The exponential problem

It came like a wave from contacts all over the world. “Have you seen the video?” No. I haven’t. And I really don’t want to see someone getting injured, thank you. I can imagine the circumstances, all too familiar. It’s this week’s example of a dilemma endlessly facing our community, and there’ll be yet another one next week of only those actually reported.

I’m just commentator; observer. Not authority, or expert. I don’t have the answers, because if one existed, we’d have it by now, surely, wouldn’t we? I’ve been trying to walk away from Social Media, reducing my digital footprint and connecting more face to face with individuals. To help us find mutual enjoyment from both parties, top and bottom, in understanding our reasons and motivations to tie and be tied.

For years I’ve been trying to identify the causes of this perpetual problem, saying that sooner or later something dreadful is going to happen, and lawmakers will become concerned enough to legislate against our practices.

Anybody can take up rope. But clearly, very few have the combined humility to continually question their ability, the empathy to consider the disposition of their partner/s, the integrity for honesty, even to themselves, and the patience to grow organically.

The trouble isn’t singular. We see those who seek profit before people. Narcissistic self–proclaimed gurus inventing dogma, styles, even faux history; orientalist revisionism to suck in blind, unwitting ignorance as disciples; followers prepared to worship beyond arrogance, believing without question, aiming to emulate a bar, rather than to be original, and raise it. The poison entered the well around 15 years ago, and has spread malignant ever since.

We see how the Internet generation rides Social Media promoting their stated considered abilities. We see misplaced enthusiasm to become leaders, celebrities, influencers, stars all wrapped in dangerous hubris. We see hundreds of images every day of proudly posted seriously questionable tying, superficial, vacuous.

The pandemic has limited many who set out their stall in this field to remote activity. If hoping to learn detail in a group for a few hours is challenging, then via a video link is so distant we should question what can really be gleaned. Take away instruction with the ability to return question e.g., via online video and it’s akin to learning how to fly to the moon by watching old NASA clips.

How many offer teaching ‘Japanese Bondage’ having never visited Japan, never had high–quality 1–on–1 training from a wider spectrum to gain better grounding, let alone a single Kinbakushi? How many think this is about macramé, knots, ties, transitions, styles? How many believe this is the only martial art in the world where heavy males are pitted against lightweight females? How many suckers are prepared to pay for garbage, taking it on to teach others in an ever–decreasing loss of understanding until it hits the bottom? Even Yukimura quipped, off the record, how many he’d met couldn’t absorb his philosophy, more interested in certification to profit from his name. But he clearly needed the money. Another elemental factor of the problem.

Could part of the problem be in the terminology we use, or rather our perceptions based upon it? Riggers and bunnies, for example. For half a millennium the word ‘rig’, chiefly nautical referred to arranging; securing equipment above the deck; ground. Therein lays the motivation. Arriving at the task with the result in mind: the tie, the suspension, the image. The thoughts of what our partner/s may desire become invisible, inconsequential, and with it, the danger their ultimate safety of lesser concern than the opinions of those viewing the result. Playing to the crowd, rather than with our partner/s.

Everything I have just written will be ignored by the vast majority, to the detriment of those who will suffer, to the lack of understanding to those who think they’ll learn something from ignorant bad actors and bad practices. And so it will go on and on. Just please, don’t ask if I’ve heard about or seen the next incident. I already have, in my mind, thank you.

Best respects,
Sin