Beyond Circus

In this course, Fred Hatt teaches two harnesses and a suspension class putting them into use with his model Briki.

Dynamic suspension transitions are often associated with ‘circus bondage’ and stage performances, but for Fred this flavour of rope is also a vehicle for ordeal-based play. In this class, he presents his personal approach to playing with suspension transitions that goes beyond simply creating shapes in the air.

The class has a strong focus on the tempo of this kind of scene which is punctuated by a series of peaks (stress positions) and valleys (or ‘pit-stops) of endorphins and adrenaline, distinct from the tempo of semenawa or torment based play, which focuses more on a gradual crescendo towards the apex of a tie.

When doing dynamic suspensions, Fred likes to feed off his partner's impulses, presenting him with choices to provide relief (or ‘pit stops’) for them, or block movement to cause stress. This offers a contrasted experience and rush to the model, always alternating between challenging positions and moments of rest.

He explains how to read the model’s body and make decisions accordingly, the differences between what he calls ‘micro’ and ‘macro’ transitions, blocking movement versus giving room, playing with endorphins and adrenaline.

We recommend learning and practicing the harnesses taught in separate videos prior to watching the full sequence. The harnesses alone are suitable for intermediate level, however the transition class is geared towards advanced-expert level practitioners.

Note that Fred is using a TK in the classes, but you can replace it with a hands-free harness to reduce the risks of nerve damage and stress in the shoulders.

*Captions available for this course: English