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spring tiger ryu

the arts ryu of kinbaku

SOLD OUT

A Tribute to Sorayama: ValenTied 2024 
Due to rain, rescheduled for Sunday, March 10 from 2-4pm.

This year’s special program is a tribute to Japanese Hajime Sorayama in the form of an inspirational afternoon featuring a presentation of timed Fusion bondage by Master K, inspired by classic Kinbaku poses and original artwork gifted to Master K by Sorayama. An event for working artists, photographers, and curious lovers from all walks of life. It is an opportunity for the curious to explore a mesmerizing world where art, history, culture, and sexy robots meet rope bondage.

2024 PROGRAM
March 2 A Tribute to Sorayama | March 10 Tied By a Girl  ….. WATCH FOR  MOD(ular) Kinbaku, FUNdamentals of Kinbaku, and Self-tying workshops. Contact us for custom private or group classes.

Spring Tiger Ryu is an inclusive place for those seeking meaningful understanding and practical education of the beauty, safety, and pleasure of Kinbaku (shibari), the traditional art of Japanese erotic rope bondage. Explore the journey of this sophisticated art form, beginning with the martial arts of Edo-era Japan and follow its evolution to current trends around the world.

FUNdamentals of Kinbaku || A series of hands-on workshops introducing students to core  Japanese kinbaku ties. Topics range from Wrist 101 and Gote Construction to Sensual Ties for Lovers. Includes some safety and historic perspective. Similar in format to our MODular Kinbaku series and a great companion to Rope Sense and Sensibility (safety/negotiation) classes. Ropework: Master K. Photo: Michael Helms.

Rope Sense and Sensibility || A virtual (occasionally in-person) dive into physical and mental preparedness for rope play at all levels. Great for both partner mindsets, professional models, photographers, and anyone looking for a refresher. Covers meeting partners, negotiating, seeing and addressing red flags, female-top and male-bottom safety tips, and East/West mindset and physicality.  Ropework: Master K. Photo: sjstudio1.

MODular Kinbaku || A series of hands-on classes for couples exploring how to integrate kinbaku-adjacent topics not typically offered in class settings. Each class covers historical context, safe practice, and how-to with time allotted for practice and one-on-one Q&A. Past topics covered Kinbaku with: Bamboo, Low Furniture, Candles and Wax, Faces, and tying Fingers & Toes. Ropework: Master K. Photo: Yoshi.

Virtual Learning || For students, artists, and photographers around the globe, we offer custom presentations, with Master K. Individuals and couples.

Live-Stream Events ||During the Pandemic, Kinbaku fans around the world participated in our two-year live-stream event series in the virtual world of “Second Life” and the live-stream events we held in Los Angeles in 2021 and 2022. 

Tied By A Girl || An utterly unique couples class for females interested in developing a deeper connection with male partners. This is Kinbaku from a new perspective; topics include psychological effects, principles of proportion, great ties for accentuating male bodies,  body positioning, and more. Females tying women are welcome to attend this class. Ropework/Photo: Miss zElement

Life Drawing Salon || An opportunity for artists of all skill levels to capture the beauty of traditional kinbaku. Master “K” works with a professional model to offer a traditional kinbaku progression with timed poses varying from five to twenty minutes. Working artists are offered discounts to Spring Tiger Ryu events. Ropework: Master K. Art: Thomas Garner.

ValenTIED Red Rope & Romance ||  Our annual event (held the Sunday before Valentine’s Day) gets spicier every year when we throw our doors open to artists, photographers, students, and the curious. We present a day of steamy fetish-themed kinbaku with storytelling, professional models, Japanese treats, and a series of timed poses for creative inspiration. Ropework: Master K. Photo: Yzen.

Satsueikai (Photography Workshops) ||  Private or semi-private shoot with Master K and professional kinbaku models. We offer a variety of Japanese-themed props and wardrobes and can host you at our dojo, recommend a location, or join your at a LA metro area location of your choice. Shoots are fully customized. You supply lights & camera, we’ll supply the action.  Ropework: Master K.

 

Collaborations || Master K is a professional rigger whose work can be seen in Nicolas Winding Refn’s Neon Demon (Netflix) with Elle Fanning and Keanu Reeves, indy-farce, Wives of the Skies (Amazon Prime), and Millie Brown’s art film, Pendulum (Nowness.com). He’s worked with fashion photographer Michele Comté at LA’s famed Milk Studio for Vogue Italia and Interview Germany. These images were highlighted in the recent Comté retrospective.  Ropework: Master K

Covid-19 and the Art and Practice of Kinbaku (updated July 2023)

Protocols vary depending on event location and attendees, please read protocols on ticket pages, carefully.

Kinbaku and Covid: As the world adjusts to a ‘new normal’ following the Pandemic, people are enjoying a wider variety of activities with more rope events and classes in homes, clubs, and other venues. Deciding if, or which, to attend still presents unique challenges to many those who are 50+, have underlying medical conditions, and other reasons. 
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Covid at our outdoor locations We follow current LA County Covid Protocols. Please check ticket pages for further information for each event.
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Covid protocols in our private dojo We’ve answered these concerns by retrofitting our Beverly Hills dojo with an air filtration system that recycles the dojo atmosphere eight times per hour and installing blue light technology that purifies the space to the level of a hospital surgical theater. Our guest protocols include attendees providing vaccination records, a current photo ID, results of a negative home test (text or email) two days prior to class and the morning of the class, and taking an on-site PCR Cue test prior to entry of each class ($75/person).. With your cooperation we are able to provide one of the safest spaces in the Nation to enjoy the practice of Kinbaku.
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We look forward to seeing everyone soon and hope you all stay safe as you continue your Kinbaku journey.