The 22-city, month-long 2014 Air Sex World Championship Tour has come to an end. What is this, I hear you ask? If the title hasn’t given it away; air sex involves clothed men and women simulating various sexual activities with an invisible partner, set in time to music. As one can imagine, this is often over exaggerated and over the top! Similarly to gymnastics, the act is judged by a panel and given an average score. For those unfamiliar with this unique-but-kinky practice, here’s a brief introduction:
Where was it created?
In Japan – where else!? According to the self-professed creator, J-Taro Sugisaku; “Air sex was originally invented by guys who couldn’t get girlfriends, but desperately want to have sex”. Simulating their favourite positions with an invisible partner allowed them to express themselves sexually, and fulfil their sexual needs. Despite its slightly tragic beginning, it has now become as much an art form as a way for single men to get some.
Since its creation in 2006, Air Sex has gained a strong following. The kink made its way to America when a showing of the BBC documentary Japanorama at a convention resulted in a spontaneous Air Sex competition. Its popularity has continued to grow, with the competition attracting hundreds.
What about the competitions?
Since August 2007, the Alamo Drafthouse have been holding Air Sex competition in the US. In 2009, they began touring the country as part of the competition; crowning victors in over twenty cities across North America. Why are the competitions becoming increasingly popular? The description on their webpage sums it up perfectly:
The Air Sex Championships are hilarious, raunchy, and so singularly remarkable they defy description. Think Air Guitar, but with an imaginary sexual partner (or partners) in place of a musical instrument. Entering its sixth year as a nationally touring roadshow, Air Sex combines the pageantry and prestige of sports with the creative arts of storytelling, pantomiming, and improvisation. Beyond that, it’s a show you’ll have to experience yourself to believe.
Any other advice for wannabe Air Sex artists?
If we’ve inspired you to give it a go – be warned – it’s more than simply grinding to Rick James’ ‘Superfreak’. Former Air Sex champion, known as Cobra, insists that mental preparation is vital in order to be a successful participant:
“On the day that I reached the top, the day I became world champion, I was thinking of my girlfriend. No, my ex-girlfriend. She’d just dumped me two days before the contest,” Cobra tells Weekly Playboy. “The air sex display I put on that day was, in my mind at least, supposed to be the farewell fling I really wanted to have with my girlfriend. It was the best possible condition I could have been in going into the competition.”
That’s not all. Cobra explains that in order to be the best, you need to be fully in the moment. “You can’t care about what women watching your performance are thinking about you. When you get down to air sex, you’ve got to immerse yourself in the air sex world,” Cobra says. “Air sex can’t be performed in half-measures. If it is, you’re only asking for trouble.”