Rope risk is not only about height or dramatic-looking ties. Learn how physical, emotional, interpersonal, environmental and equipment factors can change the risk profile.

Rope is not risk-free. This beginner-friendly guide looks at physical, relational, environmental and emotional risks in shibari and rope bondage, and how to think about them more clearly.

Shibari literally means “to tie” or “to bind,” but the practice is broader than a one-line definition. Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to shibari, kinbaku, rope bondage, why people practise, and why communication and consent matter.