Abbot's Place

Flogging 104: Hitting a Human Target

If you've been following this series from the beginning, you know which end of a flogger to hold, understand what parts of a human being are safe to hit, and have practiced on an inanimate object enough that your accuracy and control are reasonable.

Congratulations, it's time to graduate to a real live target.

Now, obviously there are a lot more things to consider when you're swinging at a person. Pillows don't get upset and run away (anyone who does laundry knows that socks do, but trust me, pillows don't). And if you should seriously damage one while practicing, you can just go out and get another.

Submissives are a lot harder to replace.

Look at it this way. Someone is trusting you enough to let you hit them. Maybe even while they're tied up and completely helpless. You owe it to your partner to be sensitive, caring, and careful.

Your First Time

Make sure you've discussed what's going to happen with your partner. He or she needs to know that you've never hit a person before, but that you've practiced a lot because you want to be a responsible Top. It's only fair for your submissive to make an informed decision about doing this. If your partner is an experienced "flogee," ask if they prefer "thud" or "sting," and where they like to be flogged.

While it might take some of the pleasure out of it for both of you, I recommend that your first flogging session be more of a clinical experience than a "scene." Leave the bondage and gags and blindfolds for another time. You can afford to put the role playing aside as well; save the "Evil Pirate Captain on the High Seas" shtick for when you've had some practice. This first time, just have your partner lean against a wall, sit backwards in a chair, or relax on a sofa or in bed. And communicate with each other: learn what you're doing right and wrong.

Your first flogging session doesn't have to be sterile, though. Your submissive will get all manner of sensual stimulation that might feel like a deep massage, and will leave his or her skin warm and tingling. Even this first time, if you do your job well, there will be smiles on two faces by the time you're done.

Warming Up

You've probably heard about the importance of stretching and warming up before any physical exercise. The same applies here... for your submissive. A common beginner's mistake is to start out too rough. For most people, you'll need to provide a "warm up" period to make a flogging enjoyable.

Your first few strokes should be to "range" the flogger and get lined up with your target... and unless your partner has an aversion to it, I suggest that target be the rump, where there's lot of fatty tissue and little serious damage to be done.

Once you're sure you're hitting where you intend, apply a series of fairly light strokes. After a few minutes you should begin to see your partner's skin turning lightly pink. At this point you should also be able to feel a warmth where you've been striking, as the blood circulation to the skin's surface increases. If your partner has a deep tan, or olive or darker skin tones, you might not see pink, but you should still be able to judge by temperature.

Once you've reached this point you can begin putting a little more force behind each blow. Better yet, try moving to some other areas, like the upper back. When all the areas you want to flog are responding, you're free to strike harder wherever you wish... but remember the rules about what's safe and what isn't.

Variety is the Spice of... Flogging?

Once your partner is "warmed up," don't just whack... whack... whack... or you'll bore him or her to tears. Try striking a bit harder sometimes, softer others. Move to different locations. Sneak into the kitchen for an ice cube and rub it over that warm skin when it's least expected. Try the same with a piece of rabbit fur or anything else soft. You can even caress with your flogger: hold it loosely so the handle and tresses hang downward, then jiggle the handle while just touching tails to skin.

If you have more than one flogger, switch between them. This can make warming up easier, too: start with a deerskin or suede flogger, then switch to something "heavier," and you can deliver more punch with the same effort. Or shift from a "thuddy" flogger to a "stingy" one... and back again.

Above all, listen to your submissive, especially this first time. Your goal should be to learn how to do it right... and that means learning how to bring the maximum amount of pleasure to your partner, just as much as it means flogging safely.

Happy flogging,