What is Shibari?
In Japanese, “shibari” simply means “to tie”.
Shibari is the Japanese practice of rope binding, with roots in visual art, theatre, and erotic culture. While often mythologised, it is in fact a relatively modern practice that developed in the 20th century, with many of the pioneers of its techniques and imagery still alive today.
In recent years, shibari has evolved into a contemporary form of rope play where one person ties another, exploring restraint, power exchange, and trust through rope.
Today, it is embraced worldwide as both an intimate practice and a visual art, offering space to experience connection, vulnerability, and the charged energy of giving and surrendering control.
Shibari is practised both between couples and platonically between friends, making it well suited to modern expressions of love, friendship, and diverse relationship dynamics.
The history of shibari is complex and colourful. For a more in depth understanding of its history, please read this excellent article by Midori.
How we started
The studio was founded in June 2015 as a hub for learning and practising Japanese-inspired rope bondage. Fred Hatt and Anna Bones wanted to create a relaxed space where people could connect, meet like-minded folk, and enjoy rope together. What began in their home has grown into a dedicated venue that still retains a cosy, living-room feel – even with the impressive custom metallic frame suspended above it.
When the studio first opened, rope jams attracted 15–25 people per evening in a small 500 sq ft space in Peckham. Since then the community has grown considerably, with jams now welcoming between 30 and 60 people a night. In June 2018 we moved to a larger space in a railway arch next to Queens Road Peckham, which we hope will remain our home for many years to come.
In 2020, Covid-19 brought unexpected challenges. Like many others, we had to adapt, with online classes and rope sales becoming our main source of income during lockdowns. Thanks to the support of our wonderful team and community, we were able to make it through.
Today, Anatomie is internationally recognised for its quality education and regularly featured in Time Out, as well as other publications and podcasts. None of this would be possible without the incredible team members and volunteers who form the heart and soul of the studio, and to whom we are deeply grateful.
Fred and Anna met in London in 2013 and have been tying partners and lovers ever since. They travel internationally to teach and, as ex-academics, remain passionate about fostering safe, thoughtful, and sustainable rope bondage practices.
The People
The studio is supported by a wonderful group of team members and volunteers who form the heart and soul of the space. Affectionately known as the House Cats, they now number over 20 people across three teams: the Shibari Store Team, who run and maintain the rope shop; the Volunteers Team; and the Core Team, who help with decision-making, policy, and the day-to-day running of the studio.
Find out more about our teachers, see here.
Our Values
Anatomie Studio is committed to the following values:
Diversity & Inclusion – we welcome LGBT+ participants and people of any sexual orientation, background, religion, or creed. All are welcome.
Consent – please read our code of conduct here to see what this means in practice.
Sex / Kink-positivity – as a broad ideology and worldview, sex-positivity is simply the belief that all sexual expression (as long as it is healthy and explicitly consensual) is a positive thing.
Body-positivity – being body positive means accepting yourself and others as you are, regardless of size, shape, colour, or background, and being unafraid of visibility – the opposite of body shaming.
