Lochai of Kirinawa.com BindMe interviewed the man behind one of the most beautiful and artistic bondage-sites around. BindMe: Would you like to tell us something about your background? Who are you and what do you do? I am presently a realtor & love to help people find their first homes. Many times I catch innuendos of a sexual nature, many times kinky, & would love to come out & say... This beam is rated at 2000 lbs & could support your weight in a suspension!² I have also become the realtor of the kinky for those in the scene who are looking for such a place. So, if you are in need of a home in Florida, drop me a line. ;) I was also an educator for 8 years in the NY public school system. Now that was a trip. Clean cut school teacher by day. Evil dominant by night. ;) BindMe: What does bondage/shibari/kinbaku mean to you? For me it is a meditation when I tie. I can get lost for hours painting rope on a canvas of flesh. One night myself, Tattoi & Sir Christopher spent 4 hours straight tying 37 beautiful bodies to celebrate my 37th birthday. I ended up doing about 20 of them & I was just zoned the entire time. I look at it as a sexual & non sexual art form. I talk with 'nilla' people about my rope art & get acceptance from those who only think it's kinky. BindMe: How did you first come into contact with bondage/BDSM? I bound my first beauty at age 6 on the school bus. I took my belt off, slipped it over her head & slid the buckle tight. (I still have the belt). From that point on I have always had kinky girlfriends. Didn¹t know I was different till about 8 years ago & have been teaching/sharing what I know since. BindMe: When did you discover it was "your thing"? Above. It just feels right. I have a saying. It's either in your head or in your blood. For me, it¹s in my blood. BindMe: By whom are you influenced in your work (if so)? In what way? And who else do you admire in "the scene"? Wow... I have become good friends with Midori & Jay Weissman thru my adventures & have learned a lot from both of them. I have been influenced by every person I have ever tied or played with. Every person I have ever watched, trained, been taught by has given me a different way to look at wiitwd. Rope bondage is only a very small part of my play. It is what I feel comfortable sharing with others in the form of teaching but I am influenced by every aspect of consensual play. A far as admire, I admire anyone who can say "wow I liked that, can you show me?" BindMe: Do you see your form/style of bondage as an artform / artexpression? And if yes... do you do something about it (or do you value that) to see it accepted as such? (If no, what else is it?) Absolutely YES! I try to create sculpture when I tie. I try to create in my bindings something that any person would be proud to show guests in their home, their parents & such. It can be sexual or not. All depending on what my model wants to get out of it. BindMe: Do you have a favourite way/shape of binding? A favourite position? My favourite position to tie a bottom in is the position that gives them the most pleasure. If my bottom gets off on the tie, I have achieved what I set out to achieve. I also enjoy inverted suspensions... ;) BindMe: Do you have regular partner you have bondage with? Tattoi is by rope bottom, my student, my photographer & love. I also have a few ladies that will strip for me if I pull my ropes out. BindMe: Is having a website an extra kick (showing your bondagepartner) or is it more commercial? It is a great way to share my art. A little extra money also helps to by more rope. BindMe: What other BDSM-elements are you attracted to? Hmmmmm. I am an award winning human pony trainer, puppy trainer & humiliation top. Very much into corporal punishment & age play. I have owned full time submissives & have help train novice tops. BindMe: Do you always do your own photography or do you just focus on the bondage? I read that you are more working in a team now. How does that work? I am blessed to be working with the renowned fine art photographer John Gillan who is able to capture my art as an art form in & of itself. I am also blessed to be in love with another fine art photographer, Valerie Place. Since I have these two to capture my love of rope I have not put myself behind a camera in a couple of years. I create my art with rope. I also allow an artist to create their art from mine. I would love to tie for any photographer who would love to capture my art. BindMe: How did it feel to have your bondagepartner suspended for the first time? :) great. It actually happened years ago as I was a rock climbing instructor & got to suspend many people. I was getting off on it & they were none the wiser. BindMe: Do you think that Japanese bondage seems like a hype lately? Everyone seems to be "into it".... Yes, but not many people seem to be able to capture the essence of it the way the true Japanese Nawashi do. I have used their influence to create my own hybrid style. BindMe:What do you reccommend people that feel attracted to this form of bondage and want to learn? Grab some rope, a willing body (someone who will talk to you & tell you what they feel) & start tying. Midori¹s book ³The Seductive art of Japanese Rope Bondage² is a great how to book. Realize that what you see on the web & in books is not for everyone. Most people CANNOT bend & twist as my Tattoi can & many of the suspension photos are staged. Take things very slowly & ask questions. BindMe:What can we expect in the future from you? More rope art. BindMe:If you have anything else to say that you would like people to know, please feel free to add that. I moderate a wonderful rope art email list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdultRopeARt/ that is a great way to share your art. We have some of the best artists in the world here. If you are into fetish I own & moderate the official SECRET MAGAZINE email list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/secret_mag The best in fetish publishing. And of course... Visit Kirinawa, Ancient Art meets Fine Art, http://kirinawa.com Marrow and Debora of BindMe.nl wish to thank Lochai for his cooperation on this first special and being so open, informative and personal. Thank you, Lochai!