Leverage Workshop

(Previously titled “Tips for Smaller Riggers”)

Can you tie and suspend without brute strength?

As a small, short woman who loves to top in rope, Pretzel has developed her own preferred methods of tying and suspending bodies of different sizes. This workshop focuses on making tying and suspension easier through leverage, body manipulation and rope mechanics. We aim to improve your efficiency in tying and reduce injury risk to both rope tops and bottoms. 

We'll explore how to: 

• manipulate and reposition a larger body using leverage over strength
• keep a rope model within the top’s safe and manageable range of movement
• transition from standing to floorwork and back using minimal energy and reducing risk

Rope bottoming injuries are more commonly discussed, but riggers also take on serious risk. In suspension, we'll manage friction to ease lifting and make dropping your model less likely. We'll also discuss conserving energy and reducing physical wear and tear from the repetitive stress of tying. Pretzel’s thumb dislocation and long recovery in 2023 changed her perspective on rope. She wants to do the activities she loves (including rope) well into retirement age and hopes to avoid wearing out her hands or injuring herself unnecessarily. 

Although this class grew from Pretzel's experience as a smaller rigger tying larger bottoms, you don't need to be small to benefit.

This class may be particularly helpful if you or your partner:

• want to conserve energy during long scenes
• struggle to lift the model into suspension
• want more confidence when tying a model bigger than you

Pre-requisites: 

Riggers should be confident with single and double column ties. They should be able to tie a suspendable chest harness and lower-body harness, and have had prior experience with partial suspension if not full suspension.

Rope models should have good awareness of their bodies, their preferences and boundaries, and the ability to communicate. We recommend that you attend with a familiar and preferred upper body harness for suspension.

Both tops and bottoms should be aware of signs of nerve compression. You are welcome to use Takate Kote (TK), Gote or Box Tie but it is not a requirement.