In-House Intensive: Historical Adaptation

Reinterpret. Rebuild. Revive.

🗓️ Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 1:00 - 5:30 PM (Doors Open @ 12:45 | Doors Close @ 1:10)

📍 Devil Mask Studio -- DTLA

🎟️ Ticketed for one tying pair (two people) or a solo auditor | Memberships accepted

Inspired by Hajime Kinoko’s reminder that “it’s not about Shibari being great, it’s about individuality,” this intensive explores adaptation and reinterpretation from historical documents and photographs. We’ll take you from deconstructing harness patterns to re-engineering full suspensions - focusing on adaptability, self-expression, and thinking beyond “correct” replication.

Part I: Harness Adaptation - 1:00–3:00 PM

In this lab-style session, we’ll dissect historical harnesses to explore the logic behind their construction and remix their core components with modern-day techniques and ideas. You’ll learn to adapt patterns for different bodies, aesthetics, and functional goals while developing a more critical, creative eye for rope. Sources from historical materials will be provided for reference and inspiration.

Snack Break - 3:00-3:30

Part II: Sequence Adaptation - 3:30–5:30 PM

Building on Part I, we’ll shift focus to dynamic suspension transitions. You’ll analyze how historical ties move in practice, then work hands-on to modify and integrate them into new sequences. This is an advanced, highly participatory session - expect to experiment, observe, critique, and push your suspension skills into new (and old) territory.

You Will:

✅ Learn analytical tools for interpreting & riffing on historical sources of inspiration

✅ Adapt harnesses for different bodies, contexts, and aesthetics

✅ Explore the process of re-engineering sequences from static images of historical ties

✅ Practice dynamic sequence adaptation with real-time feedback and critique

You Should Know:

While many concepts will cross-apply to self-tying, these exercises are designed for partnered work.

Tying Students:

1. Very familiar with harness components: single-column cuffs, in-line cuffs, Munter hitches & x-frictions (or equivalent locks)
2. Very familiar with creating, attaching, and locking off uplines
3. Some experience with managing uplines in dynamic suspension

Students Being Tied:

1. Experience providing feedback while processing intense sensation (e.g., in suspension)
2. Some experience with suspension, including transitions

You Should Bring:

1. Your suspension kit: at least 8 lengths of rope, plus preferred hardware and safety tool
2. Water + snacks for the break

Capacity: 10 Tying Pairs