Safe Impact Play Workshop

 

Impact play in the lifestyle can be a fun and exciting activity between a dominant and a submissive/slave It covers a wide variety and range of playstyles and various different techniques, some of which we are going to talk about here in this workshop. With such a wide range of playstyles and techniques available, it is very important to understand the safety behind these various different playstyles. There is much more to it then just picking up a paddle or a flogger and smacking your submissive’s ass with it.

So lets discuss the different types of play styles and techniques which are available to us as Dominants.

There are two basic categories of “impact play” which we find in the world of BDSM:

““Erotic Spanking”

In “erotic spanking”, the submissive is struck either with a Dominant’s open palm or hand, or a rigid implement, each coming with their own name for the various activity.

• Paddle referred to as “Paddling”
• Crop referred to as “Cropping”
• Cane referred to as “Caning”

There are also implements known as slappers or smackers. These consist of a semi flexible leather paddle with rounded and tapered edges, designed specifically to minimize the severity of the impacting strike.

“Erotic Flagellation”

In “erotic flagellation”, which is defined as a S&M act in which the participant receives erotic stimulation from whipping or being whipped, the submissive is struck with a flexible implement such as a switch, a whip, or a belt. Whips are classified in two specific categories, based on the number of falls they have. Falls are the leather bit(s) which hang down from the handle used to strike the submissive/slave with.

• Single Tails:  These include whips which have a single fall such as a bullwhip. It is usually referred to as whipping or single tailing.
• Floggers: These include implements with have many falls such as a cat-o-nine tails, or the general flogger. It is referred to as flogging.

There are other less common forms of impact play such as “face slapping” and punching which will be loosely covered at the end of this article.

“Thuddy verses Stingy”

The next important concept is understanding the differences between thuddy and stingy. These sensations depend on two things, the area which is being struck and the implement which is chosen to be used. For wider implements as those mentioned in the “spanking” section above, the sensation is spread out to a wider area of the body thus giving a “thuddy” sensation to the body. Narrower implements such as those mentioned in the erotic flagellation will impact a much smaller area of the skin and give off a more “stingy” sensation.

“Understanding Floggers”

When it comes to floggers, it depends on the various sizes of the falls, how the flogger is used, and where exactly the person is striking the other person.

First, the sizing of the flogger can make a great difference to whether or not you get a stinging sensation or a thuddy sensation. Floggers which have wider thicker falls will tend to give off a more thuddy sensation, verses ones which have smaller falls. How you go about striking the person with the flogger will also depend upon how exactly the person will feel sensation wise from the strike.

“Single stroke flogging” involves focusing on one single strike at a time. The flogger falls are usually grasped together to draw them close and then a underhanded movement of the wrist while throwing the arm forward to strike a place on the submissive’s body one strike at a time. These tend to involve the length of the flogger, which can depending on the size of the flogger again either give a stingy or thuddy sensation.

“Cycling flogging” is a series of strokes that flow into the next stroke, continuously. This builds up momentum and usually brings about a more rhythmic pattern in the strokes. Cycling flogging can involve the larger length of the flogger which could bring about either a thuddy or stingy sensation, or the very edges or tips of the flogger which tend to bring more of a stingy sensation over thuddy. However, both of course depending on how the strike is made can bring about either sensation involved.

“Understanding Wrapping”

Wrapping is a HUGE MISTAKE on the flogger’s technique and is something to avoid at all times. It Is when the tips of the talls or the falls themselves wrap around the curved portion of the submissive’s body such as the buttocks, legs, and hips, and shoulders. Have you ever heard that cracking sound when a whip strikes out, that actually comes from the whip moving faster then the speed of sound. Believe it or not, the implement in this case can gain tremendous amount of force and speed at the same time and if the person who is doing the flogging looses control over the flogger, it can cause considerable amount of damage and strike someone in an area which they were not intended to be struck. When flogging, the person doing the flogger should never loose sight of where exactly the flogger is going to strike. This comes down to focusing. Practice makes perfect here in this situation. It is recommended to take a pillow or a blanket folded upwards and try to work the flogger so that it strikes exactly where you want it to, and exactly where your eyes are focused upon.

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“The elements of a impact play scene”

Understanding the elements which are involved in a scene are important. I always compare them to a bell curve where they slowly begin to go up, rise to a peek and then sharply come down to slow off and the end with a nice crescendo at the very end, followed by proper aftercare.

“Stage one: The Warm Up”

Warming up is very similar to preparing the mind and body for what is about to come. For those who do any type of exercise, if you don’t warm yourself up, you could end up doing considerable amount of damage from strain to pulling a muscle, to possibly deeper muscle or tissue damage. This is the same when it comes to doing any sort of implement play. We don’t want to shock the body with anything specifically extreme, so warming up prepares to dealing with the shock which might come.

Warming up involves giving your partner a few light strokes to start. I tend to usually let them feel the implement I am going to use by slowly rubbing it over their skin and then lightly giving them a few taps, followed by other sensations. This isn’t something which should be rushed. The more time you spend at warming someone up, the more prepared the submissive will be. One of the biggest concepts when it comes down to flogging is accuracy. This is more important then anything, and just like spoken above when it comes to wrapping, practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better your accuracy and focus will become.

 

“Stage two: Peeking the Scene”

Once you have warmed your partner up, getting into the bulk of the scene is what comes next. A mixture of pleasure and pain is optional but not required. It depends on what type of sensations you which to build in your partner. When it comes to the impact play, remember that it is a race of adrenaline and endorphins in the submissive’s body. The further you go, the closer to subspace the will become, although subspace might not entirely happen,

Once you get moving and into a routine, keeping eyes on what your doing is key. Watch the coloring of the skin. This will give you a good indicator to how far you are going. Understanding if your partner is ok with being marked is also important. The harder you hit, the type of implement you use, and the length of time you hit one spot can make marks appear. Mixing up strikes with massaging or touching, bringing a bit of an intimate touch mixture with your impact play can make for a great and fun scene. I sometimes like to have ice available, but remember ice and cold water will cause the skin to toughen up, making the impacts even more stronger on the surface of the skin, and the likelihood for bruising or even possibly breaking the skin even more possible.

“Stage Three: The crescendo”

The “crescendo” as we call it is the top of the peek. This is the desired effect which you want to instill in the submissive. It might be an orgasm after you give a mixture of pleasure or pain, or the peek of the impact play. Whatever it may be, your focus on the submissive is key at this point. You need to watch closely to how  he or she is responding, to ensure you don’t put them over the edge.

“Stage four: The Downward spiral”

After your reach the peek, you will begin with a downwards spiral. The submissive’s body and mind at this point might be spent. They will be numb, limp and at times just come crashing back down to ear. Allowing them to come down gently by bringing them down, slowing the strikes, coming close to hold them, focusing on their breathing, the beat of their heart and getting them to come down close enough that you can take them and begin aftercare. Remember aftercare is key especially in impact play scenes. You need to treat not only the submissive’s mind but the submissive’s body. You are impacting their body, so there will be some degree of damage which you will need to tend in in one way shape or form. Aloe for bruised skin, healing jel for anything else. Get a good idea of skin care. I tend to have things like ice and skin lotion available, and after a nice massage, and tending to whatever marks or bruising there might be on their bodies. Having bandages available for any open areas. After you tend to the submissive, always make sure to tend to your toys. Cleaning them, wiping them down and storing them away is important to make sure you play safe and they last you a long time.

Responsible flogging or the use of any implement really comes down to accuracy, research, practice and communication with your partner. It is even recommended that you sit down with someone who has a wide range or a strong level of experience with flogging, and/or who has been flogged, to get a better understanding of what is happening and how to do things the right way. It is meant to be fun, erotic and arousing, but it is also something which is extremely dangerous, as with any activities which have risks involved with them. Take time to understand, practice, and get to know what your doing before deciding to do it to someone. The submissive’s life is in your hands as a Dominant.

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“Understanding Human Anatomy”

To be experienced at impact play, it is very important to have a firm understanding of the human body. Remember, your striking the body, this does come with risks. There are areas which are great to flog and areas which should be avoided at ALL COSTS due to the vulnerability and potential for damage.

The following diagram is taken from the website asibdsm.com and all courtesy and respect given:

[INSERT DIAGRAM HERE]

The areas are color coded from GREEN to RED.

• Green: All clear, do your worst or best!
• Yellow: Risky Zones – use caution when directly hitting these areas or how frequent you hit them.
• Red: Danger Danger Danger, just stay away from these areas
• Purple: HELL NO! In no event or time should you ever even THINK of going near these areas with a flogger. Not happening.

Educating yourself about where some of the most vulnerable areas which you can do extreme damage is key. These areas should be avoided at all cost due to how delicate they are.

• Kidneys: Located in the area of the back between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the butt.
• Tailbone: Located at the base of the spine. It can become cracked or broken when struck by any implement.
• Hips: The sides of the buttocks and along the boney part of the hips. There are several delicate nerves close to the surface of the skin here and the hip bone can easily become cracked if struc.
• Spine: Up and down the center of the back. It has several very small delicate bones which can become cracked or bruised. Damage to the spinal chord itself can leave with potential for large back problems.
• Neck: This is a very sensitive area. The neck is the transport highway for lot of important arteries and veins transporting blood to and from your limbs and your head. You also have various glands, tendons, lymph nodes, your larynx, voice box.. yeah just stay away from here.
• Face: Sometimes people will use face slapping as part of the impact play, but there are lot of very delicate things such as your sinus, your mouth, eyes, lips, cheekbones, jawbones which can become easily damaged. No one should be taking any implements near this part of the body.
• Ears:  Hitting the ears could cause lot of damage to your hearing. There are delicate tiny bones along with the drum itself which can become easily damaged if not careful.

“The Leather Butt Condition”

This is a condition when an area of the body is struck too many times, it ends up desensitizing that particular part of the body, killing the nerves which are what transports the sensations and feelings to our brains. It also can cause the skin to toughen up and bring about a large amount of scar tissue. This is something which is wanting to be avoided at all costs. You can avoid this happening by varying your techniques, durations, or areas. Move from one area of the body to another. Don’t always strike the same area.