Yah… got your attention didnt I? Alright, let’s get into it.

Edgeplay by definition is any form of bdsm that carries high risk. My goal with this post is to help de mystify the parts of bdsm often considered taboo even within the bdsm community. Even if it’s not your thing, if you understand it… it’s not taboo anymore.. just different.

Warning: the following contains depictions of dangerous activities. Do not attempt without proper knowledge and consent.

All forms of edgeplay fall under the guidelines of RACK (Risk Aware Consentual Kink) this means all those participating are aware of the risk and have made the decision that it is worth it.

Alright.. now that’s out of the way let’s look at the most common forms of edgeplay.

Asphyxiation, knife play, bloodplay, fire play, CNC (consensual non consent), rough body play, body modification, cutting, fear play, needle play.

Now the less common, I will not go into these in detail but I wanted to at least list them. Gun play, torture, hypnosis, brainwashing. There are probably more but that’s all I can think of off the top of my head.

Ok, on to the the nitty gritty. Let’s all get our minds a little dirty and take a closer look at the extreme end of the spectrum.

Asphyxiation, or breath play I covered in a previous blog so I will just link that. kink 105 – breath play

Knife play, a big mistake a lot of people make is confusing knife play with cutting or bloodplay. In pure knife play there is no actual cuting of the skin. It can be combined with the other two but by itself it is not used to cut skin. It is still considered edge play because … come on.. someone has a knife pressed against you. There is still danger so yah.. edgeplay. For the submissive it is about sensation and sometimes erotic fear. The cold steel pressed against a sensitive spot can send the heart to racing and the mind reeling. Often it is used to slowly cut the clothing off of a sub.

Bloodplay, blood is life. Those that enjoy bloodplay will tell you it is one of the most intimate things they have experienced. (Yes, I have a bit of experience with this. I may choose to share that experience in another blog) there are many different aspects to bloodplay. The color red, invoking feelings of passion and intensity. Masochists enjoy the pain, sadists enjoy the masochist. But more than anything else.. it’s about connection. The giving and takeing of the vary essence of life. And the immense bond of trust required to do so. The combination of trust and the idea that you are willingly giving a part of yourself to another combines to form an incredibly erotic experience. Blood inspires strong reactions in people. Be it fear, disgust, or lust. It is the intensity of emotion that bloodplay draws apon. There is probably no other substance or symbol more potent than blood. Our subconscious is permeated with the link between blood and life.

A few tips for this type of play.. have a safety kit. Buy red towels. And be shure to have everything you need for aftercare close at hand.

Fire play, this is one I have not tried but know a bit about from research. It can involve using high alcohol liquor, isopropyl alcohol, flash paper or flash cotton, mousse, flameing gloves, or even flogger set alight. Fire play is anytime an open flame is close to or on the skin. The idea.. much like when using hot wax, is to experience the heat without actually being burned. It takes a skilled hand to do this. But fire is a vary primal thing. The heat and light can be exciting in many different ways.

CNC, this one covers a lot of ground. Basically it is giving consent in advance to have your power of consent taken away. Usually for a set period of time. This doesn’t always mean you dont have a safe word. It can, but not always. Types of CNC play include abduction play, rape play, and no limits bdsm play. Many people fantasize about being totally at the mercy of another. This is a consensual way to live out those fantasies. It usually involves a long discussion beforehand detailing all the aspects of what the submissive is consenting to. For some the idea that even if they wanted it to stop that it wouldn’t is a huge turn on. CNC is a safer way to live out those fantasies.

Rough body play, or RBP includes punching, kicking, slapping, striking. basically anything that flies in a bareknuckle fight gets included i in the definition of Rough Body Play. Think about it this way.. when playing with tools like floggers, paddles or whips. The sub experiences the flight reaction. Wanting to run away, wiggle out, try to escape. But when someone strikes you.. the reaction is to fight. To hit back. RBP plays with those instincts. The want to fight back.. the struggle for dominance and to lose. To be subdued by shear force. While this isn’t one of my kinks I still try to understand all forms of bdsm. RBP connects you and your partner in a vary real and primal way. Think frenzied lust. Communication is a must in RBP especially from the submissive. It needs to be crystal clear that what is happening is something they want.

Body modification, as a kink this is when someone derives satisfaction or pleasure from altering their body through surgery, piercing, or different types of implants. Not much else to say about it. Ether it’s a kink for you or it’s not.

Cutting, this is often associated with bloodplay or self harm. But that’s not what it is. It can be paired with bloodplay but they are not one and the same. And if you suspect that someone may be using it as a mask for self harm ethically you shouldn’t play with them. Cutting is sensation and pain play. The same way endorphins are triggered by a spanking they are also triggered by cutting. It can be used for scarification as well. Designs or images carved into the skin to create a delicate lace of scars that form a marking. More painful than a tattoo but less permanent. Cutting should never be deep. It takes a steady hand and a lot of trust.

Fear play, this is considered edge play due to the potential for psychological trauma. Fear play is when the dominant exploits a fear the submissive has in order to violently thrust them into subspace. And there in lays the catch. You don’t know how a submissive will react unless you try it. And if they react badly…. the experience may leave permanent mental scars. That’s why this is so risky. But if they react by going deep into subspace.. the feeling of power given to the dom at being able to (with consent) force the submissive into subspace can be intoxicating. And some submissives love the arousal that comes with the sheer panic of being forced to come face to face with something that terrifies them.

Needle play, this kink gives me the willies. I dont like needles. But for some it’s a huge turn on to feel the sharp prick and pain of a needle pushed through their flesh. This fetish requires a LOT of anatomy knowledge. A needle in the wrong place can cause serious damage and injury. I can understand how a masochist may enjoy needles… but even writing about it gives me the heebie jeebies. Soo.. enough of that.

So there you have it. I hope this has given you a deeper understanding of some of the more extreme things in bdsm. And hopefully opened your mind a little and made them a bit less taboo even if they are not something your into.

Best wishes -SirHanz