The Russians are coming - 1

Memorable restraint images from Russian Captured Boys

As an example of restraint this takes some beating. No wonder Andrei looks frustrated. Not only is he restricted by these heavyweight chains, he's weighed down by them, a constant reminder of captivity. 

That's a fate worthy of a superhero.

After this he's forced to do exercises wearing them
(image referenced is in Snakes and Chains post) 

 I don't know the exact term for this form of restraint, where arms and legs are tied in a flexed position with a stave of some sort trapped in crook of the joint, but it's totally immobilising.
Mischievous-looking Maxim here seems to be just beginning to appreciate that it's not a joke. 

In time he may also discover that the bamboo poles can put uncomfortable pressure on his joints if the ties are tight. They act as levers, particularly thick ones like this. Historically in South East Asia shibari bondage was used not only to restrain prisoners of war but to incapacitate them. The use of bamboo for the poles here together with a futon-style platform and paper screens references those origins.

The bamboo is used differently here to create a reverse arm lift. It forces Petr to balance inelegantly on his toes, in order to alleviate the pressure on his shoulder joints. Foot fans will appreciate his lines. The other three poles are acting purely as decorative encumbrances at this moment
but they can be used to impose leg separation on the captive.

As this bewildered soul has just discovered.
I've called him 'the swimmer' on account of the design of his trunks and his lithe muscularity. His confused look makes this picture tingle with possibilities. He's reacting to the unexpected warm-up slaps he's getting, but the bamboo ladder restraint frame is unusual enough to be suggestive of mysterious, exotic and demanding rituals. It is also a compact, more accessible alternative to conventional spread-eagling on a table or between uprights.

This is an impressive restraint image owing much to the model's tremendous physique, which is beautifully displayed giving an impression of true strength without excessive bulk. His shaved abdomen looks great. You can see his 'bits' have been 'enhanced' but his male-ness doesn't really need the help.

At first sight it looks like a crucifixion, but the captive is actually suspended by a combination of arm slings and  ankle restraints that won't allow him to put his feet on the ground. It's a double-edged sword of two uncomfortable positions that can be alternated but not escaped.

Ilya Pole Tied

This is potentially an even more fiendish restraint. A hoist levers Ilya's arms backwards but the upright pole limits his ability to change position to mitigate the pressure.  He is forced to adopt an involuntary submissive pose.


The effect of this tension on his body is most striking.
Firstly the muscularity of his arms is highlighted.
Second, his head is forced forward and down,
 which seems to accentuate the shape of his pecs and the washboard ripple of his abdominals.
Meanwhile, the keen cut of his underpants brings out some bulky, sexy, thigh muscularity.

For a supple, young man this suspension position isn't problematic unless it's excessively prolonged. It's causes the buttocks to be beautifully displayed and that's further enhanced in this case by the subtle patterning of his underpants. I haven't been able to find out this model's name

His long slender leg lines are brought out in this view 

and if you seek out more images from the set there are views of his back muscles

Roman is one of the best looking men in the Russian Captured Boys stable  and this intimate shot captures a sense of acceptance and reflection that enhances his masculine credentials.

When drawn up by the chain into a suspended position,

 his stressed physique in this image is impressive.

It's a marvellous study of pure restraint 

unencumbered by the mechanics of the display.

'Guy Next Door' suspended and clamped

A similar suspension test is arranged for this model, supplemented by nipple clamps. If we were to go by the profuse sweating that is suggested by the gleaming highlights on his triceps, he would be long past the stage of worrying about the minor nuisance on his pecs. I suspect that the sheen is actually oil but I'm happy with that. The matching of a sober expression with a stretched out body produces another striking image that is about personality and inner emotions as much as outward physical appearance.

I previously featured this model, memorably clad in orange shorts,
 in a review of Torture Central a few years ago.

If you appreciate the beauty of the human body and of it's response to tension and pressure, you can understand how shibari came to be thought of as a sort of performance art. Judging from the images in this article, the men behind Russian Captured Boys seem to understand this. But their approach to bondage is much simpler, less sophisticated than shibari and that throws greater emphasis onto the intrinsic qualities of their models. The sparing use of clothing also contributes, avoiding the distraction of  explicit nudity which would otherwise overshadow everything else. It certainly doesn't prevent these images from being erotic. More on this next time.