Name:

Cinch

The English word cinch is used to described something which 'pulls tight', within Shibari a cinch is a simple friction hold a wrap in place or/and tightens it. 

Kannuki 閂

かんぬき pronounced kan-nuki refers to a latch or a bolt used to secure a door or a gate.  The kanji  閂  is made up of the symbol  門 (gate or door)  with the extra line representing the bolt. This word is sometimes used in Japanise metaphorically to refer to holding something back or restricting. 

• かんぬき (kan-nuki): "kan" relates to barriers or blocks, and "nuki" suggests pulling or inserting something to secure, making the meaning quite literal as a device for barring doors.

In some contexts, 閂 can also be used metaphorically, symbolizing something that holds back or restricts. When used in shibari it refers to a simple friction hold a wrap in place or/and tightens it. 

A kannuki is a form of tome nawa. 止め 縄 (stop rope).

The Kannuki Debate

The use of kannuki's on the upper wrap of Gote's has been the subject of some debate, they became very popular around 2010 as a way to prevent the top wrap of a Gote slipping and potentially choking someone during a suspension. As such they where seen as an essential safety feature of the rope pattern.  What followed was an increase in nerve injuries, which was identified as being caused by having a rope sandwiched between the arm and the body near the armpit. Since then many Gote patterns have adapted to secure the top wrap without taking the rope alot this dangerous nerve pathway. You will still see many older tutorials that use kannuki's in this location.