On the Takate Kote

The takate kote is a tie of great variation. You can't speak of it like it is a single thing. Different people tie it in different ways and different approaches to the tie look better or worse on different body types.
There are artistic versions, suspension versions, versions for floor work, and versions for torture (literally).
The first thing I learned from Master "K" was how to tie it safely in a very basic version. Anatomy, nerve compression, safety release knots. All of that matters tremendously.

From there, I have learned 7 or 8 different versions all suited to different purposes. That is barely scratching the surface. Those are the core constructions that do different things, but which also produce a variety of different feelings, sensations, and even emotions.

The next step is figuring out how to put yourself, your energy, your self into the tie and how to make the rope a conduit between you and your partner to create something beautiful.

Watch Akechi, Nureki, Yukimura, Master "K", Negaiki, Osada Steve, Randa, Arisue, etc. They all tie it differently depending on who they are tying, how it looks, what they want to do and what effect they want to have.

There is an amazing level of subtly to this tie that allows for almost infinite variation, complexity, artistic expression, and effect upon the submissive being tied.

Tying a takate kote well is an art and for most of the great bakushi you can recognize their work because their TK's are often a kind of signature.

Yes, the safety of the tie is important (perhaps the most important thing), but once you are past learning the fundamentals of how to tie it correctly and safely, it opens up a world of artistic expression where you can make your partner more beautiful, release her hidden eros and play with it, and build upon the tie in nearly an infinite number of ways, layering sensation upon sensation, adding pressure points, compression, or constriction as you see fit.