Hi! We’re really sorry to hear that you feel this way. For this specific tutorial, the instruction is focused on the “third rope” pattern, whereas the base pattern of the TK is being walked through quickly. You’ll notice that the instruction slows down significantly and the level of detail increases around 3:30, when we get to the pattern that is being taught. The base pattern that you see here is linked in the collection description and can be found here. Once again, apologies for any lack of confusion here. We really hope this helps you with your learning. If you have any further questions you’re always welcome to email fuoco, our Director of Education, at fuoco@shibaristudy.com.

Thanks for your question. As this class is specifically intended to teach the “third rope” pattern, the base pattern isn’t covered in a step-by-step way. However, you can find the tutorial for that base pattern here. I hope that helps! 

You can hear KMDD talk about bamboo size in the intro video! Because bamboo is a natural material that can be variable in size and grows at a slight taper, most sellers will approximate the diameter of their stock with a bit of wiggle room included. Body bamboo often ranges between 3/4in (1.9cm) and 2in (5cm)

Hi! We’re having a hard time following the exact nature of this question. A photo of what you mean could be really helpful. Have you considered joining our Discord community? You could upload a photo there and crowd source a lot of great suggestions :)

Hi! Lack of stopper knots shouldn’t prevent this technique from working! 

Michael Betser Maybe! If the knot is popping then opting for a stronger lock could be good. Granny knots often do a great job of closing a cuff. It’s really more about how you use it next that matters and if it’s working for you. We think it’s good to notice the directionality of your lock as a way to assess why it may or may not be working as expected.  

The collapsibility of SCTs is sometimes a feature and not a bug. Often (especially as you’re first learning) it’s good to be able to untie the start of a tie under tension, especially if your partner needs their arms free right away and if your untying skills are still a bit slow. Other reasons you might opt for a square or a granny knot are that these two ways of locking a cuff are a little lower profile (the lock offs sit flatter on the cuff than the somerville bowline), and as you progress along your journey, you might find that millimeters of space matter to you. Some people also care about honoring the traditions of the styles that they tie in, and you’ll find that more traditional Japanese ties utilize square and granny knots! 

Reef and square knot are used synonymously :)

Thanks for sharing!

Hi! An 8 meter length of rope is standard!