Model Behaviour Podcast – Discover Kinbaku

With 20 years of experience, Anna Noctuelle is a highly skilled Shibari practitioner whose journey began as a personal exploration and evolved into a multifaceted practice. She teaches, models, and performs internationally sharing her passion for this beautiful art form with audiences across the world. Anna’s background in classical dance and her yoga practice infuse her Shibari practice with grace and body awareness, while her studies in Buddhism, Tantra, and Shamanism provide a spiritual depth and mindful approach to her work. She is committed to creating safe, inclusive learning environments where curiosity, courage, and playfulness thrive. She offers workshops, private classes and sessions.

Natasha NawaTaNeko is a Russian-born, Berlin-based experienced rope bottom, performer and educator. Drawing on her background in Sexological Bodywork, a decade of rope bottoming experience, and her studies in bodywork and movement, Natasha brings various somatic aspects such as breathing, sound, posture, non-verbal communication and placement of attention into her teaching.
In 2020, Natasha published a book about rope bottoming and its potential for personal, intimate self-exploration: "Somatics for Rope Bottoms". The book consists of 12 essays - somatic inquiries - that inspire readers to seek the answers within their own bodies and reclaim their agency over the most important decisions that arise when we choose to explore kink.

Saara Rei is a multidisciplinary performance artist and Kinbaku educator with a lifelong foundation in music, dance, education, and public speaking. Since 2014, she has explored Japanese-inspired rope bondage as a medium for vulnerability, presence, and truth. Known for her surreal, emotionally charged performance style, Saara brings a deeply embodied understanding of rope from her years of experience as both a bottom and a rigger. She is a co-founder of Embodied in Rope, a comprehensive educational project for rope bottoms, and co-host of the podcast Model Behaviour.

We created Model Behaviour because rope bondage is more than knots and technique — it is intimacy, self-inquiry, and story. As three rope models and educators, we wanted a space where we could speak openly, question deeply, and accompany each other (and you) in this messy and beautiful practice.

In each episode, we share reflections, insights, failures, hopes, and the invisible moments behind the scenes. We talk about embodiment, presence, consent, and the inner life of the tied body. We want to bring complexity, humanity, and depth. We want listeners to feel less alone — wherever you are in your rope journey.

„Natasha NawaTaNeko has authored a beautiful book which takes a unique, holistic approach to self-education for rope bottoms. With a foreword by Red Sabbath, this small volume contains 12 questions intended to guide rope bottoms through an exploration of their feelings and desires. Something less than a map, but more than bare questions, this book offers a serious and well reasoned approach to topics every rope bottom is sure to encounter“ Kinbaku Today

Kinbaku Today

„This is the first book on rope bottoming I’ve found that was just as useful to me as to the bottom. I heartily recommend riggers to read it too“ WykD Dave

WykD Dave

„Natasha gave voice to an internal conversation – sometimes more conscious, sometimes less so – that many of us have had and are having. Until I read this wonderful book, I didn’t realise how important it is to verbalise, discuss and pass on these internal lessons“ Anna Noctuelle

Anna Noctuelle

„Somatics for Rope Bottoms would make a great addition to any rope top’s kinky educational arsenal. Just as there is much for rope bottoms to dive into and explore within its pages, Somatics offers a great deal for riggers to benefit from…“ Demasque Magazine, Issue 12

Demasque Magazine, Issue 12

„Natasha Nawataneko is an accomplished Kinbaku model and Certified Sexologocal Bodyworker who does not give us easy answers or create a how-to manual. Instead she delves into the metaphysics of it all, and provides us with an enhanced vocabulary for us to understand this journey and find our own deeper meanings“ Darkside Magazine, Issue 32

Darkside Magazine, Issue 32

„The book is a fellow companion for rope bottoms exploring what makes their experience meaningful, and the answer is often found in the body“ Andy Buru

Andy Buru

Ein wunderschöner Ort, stilvoll eingerichtet und bis unter die Dachschrägen voll mit menschlicher Wärme. Wie Natascha und Alexander während der Workshops den Raum mit Kompetenz, Aufmerksamkeit und Präsenz füllen, macht dieses kleine Studio für mich zu einem der wichtigen Orte in Berlin.

Rene

Ich kann die Kinbakus Workshops von Alexander und Natasha wärmstens empfehlen. Sie schaffen in ihrem Studio eine wunderschöne, vertrauensvolle Atmosphäre in der gelernt, gelacht und gelitten (gehört beim Kinbaku ja auch dazu...) werden kann. Alexander unterrichtet wirklich toll: ruhig und unaufgeregt, reflektiert und undogmatisch. Die beiden kümmern sich individuell und geduldig um die Bedarfe und Fragen jedes Paars - so nimmt jeder, unabhängig von seiner/ihrer Erfahrung, viel für sich mit. Danke!

Elisabeth

Workshops in Kleingruppen, ausreichend Raum für Lehrreiches, und immer auch genügend Raum um neben dem lernen einfach mal etwas Spaß zu haben. Ich freue mich schon auf den nächsten Workshop!

Frank

Ich habe an zwei Workshops teilgenommen und kann mich den anderen Bewertungen nur anschließen. Die Atmosphäre und ihr privates Dojo sind wirklich toll und sehr gemütlich. Es wird in einem angenehmen Tempo unterrichtet und das Handout am Ende ist sehr hilfreich. Was bislang noch nicht erwähnt wurde, ist, dass der Stil von Alexander sehr stark von Akira Naka geprägt ist. Dieser Stil wird in letzter Zeit bekannter, unterscheidet sich aber doch in vielen Punkten von dem bekannteren Osada Ryu. Auch dreht sich bei Alexander viel um das Thema Semenawa, was für das Model durchaus sehr herausfordernd und anstrengend sein kann. Auf diesen Stil muss man sich einlassen können und dann lernt man auch viel neues.

Svenja

Ich habe mehrere Seminare besucht. Sie waren alle sehr informativ und ausgezeichnet vorbereitet. Selbst als erfahrener Rigger und auch als Model kann man dort immer noch etwas lernen. Das gesamte Ambiente ist sehr angenehm und entspannt. Würde ich wieder machen. 10/10.

Tajo

Hier findet man einen Ort der sich am besten mit „Zu Hause bei Freunden“ beschrieben lässt. Der Raum ist sehr gemütlich und warm, sodass man sich sofort wohlfühlt. Natasha und Alexander sind herzlich und authentisch. Man merkt ihnen ihre Begeisterung für Seile, Fesseln und historische sowie kulturelle Kontexte sofort an. Unterrichtet wird in einem achtsamen Tempo; man kann ohne Zeitdruck das Gezeigt ausprobieren und die beiden jeder Zeit um Rat fragen. Alexander betont stets, dass seine gezeigte Variante EINE Möglichkeit ist zu fesseln und es sich keines Wegs um ein Nonplusultra handelt, sodass hier Platz für individuelle Anpassungen und Abweichungen gegeben ist.

Lisa

Bei Natasha und Alexander einen Workshop zu besuchen, bedeutet, auf zwei Menschen zu treffen, die eine sehr herzliche und vertraute Atmosphäre schaffen. In ihrem Unterricht vermitteln sie Grundlagentechniken unter dem Aspekt, dass es bei Kinbaku um die Verbindung der Fesselnden geht. Ich besuche ihre Workshops so gerne, weil dort gelacht werden darf, es viel Zeit zum probieren und spielen gibt und meine Fragen mit Geduld und Interesse beantwortet werden.

Dörte

Für mich, unter allen Möglichkeiten zum fundierten und intensieven Lernen von Kinbaku in Berlin (die ich getestet habe), die beste Wahl! Alles ist anschaulich, ausführlich und verständlich erklärt, die Betreuung der einzelnen Teilnehmer während des Workshops und das Auge für individuelle Schwächen und Anliegen sind einwandfrei. Beide Dozenten sind wunderbar! Sehr aufmerksam und freundlich. Das Studio ist ein super angenehmer Platz zum gemeinsamen Fesseln ... was soll ich sagen? Ich werde mich weiter an die Workshops von Alexander und Natasha halten.

Kristina

Eine tolle Location, die zum Fesseln geradezu einlädt...und dazu zwei wunderbare Menschen. Wir freuen uns schon auf's nächste Mal.

Anna

Warm and cozy place, superfriendly, welcoming and caring people, great workshops where you learn a lot more about Kinbaku than just patterns. If you wanna study Naka Style / Semenawa in Berlin, this is the place to be. Highly recommended also for bottoms!

Nadine

One of the best places in Berlin fo study Kinbaku at, great teachers ,cozy yet kinky atmosphere and a lot of knowledge and passion to ropes and human connection. Suitable for both beginners and advanced rope lovers.

Daniela

Amazing location, professional workshops and teaching, full of events on a side (practice, side lesson, drawing). I can just recommend Discover Kinbaku.

Fabio

Amazing workshops with an excellent team and impeccable teaching capacities. I have learnt a lot from all of my visits to the studio and definitely recommend them to anyone who is serious about ropes. I would also like to add that this space, including their jam, was so far one of the most queer and women* friendly open rope spaces in Berlin.

Merve

Great atmosphere, organization, and transfer of skills. Highly recommended.

Indra

Well-structured teaching and a lovely venue, I really enjoyed the workshop of these kinbaku wizards

Reversa

Nice workshops.....relaxed, friendly, and good handcraft skills....well structured Naka-style-shibari...

Florian

I really enjoy their teaching style: Inclusive, specific and practical, inviting reflection and willing to reflect and learn which makes for great teachers, great communication, very warm and inviting atmosphere.

Katharina

Always a very warm and good atmosphere. And a lot to learn.

Dirk

A beautiful place and beautiful people, I always had deep experiences with them and the quality of teaching is really high. What I had during the workshops and the meeting there was not only techniques teaching but also the possibility to live my emotions and share them without feeling any kind of shame or feeling judged. Highly recommend for any kind of level. See you there!

XaNa

In a warm and welcoming atmosphere, you get to improve your rope skills. The teaching is very well balanced between technique, feeling, body awareness, safety and playfulness. Lessons are well structured and there is even a handout to remember keypoints and harnesses 🙂 To sum up, you'll learn loads and have fun at the same time - highly recommend it.

Fee

We have entered the world of Japanese Bondage with Discover Kinbaku at their Studio 6x6 a good year ago and have since attended many different workshops. We’ve done some in their standard curriculum, Earth, Water, etc., which really build the couple up in their skill, but also in their understanding of Kinbaku in terms of history and culture in Japan and the “Western” context, the psychological aspects and the many opportunities for personal growth. The ties and elements don’t only increase in complexity, but also in intensity and one's repertoire on all levels increases continuously. From a very early stage, improvisation and tying with the energetical flow is encouraged. Teaching is concise and precise. The experience of the person IN the rope is given as much importance as the one of the person WITH the rope. More than the classes, what became more important to us over the last year, was the community that Natasha and Alexander built and keep building with their enthusiasm for what they are doing. They really inspire. And they bring inspiring teachers from other parts of the world to Berlin to teach and feed their crumbs to the Berlin Kinbaku scene (and also beyond that, as many participants of these events travel a fair bit for them). All such events that we’ve attended have been incredibly worthwhile, deep, dense and… we can only repeat ourselves, inspiring. Thanks much, Natasha and Alexander. We’re looking forward to another colourful year at Studio 6x6.

Smilla

Very thorough classes with a good energy in teaching and communication. Thank You again.

Wojtek

A very nice and cozy place, the team taking care of it is awesome and welcoming. The room where you practice is very Japanese looking and really ads up to the experience. Great professionals and workshops a must go to place.

Pedro

A beautiful and special place. The workshops at Discover Kinbaku are no shallow or chaotic fast food, but well thought-of concepts with a learning theory behind it, which doesn't only cover knots and patterns, but e.g. also interpersonal dynamics, communication and the side of the rope bottoms. All in a respectful, welcoming and open atmosphere, and the team has a lot of valuable experience to share. Would love to attend more classes in the future!

Mari