I recall my first rope purchase. I went into a marine shop and asked for about 5 metres of black woven synthetic rope. I was somewhat embarrassed when the assistant asked if I wanted it cut into four equal lengths! It must have been the glint of anticipation in my eye that made it obvious that I was not the nautical type. It's a pity that he didn't have the knowledge to advise me that I was buying too little. Anyway, I soon added the ubiquitous cheap set of handcuffs and made up some leather leg and hand restraints. This was the start of a fascinating journey.

Around 8 years ago, I summoned up the courage to venture into the BDSM/fetish club culture and went to the Rubber Ball. Like most fetish club virgins, I was apprehensive and excited. To my relief, it wasn't filled with the bogeymen the unenlightened portray but wonderful, open people who shared my taste for bondage and many more delights that I was yet to discover. I soon became a regular at Submission and other clubs. Since then I haven't looked back. I have found some of my best friends on the scene and have always been impressed by the great levels of trust and respect I have found. These values are essential for BDSM play, where you can be literally entrusting your life to another, which is perhaps why they are more prevalent on the scene than outside in the vanilla world.

Around three years ago, an excellent article on Shibari, or Nawashibari, (Japanese Bondage) caught my imagination. It not only took the idea of bondage to a more meditative and deeper psychological level, it was also stunningly creative and beautiful. I then began to devour every scrap of information I could find. There is a lot of inspiration and information on the net. I attended a workshop by Midori, an internationally acclaimed Shibari artist, and studied her book 'The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage'.

Watching and learning from others is always the best. I have been particularly inspired by Kazuyu, a Japanese domme of 10 years experience, who is doing beautiful work around the London clubs. I have no doubt that she is the UK's best.

My first public rope work was when I offered to help my friend Adam, and now co-performer, subdue his girlfriend who was pretending to resist a riding cropping at Torture Garden. I received a number of compliments and was asked if I would do some more. Lady K, the TG Dungeon Mistress, invited me to the next TG for a repeat performance. The answer to both questions was as obvious as those about the Pope's religion and bears' toilet habits.

Since then, rarely a week goes by without doing something in whatever club is on or in private scenes. To date these have included Torture Garden, Wicked, Perversion, Club Rub, Whacko and Sleazecore. With up to three or four sessions in an evening, which adds up to a lot of practice. There's still so much to learn, however.

Bruce - www.esinem.com