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The Joy of Caning
by Katharine
Hawks (used by
permission)
I hope something that we can always continue to benefit
from is technical proficiency and know-how with the tools of our
trade.
One of mine is caning. So I thought I'd share a few of my loves,
tips and techniques with you.
I use rattan canes -- NEVER BAMBOO!
Forget that bamboo crap you see at toy stores. It sucks. It breaks. It's
too rigid.
Occasionally I use synthetic materials -- delrin and
other plastics. These kinds of canes are *much* easier to find in kink
stores than your classic rattan cane. Be advised: Many of them are
absolutely brutal, and unless your bottom is a hard-core masochist who
doesn't need much of a warm-up, many of the synthetic canes will turn your
partner off to this delicious practice. I'm not saying the synthetic canes
have no place in my repertoire, mind you *g*.
For example, it's a
wonderful headfuck to interrupt an erotic rattan caning with the sharpness
and unrelenting bite of a synthetic cane. They are wonderful tools when
you have your bottom so deep in subspace that s/he has stopped feeling
pain and you want to deliver a little "reminder" about the dynamics at
work. And they look so innocuous...
My favorite size rattan canes
are a 1/4 inch, 9/32, 3/8, and 1/2 inch. The 3/8 and 1/2 inch size canes
are *real bruisers* and can be quite dangerous to play with, so be advised
-- they are thuddy, and hit the tissue *deep* under the surface of the
skin. They require a firm stroke with good aim. But they leave absolutely
*gorgeous* bruises.
Of all those sizes, the 3/8 inch is my absolute
favorite.
Most people prefer finished (with varnish/polyurethane)
canes that have some sort of handle. I like mine unfinished -- no varnish,
no handle. I find an unfinished cane more erotic, more earthy, more
intimate. They require a bit more care since the rattan quickly becomes
dehydrated. I soak mine on a regular basis (the rattan absorbs
beautifully, so I stand them up in my dog's watering bowl
*g*).
*Now on to the good stuff....
When you do a caning
scene, there's alot of things to consider... the position of the
submissive, the position of your body, the warm-up, the psychological
dynamics at play, etc.
I've discovered that many people who love caning
have *very particular* needs when it comes to positioning. My partner's
favorite position is laying flat, face-down on a bed. Others prefer to be
bent over something at the waist. Some like to be bound, some like to be
unbound. A few like to stand (though there aren't many of
those).
If your partner is going to be either kneeling or bent over
a bed or laying face-down on a bed, consider the height. Make sure it's
not to low. If it is, you'll find the swing awkward and the cane tip will
be hitting long before the length of rattan. If you and your partner are
going to try caning for the first time and you've practiced with your
canes, make sure and experiment with the position -- a caning scene should
be luxurious and erotic as well as painful and disciplining *g*. And they
take *a lot* of focus to process pleasurably. The last thing you want is
some over-complicated bondage position interfering with your
enjoyment.
*Pacing.
Pacing and rhythm are everything during
a caning scene. This includes the rhythm between different kinds of canes,
as well as the rhythm between strokes. A common mistake many tops make new
to caning is to haul off and start whacking fast. My partner (also an
experienced caner) believes it takes about 4-7 seconds to process a cane
stroke. Strike yourself once (or have someone else strike you). There are
a series of sensations that happen when a rattan cane hits. A white-hot
line. A sinking of searing sensation into the body. Vibrations throughout
the anus or cunt. A radiating warmth. A feeling of surrender travelling up
the spine.
If you move to fast, you will curtail the heightening of
pleasure that happens after a stroke lands. And your bottom will be in
resistance mode instead of flying subspace.
A cane stroke occurs
mostly in the wrist. When the stroke lands, don't lift the cane up
immediately! Let the rattan settle into the skin. Let the skin receive it,
continue to absorb the sensation. Let it feel the intimacy of the natural
materials.
You can gently drag the rattan across the skin after
you've struck him/her. This can be deliciously agonizing.
For
variation, you can let the cane *bounce up* instead of *digging in* and
follow through with another quick stroke. Then you can settle back into
your slower, more persistent rhythm.
A cane far surpasses an
instrument like a riding crop (that tired old cliche of the dominatrix...)
It is much more flexible, much more versatile, it can be gentler, or more
punishing.
*The sweet spot.
Most people have them -- a place
somewhere on the bottom that simply begs for punishment. It's usually an
inch or two high and located somewhere just below the anus. Some people
have a very high sweet spot, I know someone who's sweet spot is the crease
where the thighs and buttocks join. You can hit a bottom on their sweet
spot and they'll just process it as bliss. Once you find your
partner's sweet spot you can also use this to add variation and complexity
to the rhythm of your caning. You'll discover the "perfect" intensity for
them soon enough. And you can use that knowledge to play gently with their
heads. Sometimes giving them exactly what they want. Sometimes giving them
something very close. Sometimes completely witholding.
*Adding
sensations
Remember how tender the skin is becoming as you lay the
rattan cane into your bottom. Think about tracing your nail along a welt,
or even a knife. Think about the brutal feeling of spraying your bottom's
backside with alcohol (for medicinal purposes only, of course!) and adding
more strokes. Remember that a wet cane or a cane hitting wet skin has a
completely different feel.
*The dangers.
A lot of folks will
talk about the dangers of caning -- and state that it's a practice for
only the very experienced. I disagree. I don't believe canes are terribly
dangerous. Besides obvious concerns like wrapping or splitting skin, your
worst risk in most cases is simply giving an unpleasurable caning. The
best way is to make sure your partner is warmed up and you start
slowly.
Giving a good caning, however, isn't easy. Being very attuned
to body language (watch and see if your partner is clenching his or her
ass muscles) will help you determine pacing and intensity.
You can
practice caning on an inanimate object. One of the best things to do is to
sprinkle a pillow with powder. Put a dark pillow case over it, and strike
it. The poweder will allow you to see how your strokes land. See if you
can land a series of strokes in a row, 1/4 of an inch apart. Watch where
your tip lands. Listen to the sound of the rattan slicing the air and
learn to match the sound with speed and intensity.
*Where to
Cane
I use canes on the following body parts, with the safest listed
first:
--ass (well below tailbone) --top of thighs (front, back,
inside) --upper back (avoiding spine) --breasts (light canes only, such as
1/4" cane) --genitals (cock, balls, labia, clit) -- lighter cane only,
light strokes --soles of feet (balls and heels only, very light strokes
with a 1/4" cane, also called bastinado) --abdomen (potentially damaging
-- light strokes only with a light-weight cane.)
CAUTION: some of
these areas (feet, abdomen, breasts, parts of the back) are NOT suited for
hard hits, nor are they suited for hits with a heavier gauge
cane.
Understand that the thicker your cane is, the *deeper* it is
penetrating tissue and creating damage. And remember -- that's essentially
what welts and bruises are -- damaged tissue.
A 1/4" cane, with a
relatively light wrist-only stroke, is working only on the surface of the
skin with relatively little penetration into deeper tissues. If used
lightly and with skill, you can play with many body parts that are "off
limits" with thuddier toys.
Have
fun!
--Katharine
