On the evenings of Tuesday 28 August and 4 September, I am running two classes which are perfect for those either starting out with suspension or who would like to learn to suspend more elegantly and safely. This is a subject that seems rarely to be taught with the right depth. Sure, there are a lot of classes teaching how to tie a specific suspension but they almost invariably assume that the student understands suspension per se and the related physics. In my experience, most find this out by trial and error with a little help from their friends.
Suspension seems commonplace these days, but it appears that the complexities and fundamental skills are rarely appreciated. This is compounded when people are picking up the knowledge to get somebody airborne second-hand or from the internet. Not many people would learn to mountaineer or fly a plane based on this paucity of knowledge but somehow they believe bondage is different. Granted, one is much nearer to the ground but the potential for serious harm is still there. Of course, keeping your partner safe is not the only thing to be learned. A few simple tricks can mean the difference between an ugly suspension that is hard to achieve and effortless elegance. I have done thousands of sessions, a very large percentage involving some form of suspension, so I have a lot of tips to pass on!
7:30pm, Tues, 28 August: Floor suspension: A safer introduction into suspension where most of the subject’s weight is taken by the floor. This is the ideal way to gain the skills required and to extend play longer that would usually be prudent for full suspension. Floor suspension shares many of the advantages of full suspension without a lot of the disadvantages and is an invaluable weapon in your armoury.
7:30pm, Tues, 4 September: Suspension basics & rope control: An introduction into suspension techniques including tie offs, frictions, lifting and control methods, tsuri line tension etc. Suitable for intermediate students
