Category: (Sado)Masochism
Subcategory: Types

Bruising

## Bruising

Bruising involves deliberately creating bruises on the body through impact play, pinching, or suction. These marks occur when capillaries beneath the skin rupture, causing blood to pool in the tissue. Common techniques include focused impacts with implements, cupping devices, or targeted pressure to specific areas.

The resulting marks vary from light discoloration to deep purple bruises depending on the force applied and the person's natural tendency to bruise. They typically develop fully within 24 hours and may last from several days to weeks. Some practitioners specifically aim for bruise patterns or intentional marking in certain areas, while others consider bruising a natural byproduct of intense impact play rather than a goal in itself.

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This is a description of an activity in the BDSM checklist (also known as a 'kink list'). Want to discover what (more) kinks you might have? Maybe share them with a partner? Start the checklist!

About the category (Sado)Masochism

Sadomasochism involves the consensual exchange of sensation that many would find painful or intense in non-erotic contexts. This spectrum encompasses both the giving (sadism) and receiving (masochism) of such sensations, creating experiences where pain, intensity, and pleasure become interwoven through deliberate and controlled application.

People enjoy sadomasochistic activities for diverse reasons: the intense endorphin rush that creates natural highs, the intimate trust required between partners, the transformation of pain into pleasure through context and arousal, and the cathartic release many experience through intense sensation. Rather than being about suffering, well-executed SM play creates unique states of consciousness and connection that many practitioners find impossible to access through other means, offering profound physical and psychological experiences when practiced with skill and care.



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