Foundational Course II - Learning the Gote (improver)

Doors open 6:30PM
Level: Improver (you should be familiar with rope handling, basic harnesses and frictions), either have done Foundational Course I at Studio Ma, or Anatomie Studio or comparable courses

Learning the Gote
This workshop is a 4-week course with one weekly class, dedicated to one of the most essential and symbolic ties in traditional Japanese rope bondage: the Gote.

You’ll learn to build a solid and adaptable Gote while refining your knowledge about structure, tensioning, and body awareness. We’ll explore how to respond to your partner’s body shape, energy, and instill your own creative intention—combining technical knowledge with sensitivity, connection and communication.
We will build upon your existing knowledge to create a practical, solid foundation for tying a stemless Gote.

Topics include:

Philosophy of the Gote
Body alignment
Arm positions and shoulder locking
Safety fundamentals and nerve injury prevention
Breakdown of the 1st & 2nd rope: function, technique and emotional qualities
Attaching suspension lines
Control, flow, and connection between partners
Developing a sense of safety and embodiment as a bottom in the Gote

What You’ll Learn:

As a Rigger
The construction principles of a stemless two-rope Gote
How to build reliable, adaptive technique of tying, proper tensioning
Ways to prepare this Gote for semi- and full suspensions 
Communicating and building emotional landscapes with the way you are tying

As a Bottom
Deepening body awareness
Emotional presence and emotional landscaping
Developing clarity around your boundaries and communicating them effectively
Dispelling myths about the Gote and building agency, and embodied confidence

Requirements

This workshop is ideal for participants who:
Already have basic experience with Shibari (Foundational Course I at Studio Ma, Course I at Anatomie or similar).
Are familiar with fundamental harnesses and ties.
Want to develop their understanding of a stemless Gote suitable for use in suspensions.

Riggers:
Non-collapsing single column tie
basic cinches and frictions

Rope bottoms:
General body awareness in rope
The ability to communicate sensations and potential issues clearly

If you have questions about your skill level and don't know if this course is for you, please don't hesitate to contact us on events@studioma.org.uk

What to Bring

Comfortable clothing
At least 4 ropes, 5-6 mm thickness, 7–8 m length

Important
When purchasing a Single Ticket, please note that we cannot guarantee you will be paired with a partner. We provide opportunities for participants to connect and potentially partner up; however, if no partnership forms, you are welcome to observe. Observing is a valuable part of the experience in its own right.

Tickets are non-refundable, as once they’re sold we often have a waiting list and are happy to help contact those guests to assist with reselling where possible🎟️💛. For our regularly occurring classes, we’re also very happy to rebook your ticket for a different date when needed 📅✨