During this edition of Balkan Bound, RopeMarks will bring two kinbaku workshops, two open talks, and a closing stage performance. Throughout all the rope and chaos, RopeMarks will be joined by Keira, his partner in both rope and conversation, together bringing the full range of their work: technical precision, raw connection, and a touch of playful dirt.
Workshop Playful and Dirty Kinbaku Part 1: Filthy Foundations
Who is this for? For the curious, the dirty-minded, the ones whose attraction to rope is rooted in pleasure. If your connection to kinbaku involves sexual interest or enjoyment, you’re in the right place.
Sexuality in rope doesn’t need to lead to penetration or orgasm, in fact, it’s often more interesting when it doesn’t. We believe the brain is the biggest sexual organ, and that play is one of its favorite languages.
In Part 1, we focus on rope without bamboo that give you structure to play with. We don’t believe kinbaku should be about memorizing patterns, but patterns are useful for learning. They give you something solid to push against as you explore timing, control, and connection.
What matters is what happens between the steps, the look, the breath, the dirty little shift of intention. We teach these ties not as routines, but as tools for getting sweaty, responsive, and a little filthy together.
Level: Intermediate, ties are adaptable (tie until you reach your level)
Can be taken independently or with Part 2
Worshop Playful and Dirty Kinbaku Part 2: Bound to Bamboo
In Part 2, we bring in bamboo, not just as a prop, but as a partner in the scene. Bamboo introduces structure, exposure, and a new kind of tension. It changes how bodies move and how power feels.
You’ll learn how to integrate bamboo into your rope play in ways that are safe, controlled, and deliberately dirty. We’ll guide you through transitions, placements, and positions that open up new layers of restraint and expression.
As always, the rope is a tool, the real focus is the dynamic you create with it.
Level: Intermediate+, ties are adaptable (tie until you reach your level)
Can be taken independently or with Part 1
Kinkbaku talk, A Conversation with RopeMarks
An open talk about rope, skills, and connection.
In this first hour, RopeMarks and Keira invite you into a candid conversation about kinbaku, where it came from, how it changed, and what keeps it alive after more than 25 years of tying and teaching around the world. Expect stories from the stage, insights from private practice, and reflections on how rope can shift from technique to dialogue.
This isn’t about showing patterns or following rules. It’s about the mindset behind RopeMarks: being present, staying honest, and tying in a way that actually means something.
Kinbaku talk, Q&A Session
The second hour is all yours.
After the conversation, RopeMarks and Keira open the floor for questions and deeper discussion. Ask about technique, philosophy, partnership, safety, or the messy, human parts that don’t fit into tutorials. They’ll answer from real experience, what worked, what failed, and what still surprises them.
Come curious, come respectful, and if you joined the first hour, bring what stayed with you. The rope continues here, in dialogue.
Performance
At the end of Balkan Bound, RopeMarks and Keira will close the event in their own style, playful, raw, and a little dirty. A live performance that brings together everything they’ve been teaching: presence, tension, and connection in rope.
Please see the schedule for times and location: https://balkanbound.com/schedule/
| Who’s RopeMarks?
I’m Bob Roos, also known as RopeMarks. I’ve been professionally active in the world of Japanese rope bondage since 1999, working out of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. My work is rooted in the lineage of the late Akechi Denki (明智伝鬼), passed on to me during my first training in Japan. I’ve also had the chance to study directly with Naka Akira (奈加あきら), whose traditional style and approach I’ve long admired. Both have left their mark on how I tie, but what I do today is shaped just as much by years of personal experience and a style that has grown into something recognisably my own. My work is known for its precision, intensity, and connection. Whether on stage or in private sessions, I aim to create something that feels alive. My performances are energetic, rooted in what was taught to me, and always evolving with the people I tie and the stories we bring to life. For me, kinbaku is not just about technique or aesthetics. It is about trust, presence, and the honest exchange of control. I believe the best rope happens when there is real connection, whatever form that may take, and I bring that mindset into every tie, every workshop, and every performance. |
Who is Keira?
I’m 28, Italian at heart, and somewhere between curious and hooked when it comes to rope. I started exploring kinbaku a few years ago, and something about it just clicked. The surrender, the focus, the mix of softness and intensity all spoke to me. I love how rope turns my attention inward, quiets my busy mind, and creates space for something deeper. I’m not a full-time model, but I love working with RopeMarks, who takes this seriously and wants to create something real together. In his hands, I open up. I’m playful, responsive, and always discovering more about myself through rope. I have a soft spot for Japanese aesthetics and a Dutch guy who sees all of me and still wants more. Being part of this workshop is another step in my journey, and I’m excited to share the experience. |
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