Along my rigger journey I’ve had the chance to visit many Dojos where I’ve been invited to practice and improve my Kinbaku skills. I do keep warm and glad memories from all of them. As I’ve mentioned before, having a real Dojo experience is very stimulating and definitively reflects on rigger’s essence. Having the chance to live that experience in Japan’s Honbu Dojos (both Osada Steve’s and Yukimura Haruki’s one) is something that gives us a perspective of this art from another point of view.
However I do not have the slightest doubt that almost as important as that intense experience, there was a permanent influence in my rigger’s formation path when I had the chance to visit the Copenhagen Shibari Dojo. It’s not only the mood you can feel in that space, perfectly set for Shibari Kinbaku practice, where everything seems to be meant and carefully selected to achieve the most comfortable and most useful place to learn this art, but that special energy and the huge knowledge that it’s owner, director and Sensei, Yukinaga Max and his lovely Tina add to it.
I’ve had the enormous pleasure to attend some Yukinaga Max’s classes in that place and I really have to thank a lot for the many innovative techniques I’ve learned in those opportunities. Some of those same techniques had became what we nowadays humbly and daily transmit to our students in KinbakuMania Dojo. We do so always thanking in gratefulness, with a heartfelt Dojo protocol bow to those who I consider my teachers in which I include Yukinaga Max.
But it’s not just that what bounds us to the Copenhagen Shibari Dojo. I’ve always admired that special vision I felt there where Shibari Kinbaku is taught as a martial art, with strong honor concepts, with it’s protocol, deeply rooted in humbleness, perseverance and daily work to make a better rigger, a better person from each one of us. Those are principles and concepts that we support, share and care among a small group of people within the worldwide rope community. I’ve always admired his Shibari Kinbaku vision as something separated from porn and SM world, and more oriented to the non verbal communication between people as a practice where there is much more than the merely genital relation, but a whole new dimension of the sexuality through the sensuality of not getting into the obvious. It’s really hard to put into words those concepts that are born in our souls rather than in our lips or minds, but are in those concepts where I find myself closer to Yukinaga Max’s and Tina’s thoughts. I have the feeling, very intimate indeed, that the most valuable asset you can perceive in this Dojo is based in that rich rigger/model couple relationship that Yukinaga Max and Tina happen to have. In that way, when you attend their classes, you do not only receive Yukinaga Max’s generous and profound knowledge as a rigger, but also the invaluable complement of Tina’s vision as an experienced model. This enriching experience combination is something hard and unusual to find, and is something that both of them generously share in their Dojo to those capable to perceive it.
It’s because of all these that from this humble space we want to congratulate all Copenhagen Shibari Dojo’s team for their fifth anniversary on this Saturday August the 22nd. There is no place that can last 5 years without effort, commitment, passion and love behind it. I don’t have any doubt that all along this time there might have been many happy and bad moments, joy and sadness, hugs and laughs. All these lets me clearly see a love for ropes that transcends far beyond words. This is for real, these are hard facts that had made possible the permanence and reputation that they have, and that are surely not a matter of chance or marketing.
If anyone reading this has the slight doubt of which are the best places to learn Shibari Kinbaku besides Japan, don’t doubt to pay a visit to the Copenhagen Shibari Dojo. I’m sure that the experience will not disappoint you.
Dear Yukinaga Max and Tina… Here from far away Buenos Aires, somehow distant in kilometers but close in our hearts, the whole KinbakuMania Dojo team humbly wants to congratulate you and wish you…
MERRY ANNIVERSARY COPENHAGEN SHIBARI DOJO !!
MAY THERE BE MANY MANY MORE !!
