ADDIE & BARKAS

The “Shapes, Shapes, Shapes!” tech dumps will each focus on a particular tie/pose/suspension, with different options based on each participant’s level of experience. For those newer to suspension, each can be performed as a partial or full static suspension, coming back out of the suspension by reversing the steps taken to get there. For those with more experience, there will be options for additions or transitions, before coming out either by reversing steps or continuing through to a different endpoint. The focus here is on sustainability, balance, and adaptation to suit and support the person in rope.

Each piece of the tie must be well placed so that no one point is taking an undue amount of strain, and the person tying must choose when to start moving out of the tie such that the person in ropes is in long enough, but not too long. This creates sustainable suspensions and lets the tied person trust the tie and focus on the experience. We will look at balance points, planning ahead, and gauging when to come out so as to maximize the effectiveness of the tie. We will also discuss workarounds for more common body quirks, self-checks, and body knowledge for the people being tied.

The details and mechanics of technical suspension are Addie’s specialty and passion. Over the past 6 years, she has amassed a wide, varied repertoire of suspension experience, with a heavy emphasis on tying different people with different preferences and adapting ties to people rather than the other way around. Pre-pandemic, she taught TheSpace’s Techie Tuesdays, a weekly series that focused on how and why ties work the way they do, helping participants to build a working, functional knowledge of tying for suspension.

Tech Dump Part I: Running Person (March 15th, 7-10 pm CET)

Looks easy enough but nope. Finding a really good balance for this tie and making it sustainable is our goal. Also: fun variations.

Tech Dump Part II: Gyaku Ebi (March 22, 7-10 pm CET) 

Gyaku Ebi’s are risky as they have a high nerve impingement risk. This class will teach some safe(r) versions and variations like futomomos. We will also look at a face-down suspension over a crotch line, which can work like a gyaku ebi.

Tech Dump Part III: Upside-down suspensions (March 29th, 7-10 pm CET)

Somehow upside-down suspensions are really popular and often they don’t go as planned. Time to lab und understand in depth what is really going on.

Event Details

Date & Time:  March 15,22,29, 2023, 7 pm-10 pm CET

Format: workshop (virtual)

Audience:  LGBTQIA+ & FRIENDS

Language: English

Minimum Knowledge Level: single column tie, double column tie & it is highly recommended that participants take the TK-ish Tech Dump before the Suspension Tech Dump(s) to ensure that we are all working from the same starting point.

There is no previous suspension experience required to participate, and each suspension will be shown with levels of difficulty to offer information, challenge, and accomplishment for participants with any level of previous experience. Throughout, there will be tips, tricks, and suggestions for those who are tied. There will also be time for tying practice, and many (though not all) elements can be modified for those who like to self-tie.

For those tying: No previous suspension knowledge is necessary, especially for the early sessions. Those who are new to TK-ish structures are also welcome to participate but should take the TK session first, and be willing to stick to the more basic versions/variations of ties. For the suspension classes, a good goal for tying participants is to be able to tie a suspension-worthy upper body tie smoothly, a non-collapsing single-column tie on the first try, and to open, move, and re-lock a suspension line without fumbling or cussing.

For those being tied: I recommend having some previous experience in rope so that those being tied have a frame of reference and can make more informed decisions. This does not have to include suspension experience. Likewise, there are no pre-requisites for flexibility, fitness, lack of injuries, etc; one of the goals of the series is to tie for the differences in how individuals work, to use that individuality to the best advantage. In Addie’s experience, the pairs who have the most success in workshops are generally those who can laugh together and who approach challenges as a team.

If you have any questions about those guidelines, please contact Addie (addietahl@gmail.com).

What to Bring: ropes (the techniques covered work well for natural fiber rope, and synthetic will behave differently. This series is not suited to tying with synthetic rope), a partner, suspension point if you want to tie along

Solo or Partnered:  both (each participant needs a ticket)

Class recording: Yes. The recording will be made available after the live class for 14 days.

What else to know

After your successful ticket purchase, you will be sent an email with the Zoom login data for this event.

If you cannot afford this event, please check the ticket option “solidarity” for reduced ticket prices. If that is still too much or they are out of stock, feel free to send us a message via info@karada-house.de