Kata Ashi Suspension

NiKOKBK Presents

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Thursday May 15th, 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Kata Ashi Suspension (3 hours) 

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Fee: $100 per tying pair

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Kata Ashi ties are often used in suspensions or partial suspensions to create beautiful, dynamic body lines and intense sensations. They challenge balance and gently expose the body’s vulnerability through posture and openness. This figure is a well-known element in more advanced tying, often paired with a Gote.

 

I discovered this particular approach to Kata Ashi through Tamandua, who shared his own interpretation - an evolution of a style that found resonance across Europe.
In this class, I’ll share with you a sequence of smooth transitions, built around a more generous support structure than what’s typically seen in the original form. This makes the tie more adaptable to a wider range of bodies and opens space for personal interpretation. We’ll explore the tie in both semi-suspension and full suspension, using it as an opportunity to touch on a variety of techniques within a single structure.
We’ll also take time to dive into my approach to the Gote, not as a fixed form, but as something you can adapt and make your own. I’ll highlight the subtle choices that resonate in my practice, in the hope they might inspire you to find your own path with it.

 

Technical Prerequisites

As a rigger:
• You should be able to tie a Gote, using the technique of your choice, in a way that is
sustainable for your partner in an upright (vertical) suspension.
• You should also feel confident managing suspension lines.

 

As a model:
• You should feel comfortable and stable in a Gote during suspension, with enough experience
to communicate your limits and sensations clearly.

 

Required Equipment

• 12 ropes (jute or hemp), 8–9 meters long, 5–6 mm diameter, depending on the model’s body type
• A tenugui or piece of fabric (for wrist binding)
• Safety scissors

Workshop Accessibility

This workshop welcomes intermediate to advanced practitioners, provided they feel
comfortable with the technical prerequisites listed above.

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Location

Old Rainier Brewery 

3100 Airport Way S.

Industrial District, Seattle WA

Free Parking