Fisting: A 101

Fisting is a controversial act. Some people consider it to be an extreme and violent act, others consider it one of the most intimate actions that you can perform with a partner. Neither of these opinions are untrue; what fisting means to you is something that will be very individual and informed by your own sexual experiences and desires. 

However, if you do allow fisting in to your life then it may very well become a very tender, or rigorously passionate, act within your sexual repertoire.

What Is Fisting?

Fisting is a sexual act in which a person’s fist is inserted in to either the vagina or the rectum. The action is often performed by another individual to a recipient but people are capable of self-fisting as long as they get the angle right. 

Other terms used for fisting are a brachiovaginal action or a brachioproctic insertion, and neither of those sound sexy at all, but fisting can be a very arousing and sexually gratifying experience. 

Why Do People Like Fisting?

The act of fisting has a lot of appeal for a lot of different reasons. 

One of the most obvious reasons is the visual and physiological appeal. There’s something very powerful about the idea of being able to insert (or take) an entire fist/hand in to an intimate area. The action, as such, has gained a lot of iconic appeal, especially among queer communities, where a fisting position has sometimes been used as a visual of queer identity and rights.

Then, of course, there’s the sensual appeal. Taking an entire fist feels you up and is guaranteed to hit some very sensitive areas (G and P-Spot) quite intensely with very little get up. This feeling can be so intense in some people that it prompts squirting at the point of climax. Even when squirting isn’t involved, however, the point of climax during fisting is often intensified by just how strongly the muscles must fight to contract while also being so expanded. The result is an experience that can be very overwhelming. 

While inserted, the owner of the fist can also use their fingers and gentle thrusting and rolling motions in order to create further stimulation for even more sensation. 

Then, of course, there’s the trust element. Fisting, if done wrong, can cause damage – more so then many other sexual acts. This means that, to submit to fisting, you either have to really trust yourself, really trust the one doing the fisting, or both. 

Such a high level of trust in the situation creates a degree of intimacy and bonding which many consider to be unparalleled. You’ve definitely bonded on a different level once you introduce fisting to a relationship. 

Precautions 

If there’s another thing that can be said about fisting it’s that the act has been poorly represented in modern media. 

It’s certainly not a case of fist + vagina/anus = climax. Fisting requires a certain amount of preparation and precautions in order to avoid any unintended injuries (such as tearing or unwanted soreness). 

One of the most important things to remember about fisting is that you can never have too much lube. 

Lubricant is vital for fisting and you will need a fair amount when it comes to getting the right amount of slip and slide for comfortable fisting. 

In addition to this, you’ll also want to warm up properly in order to engage in fisting. Using small toys, playing in advance, and gradually building up to larger sizes and then a fist is a wise way to go about getting the proper level of dilation.

If your orifice isn’t completely relaxed then fisting will be difficult. Hard to achieve during the first fisting experience, we know, but the more you can do to relax your body the better. 

Some people will also like to use medical gloves to protect the body from a safer sex perspective or to make things a little smoother. This is personal preference but, if you’re vegan or allergic to latex, you’ll need to be sure that the gloves are non-latex. 

The Fisting Action

There are a few common ways to engage in fisting. 

The most popular is ‘duck billing’ which involved making a very condensed, duck-like shape with your hand and then using that to insert your fist in the most tapered manner possible. 

From there the hand can be manipulated in to different positions but always slowly and preferably with trimmed nails (for additional precautions). 

More extreme and experienced fisters may also do something called ‘punching’ which is inserting a fully clenched fist in to a sexual opening. This is not advised for beginners and should still be done slowly and with respect and a lot of communication. 

The Key Points

Fisting is a rewarding sexual act but one that requires a lot of conversation, preparation, time, and trust. 

Treat fisting with the right amount of respect and don’t be afraid to explore. You never know if fisting will get the thumbs up until you try it.