BDSM.tech the plain-English kink reference Sensation
What is Spanking?
Also known as: OTK, bottom slapping
In depth
Spanking spans a few playful swats during sex all the way to structured discipline scenes with counting, positions and implements. It's often the doorway into BDSM, needing no gear and carrying that familiar, taboo-tinged charge of naughtiness and correction.
How it works
One partner positions the other, classically over the knee (OTK), bent over, or lying down, then delivers strikes to the fleshy buttocks and warms up gradually. Many scenes fold in roleplay (discipline, punishment) plus check-ins with a safe word.
That is the definition. Doing it is a longer subject, and it has its own page: the full guide to spanking covers practice, variations and where beginners get caught out.
Safety
Land strikes on the meat of the buttocks, well away from the tailbone, spine, hips and kidneys. Warm up before any hard swats so you avoid deep bruising, and stop for numbness or sharp pain.
Spanking FAQ
Is spanking the same as impact play?
Spanking is one type of impact play: specifically striking the buttocks, usually by hand. Impact play is the broader category that also covers floggers, canes, paddles and other body areas.
Why is spanking so popular?
It needs no equipment, feels familiar and taboo, and combines sensation with a playful power dynamic, which makes it many people's first step into kink.