Restraining the Arms

A front view of a person in a white bodysuit wearing a blue chest harness. Their right arm is bent at the elbow. A green column tie binds the right wrist to the chest harness at the point where the right shoulder line connects to the front chest wraps.

If you’re tying your partner up, you’ll probably want to tie up their arms. Here’s a collection of simple techniques that work well in a variety of situations.

Restraining the Arms

A person in a white bodysuit is raising their right hand with the palm forward, as thought to wave hello. They are wearing a blue chest harness and a green column tie is tied around their right wrist. The rope end from the column tie is tied to the chest harness at the point where the right shoulder line connects to the chest wrap. The column tie is separated from the chest harness by two inches.

OPTION1aTie a column tie on the wrist and attach to the chest harness with two half hitches. It’s most secure to attach to the point where the shoulder lines connect to the horizontal wraps.

OPTION1bFor better immobilization, tie the chest harness and wrist inside the same single column tie.

A person in a white bodysuit wearing a blue chest harness. Their right arm is bent tightly at the elbow and is held in front of the body, with the hand over the breastbone. A green column tie binds the upper and lower arm together and is tied off to the chest harness.

OPTION2Tie the arm in a bent position with a column tie and attach it to the chest harness.

As with option 1, you can tie off to the chest harness or capture it inside the column tie.

A person in a white bodysuit wearing a blue chest harness. Their arms are crossed at the wrists right over the breastbone. A square lashing in green rope binds their wrists together.

OPTION3Bind the wrists together in front of the chest with a square lashing, capturing the chest harness with the frapping turns.

A rear view of a person in a white bodysuit wearing a blue chest harness. Their forearms are horizontal behind their back in an antiparallel position. The arms are bound together with a column tie in green rope and the tail of the green rope is tied off to the chest harness.

OPTION4aTie the hands antiparallel behind the back with a column tie and attach the column tie to the chest harness with two half hitches.

A rear view of a person in a white bodysuit wearing a blue chest harness. Their arms hang straight down, slightly behind their back, with the backs of the hands resting on the buttocks. The wrists are separated by about eight inches and are bound together by a bar tie in blue rope. A green rope connects the center of the bar tie to the chest harness.

OPTION4bUse a bar tie instead of a column tie. This option is good for someone who’s lying on their back, or who has limited shoulder mobility.

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