Ropework Categories

Main Categories

• Knots (stopper, binding, loop) — the basic type: the knot is tied in the rope itself, without any other object or rope.
• Bends — join two rope ends to each other (e.g. sheet bend, reef knot).
• Hitches — tie a rope to an object: mast, ring, post (e.g. cleat hitch).
• Splices — permanent joins or terminations made by interweaving the rope’s strands; stronger than knots.
• Lashings — bind spars or poles together with wrapping turns (e.g. square lashing, diagonal lashing).
• Whippings & Seizings — whipping: protects a rope’s end from fraying; seizing: binds two rope sections parallel to each other.
• Decorative / Fancy — decorative techniques: Turk’s head, monkey’s fist, ocean plait, etc. Often combine aesthetics and function.
• Marlinespike Seamanship — the umbrella of nautical rope skill: includes knots, splices, whippings, and gear handling.
• Rigging — rope systems for supporting masts and controlling sails or loads; standing and running rigging.
• Climbing — rope techniques for vertical movement: anchors, rappel, belay systems.
• Arboriculture — ropework for tree surgery: climbing trees, lowering branches under control.
• Rope Rescue / Technical Rescue — rescue at height, confined space, cliffside; standardized techniques with certifications.
• Camping / Bushcraft — tents, tarp setups, suspended shelters, camp utility knots.
• Fishing — a distinct tradition with its own terminology.
• Tactical / Military (optional — thin category) — fast-roping, rappelling, field-expedient rigging under operational conditions.
• Coiling & Stowage — proper storage and uncoiling of rope; fundamental to every application.
• Netting — net construction: fishing nets, cargo nets, hammocks, sports nets.
• Bondage — tying a person; includes shibari/kinbaku and western bondage (see subcategories).
• Pioneering / Scouting — large structures from spars and rope (towers, bridges, gateways). Overlaps with lashings but has its own tradition and competitive culture (scout competitions).
• Cowboy / Western ropework — lariat, lasso, trick roping, bosal, mecate. An entirely separate tradition, with its own materials (rawhide) and braiding techniques.
• Stage / Theatrical Rigging — counterweight systems, fly systems in theatres. Different from nautical rigging — its own professional school (IATSE, etc.).
• Industrial Rigging / Lifting — cranes, slings, load securing. Different from sailing rigging.

Secondary / related

• Rope Making / Cordage — making the rope itself (twisting fibres into strands).
• String figures / games — figures made with a loop of string over the fingers (e.g. cat’s cradle).
• Steel wire rope — rope made of twisted wires (forming process: swaging).
• Knitting (Fiber Arts, along with crochet, weaving, embroidery) — knitting yarn with a hook/needles;
• Macramé (can be considered Decorative Ropework) — the decorative creation of knots in textiles.

Niche but real:

• Chinese Knotting (中國結) — a huge autonomous decorative tradition. Technically a subcategory of decorative, but worth mentioning.
• Surgical Knots — medical, very small scale but a codified tradition (square knot variants, surgeon’s knot).
• Magic / Performance Ropework — rope tricks as a genre of conjuring (Tarbell, Pavel).
• Equestrian (non-cowboy) — halters, lead ropes, fiador knots. Often within cowboy, but also autonomous.

Between art and science:

• Knot Theory — mathematical topology. Strictly speaking it is not ropework (it studies closed curves in R³), but it is often mentioned alongside. I’d characterize it as adjacent, not within.

Subcategories

bondage Subcategories

• Shibari / Kinbaku (日本) — Japanese tradition, emphasis on aesthetics, symmetry, and the rigger/bunny relationship. Technically very demanding.
• Western bondage — a more functional approach, less aesthetically codified.

netting Subcategories

• Fishing nets — the most classic
• Cargo nets — nautical/logistics
• Hammocks — netting with a structural use
• Hair nets / decorative nets — overlap with decorative
• Sports nets — tennis, football, etc.
• Climbing nets / safety nets — overlap with rescue/climbing

plain rigging subcategories

• plain rigging (= nautical/sailing rigging)
• Standing rigging — permanent installation (shrouds, stays, backstays). In industrial there is no equivalent concept — everything is temporary/load-by-load.
• Running rigging — halyards, sheets, downhauls, vangs, outhauls. Dynamic handling under load in motion, with the wind changing. Industrial rigging is basically static lifts.
• Sail handling integration — reefing systems, furling, jib changes. No equivalent outside the nautical world.
• Traditional standing-rigging protection techniques — worming, parceling, serving (the trio that protects rope left permanently exposed). Purely nautical, nonexistent in industrial.
• Deadeyes, lanyards, hearts — old tensioning systems before turnbuckles. Still alive on classic/tall ships.
• Historical / traditional depth — Age of Sail rigging is a whole body of knowledge, with books like Lever’s Young Sea Officer’s Sheet Anchor. Industrial rigging was codified only recently (ASME B30, OSHA).

industrial rigging subcategories

• Working Load Limits, safety factors, certifications — maximum safe load, margin against breakage, equipment certification.
• Sling angle calculations — the lifting angle multiplies the load per leg.
• Crane signaling — standardized signals (hand/radio) between operator ↔ crane.
• More modern materials (synthetic web slings, chain slings) — synthetic web slings instead of steel wire ropes.