"The Twisted Monk goes beyond just providing some string to fool around with. "

May 5, 2010 6:42 AM

Kinktrepeneur, former evangelical missionary, and “Rent-a-meanie” the Twisted Monk: "I guess is some ways, I’m finally fulfilling the calling I had when I was a kid and being that evangelist, changing the world one bedroom at a time." ... [most links contain no nudity but might be NSFW anyway]

His website includes excellent rope tutorials with his wife of 20 years (no nudity, as tame as a bondage tutorial gets)

Violet Blue tours his rope factory (nudity). Pictures and video (autoplay, warning, the video has her struggling, happily and consensually)

He does live performance:"I was asked by the amazing Tamara The Trapeze Lady to perform at her Halloween show. With only 6 minutes on stage and a crowd of mostly non kinky folks, we had to come up with something fun, sexy and FAST." (This video is skippy--might help to watch it with the sound off.)

Blogger describes bottoming to Monk: It's kinda like meeting Captain Kirk.

posted by internet fraud detective squad, station number 9 (16 comments total)

So, how long until an Evangelist hires the Rent-a-Meanie and gets caught?
posted by mccarty.tim at 6:59 AM on May 5, 2010

I've never bought special rope for bondage; all of ours comes from Home Depot. As much as I love shibari, I still kind of suck at it. It's definitely an art. If I'm feeling lazy I'll use vet wrap or plastic wrap instead. If I'm really, really lazy it's back to the cuffs.

I envy people who can make a living at this; we have a variety of handmade leather goods, but it's a side job for the makers. I personally wouldn't relish the thought of telling my family I'm starting a bondage gear business, even though they're not particularly conservative or religious.

The handful of seconds it took for me to locate my shears

I keep them in my pocket for this reason. If I'm not wearing pants, then they're on top of the alarm clock, always. But I think everyone has that "oh shit" moment at least once.
posted by desjardins at 7:22 AM on May 5, 2010 [1 favorite]

I love how his wife, in the tutorial videos, is so completely relaxed. You could imagine her taking a nap between takes, all trussed up in rope.
posted by Forktine at 7:24 AM on May 5, 2010

I know! I love those videos and think they are a really sweet couple. 20 years! Met on a school bus! Wow.
posted by internet fraud detective squad, station number 9 at 7:31 AM on May 5, 2010

If I'm feeling lazy I'll use vet wrap or plastic wrap instead.

Bondage tape. Best invention since sliced bread.
posted by newpotato at 7:33 AM on May 5, 2010

If I'm feeling lazy I'll use vet wrap or plastic wrap instead.

Bondage tape. Best invention since sliced bread.

I'd like to toss in Zip ties. You can play Arrested on Spring Break.
posted by mmmbacon at 10:01 AM on May 5, 2010

The last time someone ordered some monk rope in relation to me he threw in some free vibes, which were POINTY, argh! I mean thanks and all Monk but nothing nice is going to happen with those.
posted by By The Grace of God at 1:25 PM on May 5, 2010

And that is to say that yeah Monk is awesome.
posted by By The Grace of God at 1:25 PM on May 5, 2010

Pointy vibes?!! I am picturing this cone thing that I saw at Babeland that you're supposed to sit on or something. Pointy. Huh.

The rope...how does it compare in softness to, say, nylon?
posted by internet fraud detective squad, station number 9 at 2:08 PM on May 5, 2010

No just tiny wee pointy goddamn vibes. :)

Very soft rope indeed :)
posted by By The Grace of God at 3:03 PM on May 5, 2010

Soft? As compared to nylon? I don't think so.... This is rope that constantly reminds you it's there. That's a large part of the fun of hemp.
posted by thejoshu at 11:21 PM on May 5, 2010

desjardins, the rope at home depot--what is it made of? What is the pricing like?

I'm tempted to wander over there but I hate it so, so much.
posted by internet fraud detective squad, station number 9 at 12:33 AM on May 6, 2010

I used to get some very nice, soft rope from Home Depot. But I was in there just the other day with my play partner and all we could find was the hard, crunchy poly stuff. We used it for CBT and it was awfully harsh.

I knew a guy who had quite a rep for Shibari, particularly breast bondage. At one of his demos, he recommended this hemp-blend rope and passed out samples of his own personal stock so that the couples in the audience could follow along with him as he tied up his submissive. My partner and I (I was the top, she the bottom) got halfway through and had to stop; the hemp-blend rope was just too itchy and unpleasant even though I was using it on top of her clothes. Seriously, it was that bad.
posted by Clay201 at 2:16 AM on May 6, 2010

The impression I get is that Hardcore Shibari Badass rope is itchy and unpleasant on purpose. Because getting nice and comfortable while you're tied up is for wusses. Or something.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:00 AM on May 6, 2010

internet fraud detective squad, station number 9: desjardins, the rope at home depot--what is it made of? What is the pricing like?

cotton? some blend? All I know is that you can put it through the wash (on delicate, in a lingerie bag) and it comes out super-soft. I don't remember the price, but it's definitely way cheaper than anything from any bondage site (which is the general rule for all bdsm gear; you can rig something up yourself way more cheaply).

nebulawindphone: Because getting nice and comfortable while you're tied up is for wusses.

Yeah, I hate when people fall asleep while I'm tying them up.
posted by desjardins at 6:10 AM on May 6, 2010

Yeah, I hate when people fall asleep while I'm tying them up.

In contrast, it gives me a nice happy feeling when someone trusts me so absolutely, and is so comfortable with the overall situation, that they fall asleep like that.
posted by Forktine at 7:10 AM on May 6, 2010