Barkas & Addie in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Exact location will me in your registration
Cost: $385/Cpl for early bird tix until March 24. $440/Cpl for regular price tickets thereafter.
Dress code: Rope comfy
Description:
We’re truly excited to welcome Barkas and Addie for this exciting weekend intensive. Their first time in Philadelphia.
Space will be limited!
About the presenters:
Barkas:
I am a bondage educator, performance artist, and writer.
I have developed Ranboo and the Interview metaphor, and am a licensed Osada Ryu instructor and Yukimura Ryu instructor.
I have given performances and Workshops all over the world, such as at Shibaricon (‘14 & ‘15 & ’16) in Chicago, at Moscow Knot, at Kannawa Kai in Tokyo, at West Coast Bound in Vancouver, FIRE in Orlando, Place des Cordes in Paris, and many other events.
One of my special focuses is the implementation of various philosophical, sociological, physical, mathematical, and historical ideas into my approach. These are found in the metaphor of tying as an interview – a certain mindset that prioritizes individuality, and leads to the development of a unique style. Intellectuality and emotionality don’t contradict each other, they allow the rigger to fill the techniques with life, to focus on the person not the pattern, and to make enjoyment the goal of every scene. I don’t tie people, I tie with them. These thoughts have been recently condensed in the book “Archaeology of personalities – a linguistic approach to erotic rope bondage.” I work most of the time with my partner Addie:
Addie:
I stumbled into rope several years ago and quickly got hooked. I love the range and creativity possible with such an adaptable medium. These days I wear many hats –
bottom, rigger, self-suspender, educator, performer, advocate, and amateur in the old sense of the word. I have spent the past couple years adventuring, learning, and teaching with my partner Barkas at events around the globe, where my focus has been on supplementing his teachings with bottoming information and education. I have had the immense good fortune of spending time with some fantastic people on my tumble down the rabbit hole, and I’m happy to have the opportunity to pass on some of what I have learned along the way.
Content:
Day 1: Concepts and Approaches
The Rope Interview
The interview as a metaphor of tying. The interview combines the communication discourse with the one of power relationships. To tie with a person is always an involvement with a certain power relationship, simply and at least because of one person is tying and one person gets tied. But this scene also means a nonverbal conversation between the two people tying with each other. In this mind set we can think of an interview to describe the dynamics. With the help of some ipponnawa techniques we will explore some of the more obvious and some of the very subtle references to the interview metaphor.
Newaza
Newaza, literally translated means “non-standing techniques”. Rope Bondage restricted to the floor, i.e. on a mattress or else, can be a very special way of experiencing ropes. The grand master Yukimura Haruki Sensei elaborated this style over the last 4 decades and established a system that enables students to learn his very unique style. Various techniques and a special handling of the human body are needed to increase the pleasure of tying on the floor. In this class, the participants learn how to use leverages and how to position their partner in certain ways with the use of ropes.
Ranboo
In 2011, Barkas started to develop his personal way of doing ropes, which was very stormy and overwhelming. His Sensei Osada Steve called it ranboo and since then, this way of doing ropes became one of the well-known styles in the world of kinbaku. Within this class, the participants get a first insight into ranboo. Some key terms of ranboo, such as proper distance and proper intensity at the proper moment are the framework to tie in this way.
Additional content if time allows
Day 2: Advanced Techniques
Advanced Suspensions
Positions in suspensions with a focus on rope handling and smooth work. This enables the participants to use suspensions for different purposes within their play.
Aomuke zuri (face up suspension)
Gyaku ebi zuri (face down, legs bend to the back)
Sakasa zuri (head down/inversion)
Suspension Transitions
The transition between two or more positions of a suspension is content of this class. The Osada Ryu among other schools pays a lot of emphasis on dynamics. Hence the steady movement of the tied person is central for a certain mind set. In this class we focus on the mechanics and the safety of the tied person as well as on a fluid handling of up lines.
Mechanical principles of transitions and rope handling
Yoko zuri progressions
Inversions
Making a plan
360° transitions
Additional content TBD
In addition to the intensive, Barkas will be available for private lessons in NYC, April 25-26th, and in Philly, April 27th and the during the day on April 30th. Lessons are $120/h with a two hour minimum. To schedule a private lesson or more specific information please contact:
KoKo – keptonkeepinon@gmail.com (KeepOnKeepinOn – Fet)
In addition we’re delighted that rope bottom extraordinaire Orannis will be joining us as a TA and a secondary rope bottom for this event.
Further details to come. Tickets are non-refundable.
