Shameful Secrets

Apparently I’m destined to pick up topping techniques regardless of my inclinations.

I have, for a bottom, acquired an interesting set of skills. I’ve no CLUE how to run a scene, but I know how to do a number of things. Impact oriented, all of it

Until now…

I spent 10+ years learning elements of various forms of combat and how to safely use them on stage and in film. If it requires aim, I can probably pick it up in an afternoon. The *mechanics* of it, that is. I also developed a knife fetish. But as that’s on the bottom side…

I make NO claims to anything more.

LOL. I’d been working with a bull whip for 5 years before I discovered ‘the scene’… The first person I encountered who did ’singletailing’  didn’t know what I was asking when I asked what KIND of singletail he used. I believe what he had was a 6′ American bull whip, and I’m reasonably certain it came from Western Stage Props at about $89, as it looks remarkably like the cheap thing I bought to decide if dropping 3 bills was something I really wanted to do. Happily, I’m relatively certain that at least at the show I was part of it never touched flesh.

My background is making things look real… whips, really, aren’t intended to hit.. they are intended to be noisy and herd cattle… (yes, there are other uses and exceptions).  The signal whip most commonly (in my experience) used in scenes was designed for the iditarod, as I understand it. And isn’t long enough to hit a dog from a sled on a bet.

Personally, having lashed myself (mostly in the face) learning to throw a whip years ago, the concept of someone striking flesh with one was absolutely terrifying. My initial introduction with someone who was entirely clueless knew less than I did about whips in general didn’t help.

It wasn’t until I attended a class taught by Dov (a stranger at the time, now a friend) that I saw how such an implement could be used with finesse. It was roughly 2 years before I discovered just how much I, personally, like *being* singletailed

So, to bring it back to my title..

The rope class I’m bottoming for. I walked out knowing the two ties taught cold, just from watching. I tried them a week later, when there was rope at hand, and they’re solid.

And, the real surprise? I kinda think it’s a skill I want to acquire and use…