Suspension Bondage Is Dangerous

We love suspension bondage and we’re excited to share it with you. We want to be very clear, however, about the risks involved.

1. Suspension bondage involves unavoidable risk. Like rock climbing, suspension is a risky activity. Good preparation and training can reduce your risk, but even if you do everything right there is still a chance that you may be injured or killed, or that you may injure or kill another person.

2. We don’t have all the answers. Unlike rock climbing, suspension bondage has no professional standards bodies and no expert consensus about best practices. This book is based on years of study, practice, and consultation with outside experts. Nonetheless, you should be aware that suspension is still a developing field, and our understanding of the best way to do things is still evolving.

3. You can’t learn suspension from a book. The only safe way to learn suspension is to work with a qualified instructor or mentor. This book is a valuable adjunct to expert instruction, but not a substitute for it. Without a skilled teacher to guide and evaluate you, you cannot learn suspension without placing your partner in tremendous danger.

4. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Suspension is fun and exciting, and you will likely be tempted to rush ahead and try activities that you aren’t yet ready for. We can’t stress enough the importance of proceeding slowly and methodically, and always working within your skill level.

5. Always use good judgment. Your best defense against mishap is your own common sense and good judgment. Always be mindful of what you’re doing, and err on the side of caution.

Your partner is placing tremendous faith in your competence and judgment. If you are careless or overly ambitious, they are likely to pay a heavy price for your foolishness. Make sure that you are worthy of their trust.

Suspended Animation accepts no responsibility for any injury or death which may occur as a result of the activities described in this book. By reading this book, you agree to take full responsibility for your actions and their consequences.

From The Ground Up 101

Fundamentals of Suspension

Welcome to FTGU 101. By the end of this book, you will know everything you need to perform a basic suspension.

Although much of the material looks basic, these are the fundamental building blocks of suspension bondage. Master these skills, and you’ll be well on your way to being an expert rigger.

CHAPTER
1

Chapter 1: Gear

Having the right gear is an important part of being a good rigger. This chapter will guide you through the process of choosing and taking care of your gear.

CHAPTER
2

Chapter 2: Basic Rigging

Before you start putting rope on people, you need to master the fundamental rigging skills that underlie all suspension bondage.

CHAPTER
3

Chapter 3: Harnesses

Because people don’t come from the factory with handles, you’ll need to make your own. We call them harnesses.

CHAPTER
4

Chapter 4: Nerve Damage

Nerve damage is the most common injury caused by suspension bondage. Fortunately, nerve damage is almost completely preventable.

CHAPTER
5

Chapter 5: Suspension

Now it’s time to put it all together and get your partner into the air. Whee!

Reference

Knots

It’s important that you use the right knot for the job. Although there are literally thousands of knots in the literature, this collection of knots should be able to handle pretty much any rigging situation.

Resources

Want to dig deeper on a particular topic, or looking for new ideas? Here you go.

About Us

Suspended Animation began as a Burning Man camp in 2008, but we’ve branched out into all kinds of rope-related naughtiness. Secretly, we’re still waiting for the grownups to come and tell us to knock it off.

Glossary

Wondering about the difference between a bottom and a submissive? You have questions, we have snarky answers.