How to Perform Bastinado Safely: Dos and Don’ts

Cover Photo Source: Instagram: iArtemis @iartemis.feet

Bastinado (also known as “Falaka”) can be an intense practice, so approaching it with care and caution is essential. Here are some guidelines to make it safer and more enjoyable, especially for first-timers. Remember, for your partner to experience it positively, it’s crucial to understand their pain threshold and work to ease them into it gradually.

How to Build Up Pain Threshold in Bastinado / Falaka:

1. Start with a Cane: Avoid using whips, as they are harder to control and can cause unintended damage, especially for beginners. A cane is better for accuracy and a controlled impact.
2. Warm Up with Light Strokes: Begin with light (5% strength) strokes across the soles, using the middle and lower parts of the cane. Focus from the heels to the balls of the feet, but avoid the toes. Using the middle of the cane produces warmth and brings blood flow to the area without intense pain.
3. Gradually Increase Intensity: Once the feet are warmed up, use the top part of the cane to apply strokes at 30% strength. Aim for different spots each time, focusing only on the arch (between the heels and balls of the feet) and avoiding repeated strikes to the same area.
4. Alternate Feet: Cover all the spots on one foot, then switch to the other foot. Your partner may start to feel a pleasant itchiness in the areas that have been struck, often encouraging them to want more.
5. Increase Strength Slowly: Return to the first foot, increasing the stroke strength by about 10%, still avoiding repeated hits on the same spot. Check in with your partner to ensure they’re feeling comfortable.
6. Maximum Strength Limit: Continue this process, gradually working up to 70% strength, but never exceed this level. Anything above 70% can cause significant damage.

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Don’ts of Bastinado:

• Avoid the Outer Arch: Never let the cane touch the outer arch, as it’s a sensitive area prone to injury.
• Maintain Accurate Positioning: Ensure you are in a comfortable position that allows precise targeting. If you can’t maintain accuracy, it’s better to pause or stop altogether, as misplaced strokes can lead to serious harm.
• Never Tie Ankles Tightly: Tying ankles too tightly can collapse the toes and injure the ankle tendon, often irreversibly. If you tie, use very soft materials and ensure circulation is unhindered.
• Positioning in the Traditional Method: If you use the traditional position, avoid tying ankles beneath the stick (as in the Turkish method), which can bruise the calf bones. Instead, position the ankles above the stick with enough padding so that it touches calf muscles, not tendons.
• Avoid the Middle Bone of the Outer Arch: This bone is sensitive and hitting it can be dangerous.
• Never use cord/ copper/ alloy cables: Avoid using cords, copper, or alloy cables for bondage or impact play. These materials can cause severe injury, including cuts and burns, and may lead to unintended damage to the skin or underlying tissues. Always opt for safe, purpose-made bondage gear designed for the activity.

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Adding a Little Extra Enjoyment:

These few tricks can add a little bit to the joy

1. Incorporate Discipline
   
2. Counting Out Loud
3. Touching Between Strokes
   
4. Foot Positioning

Incorporate Discipline

You might choose not to tie the feet and ask your partner to keep them still. Remind them that if they move too much, you may need to secure their feet and increase the intensity. This can add to the enjoyment and create a sense of empowerment for you both.

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Counting Out Loud

Ask your partner to count each stroke out loud. If they miss a number, you can give a playful reminder by adding an extra stroke.

Touching Between Strokes

Occasionally touch their soles between strokes for added sensation and connection.

Foot Positioning

Involve them by asking for specific foot positions, like keeping toes pointed or curled, adding to their engagement in the experience.

Percentage Strength Test:

General checklist of preparation for Bastinado 

Bastinado, or foot whipping, can be an intense and rewarding form of play for those who are well-prepared and knowledgeable about safety. Like all kink practices, it requires careful attention to technique, communication, and mutual consent to ensure the experience is both enjoyable and safe. Below, we explore the essential tips and considerations for a safe bastinado session, from choosing the right toys to understanding the proper techniques for tying and striking. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that everyone involved is comfortable, safe, and able to enjoy the experience to its fullest.

Before starting the session remind yourself about these in your mind

1. The choice of toy
2. Areas to avoid
3. How to tie
4. Warm up
5. Commands

The Choice of Toy

The choice of tool for bastinado depends on your skill level and familiarity with it. The soles of the feet have sensitive areas that must be avoided during a session. If you’re highly experienced with whipping and confident that you can avoid sensitive areas, a whip may be a good choice. Alternatively, if you feel in full control of where the strokes land, a short cane can also be a safe option. Many other toys can work as well, but the key is to be mindful of where and how hard you strike. Personally, I frequently use a flogger, cane, and whip. In traditional bastinado punishments in Turkey, thin branches from cherry trees are often used.

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Areas to Avoid

The outer arch of the foot contains a bone in the center. This area should be avoided, as it is a delicate bone and striking it often causes pain that may not be pleasurable for most people, unless they have a particular interest in that sensation. If the feet are tied side by side, there’s a higher chance of hitting this bone repeatedly, which should be avoided. If the feet are tied separately, it allows you to position each foot differently, ensuring that the strokes target the right areas.

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How to Tie

In the traditional position, where the bottom is lying on their back, it’s best to use ankle cuffs and tie them in such a way that the pressure is distributed evenly across the ankle, rather than focused on one point. If the feet are placed on a bar, ensure there is a 5-inch gap between where the legs are tied and the feet. Tying the feet too close to the heels will place excessive pressure on the tendons, causing the toes to collapse. This is undesirable. To achieve an optimal position, the soles should be stretched out, with toes facing outward and fully extended. This will provide a larger area to strike, enhancing the experience for both partners.

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Warm-up

Some people who are deeply into bastinado dislike warm-ups because they feel more like punishment than play. This is often because those who enjoy bastinado relish the intense sensation of pain and suffering. However, if you do choose to warm up, the third quarter of the cane from its tip works well, as it causes less pain but prepares the soles and raises the pain threshold. If using a flogger, a soft one is a great choice.

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Commands

Discipline is a significant aspect of bastinado for many practitioners. If you choose not to tie the feet, you can instruct the bottom to maintain the correct position. For some, the feeling of discipline enhances the experience. However, it’s important to remember that not everyone enjoys the same things. Alternatively, you can tie the thighs while leaving the feet free. In this case, they may be more mindful of keeping their feet in position, knowing that if they move, the strikes will become harder or more frequent. This added layer of control and anticipation can intensify the experience.

What matters is your partner feels good! It's all about joy!

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