The importance of correct wrap tension

Correct tension and wrap position are key to tying a safe gote/TK. It is a common error to tie unnecessarily tightly, often to try to make poorly positioned wraps stay in place. This somewhat crude experiment shows how the forces increase exponentially with wrap tension in a face-down suspension. You will be surprised at the magnitude of the difference caused by a relatively small change in tension, which was nearly double in the example here.

This does not mean loose tension is the answer since this can reduce the stability so wraps will more, with the associated risks. The solution is to use the body's natural anchor points/stoppers as described in our tutorials on tying the gote and employ the least tension that will create stable wraps.

It appears that the mechanism at work is similar to the American Death Triangle