Kinbaku Diaries Part I: Learning by observation

Learning by example

‘Kinbaku Diaries’ is a series of full-length and uncut videos of Milla Reika, tying in private. Drawing on traditional approaches to teaching kinbaku in Japan, ‘Kinbaku Diaries’ aims to provide a resource for learning through active observation; and offer a deeper insight into non-staged unrehearsedー ‘real-life’ kinbakuー between two people.　In Part I, you will observe a session, between Milla and Nao, which entails an ebi-zuri (shrimp) suspension, inversion and transition to kujira (whale) pose with floor-work.

Moving beyond patterns

Focusing on the whole scene rather than instruction on specific ties and patterns, the series offers insight into the subtle interactions and unspoken communication, the way one handles rope or responds to arising situations. Each session is filmed with multiple cameras and aesthetically edited to offer optimal angles for viewing without cutting any of the scenes; enabling you to observe our full ‘story’ of intimacy, domination, and surrender as it unfolds from beginning to end. This will help you understand the nuances of a rope session and move beyond simple restraint and tying patterns. To use the phrase, which I coined many years ago, real kinbaku is all about 'tying people, not parcels'.

FREE access to 100s of shibari videos

In addition, you will also get access to Esinem's membership area which has hundreds of videos, photos and articles providing a fantastic learning resource. You'll find numerous exanples from which you can also 'steal knowledge'.

In Milla's words

“To maintain a fully private setting all videos are filmed, edited, and produced by myself, Milla with support from my rope partners. These videos are not about memorizing ties but rather how to ‘play’ within kinbaku. They are not rehearsed and I decide as I tie depending on the feeling and my partner at the time. There will be places where I stop to think or change what I was going to do depending on the circumstances. I hope that this will also provide references for one way to deal with differing situations. While a lot (not all) of the content is quite advanced I hope that beginners can still use it as a reference. Rather than trying to take in everything, I hope that you focus on one point in particular. Whether it be hand movements, how I hold the rope, how my partners respond at certain moments, how I utilize my body, or move my partner's body.” -Milla Reika