A rope top is the person who ties, and a rope bottom is the person who is tied. The terms describe roles within rope bondage rather than identities, and the same person may take either role depending on the scene.
Rope tops tend to be drawn to the craft of knot work, the control of shaping a body with tension, and the focus required to keep a partner safe. Rope bottoms often describe the appeal of surrender, the physical sensation of restraint, and the close attention that comes with being tied well. Rope is one of the more skill-heavy kinks, so tops usually spend significant time practicing on themselves or on furniture before tying a person.
Worth knowing: The top is responsible for knowing safe tying zones around joints, nerves, and the neck, keeping cutting tools within reach, checking in on circulation and sensation throughout, and planning aftercare for the bottom once the rope comes off.
Also called: rigger, rope top, top, dominant, rope bottom, rope bunny, bottom, submissive, switch, self-suspension, floor work, suspension rope, shibari, kinbaku
