It was probably serendipity that had Wolf’s Advanced Bondage demonstration being the first in the new larger program room. Over sixty people were on hand to see what proved to be a spellbinding demonstration of the eroticism of ‘plain old rope’, although in all honesty nothing Wolf did with a rope this night would fall under the heading simple.

Wolf started the program with a discussion of some of the safety issues involved in suspension bondage. In addition to using the proper pull weight ropes and rings, it was stressed that the suspension needs to be securely attached, which means finding a beam. He also touched on the concept of dead weight (not moving) vs dynamic weight (moving) and cautioned that it is necessary to take into account which you will be dealing with when determining individual suspension needs. He then took questions from the audience regarding the setup of a suspension system.

Following the discussion of the mechanics of suspension bondage in general, Wolf continued by noting a few of the things that need to be brought up between the top and bottom. In particular, the top should determine whether the bottom has any questions, bad bondage experiences, or trauma/phobias associated with suspension play. It was also pointed out that the bottom should not eat for a few hours prior to suspension because the disequilibrium could cause vomiting. He suggested placing a plastic tarp on the floor just as a safety precaution. Wolf stressed that a major part of the top’s job once the bottom is suspended is to watch for psychological trauma. The nature of suspension bondage leads to a more complete loss of control; the lack of having one’s feet firmly planted on the ground produces an entirely different dynamic than regular bondage. This is a case where knowing who you are playing with is important, because in that way you can more quickly identify a bottom who is getting into psychological trouble.

MaryAnn, Carla, Margaret, and Elaine were the volunteers assisting Wolf in the evening’s demonstration (rumor was that a lottery was held for this privilege, but that is unconfirmed). MaryAnn was used first as a standing/stationary model. In making the harness, Wolf wrapped the rope around her hips several times, and pointed out that care should be taken to avoid overlapping the rope. He also ties off the rope periodically so that the knots do not tighten with slippage. He demonstrated two different types of harnesses- one that went around the hips and the other around the thighs. He advised keeping the rope away from the hip bone.

Carla next was used to demonstrate a single-point harness, used for standard upright suspension. In a brief physics lesson, Wolf pointed out that the more area protected by the rope, thereby diffusing the tension on the rope, the less risk of trauma. He also noted that each body is different and that each different body type will have different points where the pressure of the rope during suspension can best be tolerated. This is where a trial is important, but he also reminded that bodies change even in a short period of time, so it is important to be flexible about placement. As in everything, the importance of communication between top and bottom was stressed, as if the ropes are improperly placed and causing discomfort, there is an inherent risk of harm.

Wolf next put Margaret into sitting suspension. Using the same general harness as he had demonstrated previously, he showed how changing the area where the suspension joins the harness will alter the entire look and sensation of the bondage. For this, Wolf used the thighs as the base for the harness.

Elaine was put into a three-point harness, with the tension points being above the breasts, the middle of the back/waist, and the legs above the knees. The bulk of the rope was in the middle of the body, and this is where the harness was most secure. Once secured in the three-point harness, Elaine was put into horizontal suspension, and at one point used to play a quick game of "Spin the Bottom". After letting Elaine down for a brief respite, Wolf took a few questions from the audience. He then put Elaine into inversion suspension. He pointed out that in this type of suspension, the thighs and hips should be weight-bearing; these are larger bones and muscle groups that can support the weight. The ankles are not big enough to be safely used for inversion.

There were a several observations made demonstrating Wolf’s dedication to safety. He had assessed the room before even bringing in any of his equipment to determine the best place to attach the pulleys, etc. Even though he was using rope of a test weight that should have been more than adequate for the purpose, he often doubled and quadrupled the rope, increasing the margin of safety. Although there were many other instances, one that particularly stood out was the fact that on several occasions, while not seeming to even be aware that he was doing it, the look or feel of a knot would not seem right to him, and he would redo it.

This was a terrific program, demonstrating both the responsibilities and safety issues involved in this advanced bondage play, while at the same time showcasing the benefits and sensuality achievable with a well-tied knot. Many thanks to Wolf and MaryAnn, Carla, Margaret, and Elaine for a well delivered and fascinating program.

Posted with permission from Society of Janus
Ó Society of Janus http://www.soj.org