Spanking
Definition
Spanking is a form of BDSM in which the buttocks are struck with the hand or an object. It can range from playful and erotic to severe and disciplinary, depending on the intention and intensity.
Explanation of spanking
Spanking is one of the best-known and most accessible forms of BDSM. It is often seen as a basic form of impact play: play in which the body is struck to induce tension, pain, or pleasure. The classic image of spanking is a submissive lying across the knee of a Dominant, but in practice there are countless variations.
The experience of spanking depends greatly on how it is performed. Gentle taps can feel playful and erotic, while firm slaps can lead to pain and even catharsis. For many submissives, the appeal lies in the combination of physical stimulation, emotional tension, and the psychological charge of “being corrected.” For Dominants, spanking can be a way to exert control, enforce discipline, or even strengthen intimacy.
Education and punishment
Historically, spanking has also been associated with education and punishment, which gives it an extra symbolic meaning within BDSM. For some players, it is a playful role-play with clear boundaries, for others a deep fetish in which humiliation, surrender, and lust come together.
Spanking can be done with the hand, but also with objects such as paddles, whips, or belts. However, the hand remains popular because it provides direct contact between the Dominant and the submissive: warmth, rhythm, and intensity can be subtly adjusted.
Safety & points of attention
Start gently and build up the intensity so that the body can get used to it.
Avoid dangerous areas such as the lower back, kidneys, and hip bones.
Keep the buttocks as a “safe zone”: there is a lot of muscle and fat tissue there that absorbs blows better.
Related terms spanking
Castigation
Impact play
OTK
Spankee
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