impact play basics
Impact Play is play where individuals play with consensual pain, often through repetitive hitting with implements or hands. As I will always point out, this play & all actions taking place during it are negotiated & consensual for all partners.
In impact play scenes there is a top (the person doing the impact) and a bottom (the person receiving the impact). Often, but not always!, these roles coordinate with a sadist (enjoys giving consensual pain) and a masochist (enjoys receiving consensual pain). Roles can also switch with different partners, different scenes, or generally be fluid.
With impact play you should make sure to discuss some specific things during your negotiation:
where is it okay to receive impact? where isn't?
always keep in mind safe places to hit as well!
are bruises or marks okay? if yes, where?
if they aren’t, are there types of impact you can do that won’t leave marks? i.e. less heavy spanking?
do you want heavy hits with breaks in between or consistent lighter hits with some heavier peppered throughout?
this may also be different depending on the implement!
how long do you want the scene to last and how will you pace it to accommodate that?
maybe you can handle a more intense scene if it’s shorter? or maybe you prefer longer scenes that have a slower pace/build-up so you can drop into endorphins more?
what helps you process pain in a scene?
do you need to frame the impact in specific intentions/contexts? can the top give you encouraging words? does specific music or being blindfolded help you center yourself? do you need more time to breathe in between hits? or to just push through?
do you like check-ins during the scene? if so, what style of check-ins?
go check out @askasub on IG for a fantastic discussion of this concept!
some examples of different preferences are: no check-ins, direct communication (how are you feeling currently?), time/count based check-ins (can you take 10 more hits?), waiting for confirmation to continue (the bottom needs to say “thank you” or count the number hit before the next one can happen), etc.
what implements do you want to use?
what are your favorites? hard limits? ones new to you?
what kind of aftercare do you prefer for impact?
should we rub salve on the bruises? have snacks & water? cuddle?
You may also discover other specific considerations that you need to discuss with a partner before jumping into an impact scene! These are just the basics to begin with.
Swipe for info on basic impact play terms, safety, and tips!
And stay tuned next week for a guide on impact toys!
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2 - IMPACT PLAY
is play where individuals purposely (with negotiation & consent) engage in activities that cause pain. Specifically, Impact Play is a category of pain play that most often involves repetitive hitting on specific areas of the body with an implement or hand.
Roles may vary from scene to scene, with different partners, or be fluid. Scenes may be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. Preferences will be different for each person, and can change even for individuals.
Above all, this play & all actions taking place during it are negotiated & consensual for all partners.
3 - BASIC IMPACT PLAY TERMS
Top - the person doing the action / impact
Bottom - the person receiving the action / impact
Switch - a person who enjoys doing & receiving
Masochist - a person who enjoys receiving consensual pain
Sadist - a person who enjoys giving consensual pain
Thuddy / Stingy - used to describe different types of impact pain & implements
Warmup / Cooldown - times at the beginning or end of a scene to acclimate the bottom to pain or bring them down from it
4 - BASIC IMPACT PLAY SAFETY
focus on fleshy body parts (butt, thighs, upper back)
avoid lower back (kidneys). never hit joints or neck, & be very careful with face / calves
negotiate for marks / bruises (if it's okay to leave them & if yes where)
discuss implements beforehand
favorites, never tried, & hard limits
pacing!
build up slowly & calibrate preferences/limits
how long will the scene last? pace accordingly
breaks after heavy hits or just lighter hits in between?
📷 @kanan0690 ; models @kanan0690 and @xsasha_barnes