Rope & restraint are architecture: they control position, perception, and pace with consequence. This is not ornament; this is disciplined containment where authority is proven by consent, precision, and accountability.

Fiber: natural (jute/hemp/cotton) offers grip and readable friction; synthetics (nylon/poly) are slicker and can store energy. Choose based on control preference.

• Diameter: 5–6 mm for general use; wider distributes load, narrower bites harder.
• Length set: matched lengths for repeatable patterns; label and coil consistently.
• Finish: ends secured; no loose melt blobs or frays that scratch skin.
• Maintenance: clean, dry, inspect; retire rope with glazing, hard spots, cuts, or contamination.

Standard: If you cannot predict the friction and stretch, you cannot predict the outcome.

• Anchor choice: use load-rated hardware and sound structure. Decorative fixtures and door handles are not anchors.
• Directionality: plan load paths; avoid cross-loading carabiners; keep lines clean and observable.
• Redundancy: critical holds get a secondary capture or backup line.
• Suspension: full or partial suspension requires training beyond this doctrine; do not suspend without formal instruction and rated systems.

Standard: Tie to the system you trust, not to the hope you have.

• Neck & airway: no constriction lines; nothing that could tighten unexpectedly.
• Upper limb nerves: avoid compressive bands over the radial nerve (upper lateral arm), ulnar nerve (elbow/cubital tunnel), and median nerve (carpal tunnel).
• Lower limb nerves: avoid peroneal nerve at the fibular head; respect femoral triangle and popliteal fossa.
• Joints: do not cinch across moving tendons; preserve neutral angles at wrist/ankle/knee/shoulder.
• Two-finger rule: under non-load, two fingers should slide under a wrap that is intended to allow circulation.

Checks: color, temperature, sensation, motor control. Capillary refill should return promptly after blanching. Any numbness, tingling, weakness, or coldness → pause, adjust, or cut.

• Wide beats narrow: prefer bands over cords where load persists.
• Distribute: share load across multiple wraps; avoid single hard edges that bite into tissue.
• Lock to the line, not the body: security hitches should capture rope, not skin.
• Cinches with intent: use cinches to stabilize, never to choke tissue; keep cinch angles shallow.
• Movement budget: build in what will move (breath, swelling, shifts) so risk is anticipated not discovered.

Standard: If tension changes with a breath, it can change with panic. Plan for both.

Patterns serve principles: stability, distribution, access, and auditability. Replicate only designs you understand.

• Stability: prevent rotation and creeping; use opposing anchors.
• Access: leave space for monitoring pulses, joints, and breath.
• Auditability: every critical tie visible end-to-end; no hidden cinches under weight.
• Release: at least one fast cut path that avoids skin and nerves.

Standard: A restraint you cannot explain is a restraint you cannot defend.

• Tiered signals: Adjust / Pause / Stop mapped to verbal and nonverbal cues (taps, object drop, light toggle).
• Intervals: active check-ins at escalation, then every 5–10 minutes or at each position change.
• CCTS scan: Color, Capillary refill, Temperature, Sensation/motor—repeat, record deviations.
• Observer role: if present, the observer watches breath and color only; they speak if either drifts.

Standard: Monitoring is an assignment, not a vibe.

• Safety shears: carry on-person; test on your rope set; know your cut lines.
• Keys: duplicate, accessible; metal cuffs require anti-pinch release protocols.
• Entanglement audit: before escalation, verify nothing traps a limb if a single point is cut.

Standard: If you can’t cut it in three seconds, it’s not safe enough for escalation.

Restraint narrows choices; done well it expands trust. Your voice, tempo, and predictability govern the nervous system. You escalate structure, not surprise. Panic is prevented by pacing, described transitions, and visible readiness to release.

Leadership line: “I am responsible for the pace, the position, and the return.”

• Separate skin-contact rope sets; store dry and ventilated.
• Clean per fiber guidance; avoid residues that burn or slip.
• Log retirements; damaged rope is removed, not “kept for light play.”

Standard: Tools are either reliable or retired.

Stop criteria: loss of sensation or strength, sharp/electric pain, unusual swelling, discoloration, breathing difficulty, or any unknown pain.

• Stop → cut → stabilize. Warmth/cooling as appropriate. Position for comfort and circulation.
• Assess orientation and motor/sensation distal to the tie.
• When in doubt, seek professional care. Document what was tied, where, and for how long.

Disclaimer: Education here is not medical advice.

Rigger Standards

• Predictable pacing; state transitions before you move.
• Manage tension with distribution and readable anchors.
• Initiate checks; treat ambiguity as a pause.
• Carry shears; prove your cut path before escalation.
• Record outcomes in the Ledger; adjust next plan.

Bound Partner Standards

• Report sensation truthfully and early.
• Use signals exactly as negotiated.
• Hydrate, rest, and debrief; log responses and changes.

Pre-Tie Brief (60 seconds)

1. Goal & ceiling for this restraint.
2. Signals recap (verbal + nonverbal) and cut rule.
3. Body map exclusions for today.
4. Follow-up time set now.

Bound Check Prompt

1. Describe sensation (0–10) and location.
2. Can you feel and move fingers/toes?
3. Any sharp/electric sensations?

Release Script

“I am opening your breath. Cutting if needed. We return to neutral first, then we speak. You are safe; I am here.”

Rope & restraint demonstrate order under pressure. We select materials with intent, build with distribution, monitor like professionals, and end with clarity. Authority here is precise and accountable.

Not Kink. Discipline.