KINBAKU-SHIBARI ART LEVEL 2 /// Aibu - Nawa, The Art of the Loving rope /// Weekend Course

KINBAKU ART LEVEL 2

The Art of the Loving Rope - Aibu Nawa

(with Partial Suspension / Zuri)

Summary

A two-day Level 2 weekender dedicated to Aibu Nawa: the loving, caressing language of rope, Ki, presence, pacing, and deep listening. We train rope as somatic communication.

About the course

In this weekend course we explore Aibu Nawa the soft, caressing language of rope.

Aibu Nawa is first a language of presence. The Bakushi (rigger) trains attention, touch, positioning, proximity and pacing so the Ukete (receiver) can soften, feel, and trust, entering  a state of subspace. The concept here is not “I tie you” or “you get tied by me.”
The focus here is: " let's tie together".

This style is open and unfolding: slow and fast, soft and firm, emotional and calm, creative and grounded. Aibu is not about knots or structural outcomes. It is somatic communication: rope as listening, communication, touch, rhythm, pressure, stillness, invitation and pleasure.

What you’ll train

• Presence in rope: breath, pace, attention, and nervous-system awareness
• Ki and transmission: how energy moves through rope direction, hands, timing, and distance
• Deep listening: reading micro-responses, consent cues, and changes in state
• Nawajiri (rope end) as expression: flow, rhythm, sensitivity
• Aibu structure that supports feeling: gote approach, posture, transitions
• Partial suspension (Zuri / Tsuri) foundations: introduced as an extension of Aibu principles, transitions, and exits

Day 1 — Foundations of Loving Rope

Topics

1. Loving rope: history & philosophy / the “tying together” principle
2. Breath & presence: pacing, co-regulation, attunement
3. Ki & attention: how focus changes sensation
4. Nawajiri: rope-end handling as expression and listening
5. Rope and touch: pressure scale, glide vs stillness, “micro-asks”
6. Deep listening: reading micro-responses and consent cues in real time
7. Escalation & return (within Aibu): how to deepen and come back cleanly
8. “Rock in the ocean”: Bakushi positioning, stability, and creation of safety through space-use
9. Body manipulation & repositioning: moving the body through the rope and hands without forcing
10. Gote Shibari (Yukimura-inspired approach): breath-respectful structure that supports sensation

Exercises / drills

• Anchors and contact points: ankle / wrist / neck)
• “Madame Butterfly”: guided journey into surrender through the Gote tying process, provoking subspace
• Breaking the Seiza: position opening and repositioning 
• Ippon Nawa studies: one rope, many tones (rhythm, proximity, restraint, release)

Day 2 — Energy Beyond Form + Zuri (Partial Suspension)

Topics

1. Energy beyond form: what remains when technique disappears
2. Moving Ukete through the rope: guiding without forcing
3. Psychology of posture: protection, vulnerability, power, surrender
4. Partial suspension (Zuri / Tsuri) foundations: principles, pacing, exits
5. Transitions & landings: returning to the floor without breaking Aibu tone

Exercises / drills

• 5 height changes (legs)
• 5 height changes (arms)
• 5 body orientations (how tone changes with position)
• Yukimura-inspired Futomomo / legbinder
• Single-foot tie (Yukimura-inspired)
• Double-foot tie (Yukimura-inspired)
• Kemono Shibari Progression

Level / prerequisites

This is Level 2. You should arrive with solid basics, including:

• Single column and double column ties

• Basic frictions / tension control (enough to work cleanly without constant re-tying)

• Familiarity with a Y-hanger and a suspension upline (setup and purpose)

This weekend is not about collecting advanced patterns, §it’s about quality of presence, energy, and connection, from both sides of the rope.

Attendance: this workshop is designed for pairs (couples/duos). Please attend with a rope partner.

Consent & safety note

We practice clear communication, stop signals, and clean exits as part of the work.
Partial suspension is partial (intro foundations + principles). No full suspension is required

What to bring

• Rope: ideally 4–6 ropes (6–8m / ~20–26ft), plus 1 shorter rope if you have it

• Cutting tool: safety shears / rope cutter (required)

• Comfort items: water, warm layer, socks, any personal aftercare needs

• Clothing: comfortable movement-friendly layers; bottoms should consider skin sensitivity and pressure

• Optional: blindfold (only if you personally enjoy it), notebook

If you don’t have ropes yet, message in advance—limited loan ropes may be available depending on the studio setup.

Tutor 

Tiger Nawa (Matteo) began tying knots in early childhood through a sailor’s upbringing, long before entering the world of Japanese rope arts. His study of Kinbaku has been shaped by the broader Japanese tradition, often traced from Hojojutsu and the aesthetics of Kabuki and by the modern Kinbaku scene and its influential artists, including Osada Eikichi, Yukimura Haruki, Osada Steve, and Akechi Denki.

From these influences and hislong self taught explorations, Matteo developed Tiger Nawa Ryū: a personal style blending Aibu and Seme Nawa, which he calls Romantic Seme Nawa, a holistic approach rooted in presence, creativity, and deep relational awareness.
Beyond ropes, Matteo is an artist, filmmaker, yoga teacher, and sound healer with over two decades of multidisciplinary experience, informing the depth and sensitivity of his rope work.

(This weekend course is completely dedicated to Aibu Nawa and its foundations.)

Inspired by

This weekend is inspired by Yukimura Haruki’s approach to “Aibu no Nawa”, and informed by study and materials from the wider kinbaku community, including Kinbaku Academy’s Yukimura series, Yukimuran Studies, and teachings shared by Osada Steve contextualised and adapted for this course.

Capacity

Studio capacity is limited to 8 duos' couples to be bale to use all the suspension points and to offer in depth learning experiences

Refreshments & Lunch Break

There will be free tea and herbal teas throughout and there will be a 1 hour lunch break on both days.
There are a few places to get lunch within walking distance from the studio

How to get there

Tube (Victoria Line): Seven Sisters (High Road / buses exit) or Tottenham Hale
Overground: South Tottenham (Suffragette Line) / Seven Sisters (Weaver Line)
Walk: approx. 10–13 minutes

Stansted Express:

• Liverpool Street → Tottenham Hale: 15 min
• Stansted Airport → Tottenham Hale: 36 min

⚠️ ATTENTION

Make sure you go to Fountayne Road, N15 (NOT N16).
Entrance via building number 7 courtyard.
Ring number 2, or WhatsApp/call: 07772 955 639

Refunds

Booking fees are non-refundable.
Ticket cost minus booking fees can be refunded up to 7 days before the event.
Within 7 days: message us as soon as you know and we’ll try to help you resell your ticket via our socials.

Unconditional Rope Love to all 🖤✨