep me warm.

 

[SweetErika]

Have you looked into local resources, such as workshops and hooking up with a suspension mentor, in your area/the nearest large city?

I don't know a lot about suspension, but all of the experts I've talked to have gotten started with workshops and mentoring. The workshops are usually given in a series and/or are intensives (e.g. all day/weekend), and cover all of the safety aspects, then give you a chance to practice the techniques in a safe environment.

 

[YourCaptor]

You can't see the appeal in "Whee! Swinging subbie pinata?" Come on.

This actually sparks ideas.

The videos I have seen are basically just someone getting mummified in rope and then dangling from the ceiling like some sort of corpse on a noose.

However, if I one was to allow the sub lots of wiggle room, flailing limbs and all that goodness, add some candles, the gears are turning.

I suppose that was the turn off, once the sub is up there the doms options are rather limited.

OK, I'll admit, that was better phrased than my reply. And frankly, a great image. I now want to do a paper mache mummification / suspension. We can combine it with little play by putting little bags of candy outside the rope to break and let the boys and girls gather it up. Just to take this to the silly extent we can break the bags open with a single tail.

How about instead of candy, the sub falls out, quick, grab your prize.

 

[Netzach]

This actually sparks ideas.

The videos I have seen are basically just someone getting mummified in rope and then dangling from the ceiling like some sort of corpse on a noose.

However, if I one was to allow the sub lots of wiggle room, flailing limbs and all that goodness, add some candles, the gears are turning.

I suppose that was the turn off, once the sub is up there the doms options are rather limited.


How about instead of candy, the sub falls out, quick, grab your prize.

Have you ever been in bondage yourself?

 

[Chicklet]

If I may add one thing:

DON'T USE NYLON ROPE!!! Rope burns, bad, bad, bad.

actually i've had more negative burns from hemp.

but i've also had my BEST experiences from hemp.

I'm definitely not a top persona in the suspension, but I'm a total rope slut and suspension is my favorite thing...

It's probably all about the talent of the top and how he/she uses their rope...

 

[Chicklet]

You can't see the appeal in "Whee! Swinging subbie pinata?" Come on.

i've been a pinata, hehe... it's so, so much fun. moving around by the force of floggers only... mmmm

 

[BiBunny]

i've been a pinata, hehe... it's so, so much fun. moving around by the force of floggers only... mmmm

Lucky devil!

And as far as the rope burn goes, resident horse geek says that cotton rope is best for preventing it. I have NO earthly idea how it'll hold up for suspension, though (I imagine it probably stretches too much), so nobody take my word as gospel, ok?

 

[Chicklet]

Lucky devil!

And as far as the rope burn goes, resident horse geek says that cotton rope is best for preventing it. I have NO earthly idea how it'll hold up for suspension, though (I imagine it probably stretches too much), so nobody take my word as gospel, ok?

seriously - been suspended by a few different people: one uses only hemp and it burns every time, but that's because of his style, and his INTENT to hurt with the rope.

one has done me in nylon AND hemp and neither has ever burned.

one does nylon only and burns almost every time because HE doesn't know what he's doing as well as the other two.

 

[Chicklet]

ps current av is pinata position... designed specifically for my man's floggers

 

[Homburg]

There's no one local doing much rope at all, let alone suspensions. (Well, there is one guy that says he does rope, then he looked at a shinju I did and said "Oh, I tie in a more traditional style". Oooookay. Shinju's are crazy punk-rope stuff, I guess *shrug*) So I can't go to anyone for mentoring. Can't afford to go to Shibaricon this year, nor to Black Rose or Winter Fire, which are events that are reasonably close. Sucks to be me.

So I just went ahead and did it. Less Japanese style rope work, more a combo of mountain rescue and farm-style load-rigging. Safe? Not really. She was flying low though, and would not have been hurt by the fall. And I did not leave her in the rig long enough to allow circulation or nerve issues to become a problem.

I don't mention it because it is a good idea. I mention it because it's what I did. Netz and Coyote are dead right. Do it right. Get instruction. Don't take chances with your bottom. I did, and nothing went wrong. This does not mean you will be lucky.



Note: I had 540lbs of test total supporting her with four seperately rigged lines. She was flying low over mats. I used a two part harness, with a modified swiss seat on her hips and a takata-kote up top. I then rigged further lines to support her legs, and to take load off the main lines. And it was all rigged to a 1200lb test steel structure. She flew for less than 10 minutes total. In short, I minimised possible exposure. Made the scene less hot, but it was a suspension. Learn it the right way, and it will be hotter for eveyone involved

 

[Etoile]

Am I the only one who thought of this when reading the thread title?? (ammre, you out there?)

 

[Homburg]

Am I the only one who thought of this when reading the thread title?? (ammre, you out there?)

Hell, no! I thought of this too. While I adore suspension, and want to learn more about it, it is from a "I want to do this to other people" perspective. While I would let someone (brave) suspend me, it is just something neat, not something that calls to me.

That sort of suspension I want to do though. So amazing. No idea why, but it's awesome.

 

[YourCaptor]

Have you ever been in bondage yourself?

Are you asking because of the lack in attention for the subs experience?