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Learn Shibari in Los Angeles

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LA Rope has been teaching shibari in Los Angeles since 2011. Trained in Tokyo by the late Grand Master Yukimura Haruki, the head instructor (Haru Yutaka), offers personal instruction in the art of Yukimura’s caressing style.

Unlike other schools of rope, which may focus on complicated patterns, Yukimura’s style of rope is designed to heighten communication between partners and develop a deep sense of intimacy.

Our introductory class provides some basic history, background, and safety information before teaching a series of basic ties that can be used immediately and which allow even novices the room to explore and experiment with a wide variety of ties and positions.

Our goal is show the depth and beauty of even the most basic techniques, as well as to provide the building blocks for more advanced study.

We offer more than just techniques, we teach a broader philosophy of rope that teaches you to tie, respond to, and communicate with your partner.

Private classes are available most weekday afternoons and evening.

Sign up now and begin an amazing adventure of fun, eroticism, and amazing intimate communication.

Kinkly Review of LA Rope (Intro Class)

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The folks at Kinkly have just published a review of our first Tuesday Rope Play class.  It is a great read for anyone who might be interested in doing rope for the first time.  Written with a great sense of humor, it does a good job of capturing both the spirit and tone of what are classes are like.

The article “Kinbaku and You: A First Timer’s Foray Into Rope Play” gives a strong sense of what our classes are all about, introducing rope to people who want to develop better and more intimate communication with their partners.

My favorite part of the article was the express of trust that he felt he built with his class partner:

This is certainly one way to supercharge a new friendship. Despite not knowing her for too long, I feel like Diana and I already have a deep foundation of trust. How can you not after that? And that is the thing that surprised me the most about Kinbaku; it’s not about pain and humiliation. It’s about absolute trust and subtlety. The way that slowly dragging the rope across your partner’s skin communicates more than words can ever say. Or how simply tightening a knot can send both of you into a fleeting moment of bliss. If you’re looking for a unique date you and your partner won’t forget, this is it.

Thanks to Kinkly for the write up!  I hope it helps others take the first step in broadening their erotic horizons!

LA Rope at Hentai Con (Nov 2-4)

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LA Rope, Japanese Bound and Rope Flix will be vending and teaching at this year’s first ever Hentai Con.

Tickets are available for $40 for the whole weekend: https://www.hentaicon.com

We will be teaching a class on the history of Japanese fetish culture on Friday, doing a movie viewing Saturday evening, and a hands on rope workshop Sunday afternoon.

More details as the schedule is confirmed.

Kinbaku from the Neck Up

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Playing with the face is an important element of kinbaku in Japan. In this class we will break down the elements of face play (gags, blindfolds, and nose play) by exploring both the physical techniques of this kind of play as well as the psychological effects.

We will discuss important elements of psychological and physical safety, different tools and techniques for face play, and the aesthetics of facial bondage.

This class will blend demonstration and hands on learning, so bring your toys and someone to tie or tie with.

LA Rope Collaborates with Celebrity Fashion Designer Ashton Hirota

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LA Rope has been working with the famous fashion designer Ashton Hirota, the designer behind Ashton Michael fashion to integrate shibari into the look for his latest collection called “Mercy.”

ashton 011618 aa 003 t180Hirota has dressed more than a few celebrity A-listers, including Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Cher, Justin Bieber, R. Kelly, Will.i.am, and has been a judge for America’s Next Top Model and RuPaul’s Drag U.

As LA Guestlist put it, “Ashton Michael’s “Mercy Collection” is a Preview of What Your Favorite Artists will be Wearing in 2018.”

For this show, Hirota closed off a section of Las Palmas to set up a runway, strewn with flowers, while 160 guests were treated to a rock and roll runway show of his latest designs.

The designs were all simple shibari patterns, designed to enhance the look of each outfit and model, without providing any kind of distraction from the overall look and feel.

Collaborating on these kinds of projects are a true test of skill and imagination, because your job is not to “just do the rope” but to use rope to bring someone else’s vision to life.

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When you are working with someone as talented and thoughtful as Aston Hirota, that is both liberating and incredibly intimidating.  Fortunately, I couldn’t have asked for a more generous or pleasant person to work with.

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Murasaki San Back in LA (February 23-28)

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LA Rope will be hosting Murasaki sensei for a brief visit to Los Angeles in February (the 23rd-28th).  If you are interested in booking a private lesson or session, please contact us at laropedojo@gmail.com to make arrangements.

Murasaki sensei studied closely with Yukimura sensei for more than 15 years and is a licensed instructor of Yukimura Ryuu.

She is available for classes, private lessons, or sessions.

Availability is limited, so make sure to book early!

LA Rope Shooting with Victor Lightworship

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Shooting at the dojo with Victor Lightworship and rope by LA Rope.  Behind the scenes by EMS.

JADE KUSH X LIGHTWORSHIP X EMS #15 from ERIC MINH SWENSON on Vimeo.

LA Weekly Article: LA Rope

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LA Weekly has just published a fantastic article profiling our classes at LA Rope!  I think they did a great job.

From the article:

“Launched in its current space in 2014, L.A. Rope Dojo is tucked away on the second floor of an unassuming office building just off Western Avenue and Second Street. The walls are plastered with images of women in various states of constraint. Wooden beams stretch from wall to wall — not coincidentally, the perfect height and size for binding willing men and women to.

On a recent Tuesday night, mostly fresh-faced, young couples stream into the dojo for its sold-out, bi-monthly beginner’s rope play class. They look, well, totally normal.”

Read the full article here: LA Weekly

Gallery: Iroha Shizuki

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While visiting Los Angeles, I got to do a shoot with Iroha san.  Our focus was on her hair and the eroticism of rope.  Photos: Zetsu

Visiting Japan? Check Out Spider and Aubergine

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Kinako stopped by LA Rope to talk about the service she offers for kinbaku enthusiasts traveling to Tokyo. Check out our interview with her and learn more about her services here: http://www.spiderandaubergine.com

LA Rope and Katy Perry: Shooting “Bon Appetit”

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LA Rope was on set last month with none other than Katy Perry shooting for her new video “Bon Appetit”

While a lot of the work we did ended up getting cut from the final video (including two full suspensions), we were really happy to be a part of the project.

It was an adventure tying and suspending 7 actors at the end of a 16 hour day.

Here are a few snippets that made it in to the final video:

It was a long day and a lot of fun!

Watch the whole video here:

LA Rope collaborates with Marielle Tepper on Lapalux Album Cover

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Lapalux has just released a new album, featuring cover art by award-winning photographer Marielle Tepper.  The shoot was an ambitious one, with the goal of producing a model bound in glowing rope.

My first thought was to use UV rope, which is widely available and often used in performances.  Marielle’s vision was different, she didn’t want it to look like rope.  Instead, she was hoping to create the illusion of being bound by light.

This was not easy.

After many attempts to coat rope in reflective paint (some which ran nearly $300 a bottle), we finally stumbled upon an idea after seeing some of the reflective tape we were using in the background give off exactly the look she wanted in photos.

In the above photos you can see the process, starting with the original tie, adding the reflective tape, catching a glimpse of the effect, and finally the finished tie both before and after the light is applied.

The final result really makes a great cover for the album.

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A great team to work with and a really fun shoot all around. Thanks to everyone who worked on it!  I think the result came out great.