This article is about the erotic activity. For other uses of the term, see Top (disambiguation). See: For the toy, see Top. ...

In BDSM, a top is a partner who takes the active, dominant role in sexual play (such as in flogging, bondage, servitude, humiliation). The top performs acts such as these upon the bottom. A collar is a common symbol of BDSM. BDSM is a term which describes a number of related patterns of human sexual behaviour. ... The word dominant has several possible meanings: In music theory, the dominant or dominant note (second most important) of a key is that which is a perfect fifth above the tonic; in just intonation the note whose pitch is 1. ... Whipping on a post Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, whip) the human body. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... In BDSM, servitude is performing tasks and following orders as an aspect of being submissive. ... In BDSM, humiliation is one psychological technique a top may use on a bottom. ... This article is about the erotic activity. ...

A top filling the dominant role is not necessarily a dominant, and vice versa. The top may sometimes even be the partner who is following instructions, i.e., he tops when, and in the manner, requested by the bottom. A person who applies sensation or control to a bottom, but does so to the bottom's explicit instruction is a service top. In human sexual behavior, a dominant is one who enjoys performing any of a variety of BDSM practices upon a submissive; or one who holds a dominant position within a relationship based upon dominance and submission (DS). ...

Topping from the bottom is a related BDSM term, meaning a person who wants to be dominated but simultaneously direct the top to do it according to their wishes. Topping from the bottom is usually considered poor practice amongst lifestyle BDSM devotees, although fairly common amongst the "BDSM curious" or newcomers who have had submissive fantasies but lack experience with a sexual dominant. Topping from the bottom is a BDSM term, meaning a person who wants to be dominated but simultaneously direct the top to do it according to their wishes. ... A sexual fantasy is a fantasy of a sexual nature. ...

Contrast this with the pure dominant, who might give orders to a submissive, or otherwise employ physical or psychological techniques of control, but might instruct the submissive to perform the act on him. Also, a top in BDSM need not be the 'insertive' sex partner; for example, a female dominant may command her submissive to penetrate her. In human sexual behavior, a submissive is one who enjoys having any of a variety of BDSM practices performed upon them by a Dominant; or one who holds a submissive position within a relationship based upon Dominance and submission (Ds or D/s). ...

In Japanese bondage and sexually-themed anime and manga (especially yaoi), a top is referred to as seme, a term from Martial Arts and kabuki. Bondage model Izumi Maki in a Japanese bondage video Shibari (縛り, literally meaning bondage) is a Japanese style of sexual bondage or BDSM. Shibari involves tying up the bottom (or uke) in intricate patterns, usually with several pieces of thin rope. ... This is the current Anime Collaboration of the Week. ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Cover of Fake by Sanami Matoh as published by TokyoPop. ... Seme is a Japanese term from exercises, especially martial arts, meaning to attack. In anime and manga, especially shounen-ai, yaoi and hentai, seme is a general term for a partner in a relationship who is or is intimated to be predominantly butch, a top, and/or a dominant. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... The Kabukiza in Ginza is one of Tokyos leading kabuki theaters. ...

Note that in BDSM sex, some people like to switch roles from one encounter to the other, or even during a single encounter, depending on mood and preference. In the field of sexuality, a switch is someone who can change from one sexual role to another. ...

See also

• Bottom (BDSM)
• female dominance
• male dominance
• domination & submission (BDSM)
• sadomasochism
• Topping from the bottom

This article is about the erotic activity. ... Femdom, or female dominance, refers to BDSM activities where the dominant partner is female. ... Maledom, or male dominance, refers to heterosexual BDSM activities where the dominant partner is male, and the submissive partner is female. ... Domination and submission (also known as Dominance and submission, D&s, Ds or D/s) is a set of psychosexual behaviors, customs and rituals relating to the dominance of one individual over another. ... Flogging demonstration at Folsom Street Fair 2004. ... Topping from the bottom is a BDSM term, meaning a person who wants to be dominated but simultaneously direct the top to do it according to their wishes. ...

References and further reading

• Dossie Easton, Janet W. Hardy. The New Topping Book. Greenery Press, 2003. ISBN 1890159360.