Hello WCK,
After consulting with Sagi, some of the other rope tops in town, and gathering feedback, I’d decided to make just a few small changes to Windy City Knots.
1) Beginner class will happen only once per month moving forward. For beginners, you should make extra time to practice on your own or get together and practice in small groups. Most of the beginner material is documented now on this website, and be sure to check out the accompanying linked lessons on Youtube also.
2) Intermediate will be split between classes (more structured learning, with a specific lesson for each day) and rope labs for free-form tying focusing on newaza (floor work).
3) I’m going to experiment with some alternative times (like Saturday afternoon instead of morning or a weekday evening), to see if that works for a different set of people.
Although Sagi and I both do suspensions privately, for the time being, we’re going to focus this on newaza (floor work).
How do you know if you’re a beginner or intermediate?
If you’ve made it through all 7 lessons on the beginner page, you may continue on to the intermediate section.
Check out the revised Intermediate page to understand what to do next if you’re intermediate. Notably, while you are ready to go to any intermediate event, you should focus on the four foundational concepts within the first few months: 1. The Safety Lesson, 2. Rope Handling, 3. Hitches & Frictions, and 4. Unlearning.
Much of the material for the foundational concepts is still a WIP on this website, and I appreciate your feedback as I move through all of the material. I’m always looking for help as models, student rope tops, and/or writers or editors (bonus if you have experience with WordPress) to help me finish this material.
BUNNIES:
Please come and let us tie you up. You are welcome at any intermediate event (beginner classes do not need bunnies); tell the rope tops you are a bunny-only participant.
The revised description for Windy City Knots as seen on the homepage:
Windy City Knots is an free-form rope school, education opportunity, and social club in Chicago.
We work with some of the other rope groups in town to help build a community of ropers in the Windy City.
Although our Shibari is tight, we have a loose structure: Beginner students have monthly opportunities to start in the Beginner Class. Once you know the basics, you can move on to different offerings in the Intermediate and Advanced sections.
Some of the advanced riggers get together to practice suspension too.
Beginner Class- is perfect for beginners who have no experience with rope. Before your first class, you’ll want to look over the Beginner Study page and also the posts in the Basics category.
Intermediate Class– Structured class for intermediate-level students.
Intermediate Rope Lab– Skillshare opportunity for intermediate students to practice together
Shibari Study Afternoon– We get together and watch Shibari Study
Suspension Sunday – a time for practicing suspensions