“It’s super important to note that not only is enthusiastic consent an absolute must… many of these acts can be super dangerous, especially breath play.” – Kenneth Play
What is edge play?
KP: People define edgeplay differently, but both have to do with BDSM. Sometimes, edgeplay is a word that is used for play that is very risky, carrying the risk of short or long term injury to the submissive person in the scene. Other practitioners define edgeplay as something that pushes a person to the edge of their personal mental and emotional discomfort, but isn’t necessarily objectively risky. For instance, working with a personal fear or a level of pain a person hasn’t encountered before could both be considered edgeplay under this second definition.
How can you get started with edge play?
KP: First of all, I wouldn’t recommend trying this type of play unless a) you’re very drawn to it intuitively and b) you have a deep trust and understanding with the person you’re doing it with. Edgeplay can damage even the most trusting of relationships, so doing it with someone you don’t know well, or if you’re not sure you want it, can lead to serious consequences. If you want to get started, this is something where education should definitely precede experience. Get some books, like The New Topping Book or The New Bottoming book, by Dossy Easton and Janet Hardy. Look up BDSM educators, like Midori or The Kink Academy. Figure out what you are interested in and make a detailed plan before attempting it. And make sure you negotiate everything that you can imagine might come up with your partner in crime.
What are some different types of edge play?
KP: A common type of breath play that people don’t realize is breath play is choking or asphyxiation.Believe it or not, there are some people who advise against choking completely in BDSM. Any time you are choking someone without the proper grip (put pressure on the sides where the blood vessels are, not in the center where the airway is), you have the potential to collapse someone’s windpipe, which can rapidly lead to serious consequences or death. This activity is fairly common these days because of it’s popularization in porn, and many don’t realize how serious it truly is. Other activities include fire play, knife play, fear play, temperature play, wax play, and more.
