Definition:

A chest harness tie with the arms folded behind the back.

Notes

Literal translation is "back hand", though often tweaked into "hands (tied) in the back"

Often used interchangeably with Takatekote 高手小手, though there is sometimes a distinction made where:

• Takatekote 高手小手 has the wrists above the underarms behind the back. A high-hand gote
• Gote has the underarms horizontal, parallel to the floor, behind the back.

For many years when a rigger first began learning suspension, the Gote/Takatekote was one of the first harnesses taught. This has changed as the shibari and kink community have begun to focus on model safety and reducing injuries. It is no longer considered a beginner-friendly tie and should be tied only with a thorough understanding of how to avoid the risks associated with it.

CAUTION: The internal rotation of the arm moves the radial nerve to the outside of the arm and if the bands are placed improperly, severe nerve injury will occur. Radial nerve injury causes wrist drop and is one of the most common injuries in shibari, largely due to the popularity of the classic look of the Gote/Takatekote.

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https://www.nihongomaster.com/japanese/dictionary/word/25642/gote-後手-ごて

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Photo Credit: Knot Posh