Masturbation (also known as: wanking, tossing, chocking the chicken, rubbing one off, jerking off, spanking the monkey, feeding the pigeons, rumpling the foreskin, self love, shining the head, and so many more) is basically the act of playing with your cock - usually by hand – until you climax. It is not a dirty word, and as a human, is one of the most natural things you can do to give yourself sexual pleasure. It is also safe. A win/win situation in my mind. So when you are ready to masturbate, GO FOR IT! Of course, to masturbate, you have to be hard, and depending on how old you are, this can be easy or difficult (Pre-pubescent boys can still masturbate, but will not produce sperm or get erections—but that won’t stop them touching themselves. Did you know circumcision in Victorian times was implemented to try and stop boys from masturbating? Talk about a major fail)

Once your penis has reached its full length and hardness, your hand will get into a regular motion along it. Some like it fast, some prefer to go slow, but the rhythm is the thing. Also, don’t do anything which will hurt. If you pull too hard, next time don’t. It’s as easy as that.

If you haven't been circumcised, you will probably find that the most natural thing is to make use of your foreskin - just grab it firmly and pump away, rolling the sleeve of skin that covers your penis to and fro. You may be able to make your foreskin move back and forth across your penis head, and many men love this feeling. If it's more comfortable you can keep your skin forward and your grip can extend over both head and shaft. On the other hand many older boys and adults find it easier and more convenient to keep their foreskin retracted clear of the head and just move it up and down the shaft. Really, it’s up to you and what feels best.

Much the same thing works for many circumcised guys. Just grip firmly on your penis shaft and make the most of the mobility of the top layer of skin. Naturally, this is easier if the skin is at least a little bit loose. Your head doesn't get much stimulation this way and you might like to let your thumb or first finger lightly stroke the knob as you do it.

Circumcised guys also have another option, which is to use a very light touch and slide their fingers across the surface of their penis, stroking the head and the tight skin of the shaft. Many men and boys love the feel of their hand on the smooth, silky skin of the glans and shaft. Again, do what feels right. However, this technique doesn't work so well in hot, sticky weather, when your perspiration increases friction.

For one reason or another - too much friction or too little skin - many guys prefer to use lubrication when they masturbate. A suitably slippery substance is poured into the palm of the hand or squirted on to the penis and the hand is used as a tube, sliding over the whole penis.

Usually you can use quite a slow stroke - much slower than in dry masturbation, with or without a foreskin - which also helps to make it feel like 'real' sex. Even some uncircumcised guys prefer the sensation of a lubricated hand sliding across their head, particularly those whose foreskin is short and pulls back off the knob with an erection. Again, do what works for you.

The question of what lubricant to use is a pretty contentious topic. Baby oil and hand cream are favourites, but Vaseline also has its devotees even though this can leave a thick, sticky layer over your skin and dull sensation. Water-based 'personal' lubricants are a good choice when a masturbation session is likely to lead to more serious things, but tends to dry out too quickly for a leisurely solo session. Saliva is always to hand, but dries up even more rapidly. Do not use soap or shampoo - it may feel good at the time but you will be mighty sore afterwards. Remember, your cock skin is sensitive and soap based products are acid based! Ouch!

Whatever your choice of lubricant, it could get very frustrating if you are totally dependent on it, so it's a good idea to get used to doing it 'dry' as well. In fact, most of the time a lubricant isn’t at hand, so to speak, so a wank on the spur of the moment will almost always be lubricant free. There is no minimum or maximum age for masturbation, though most boys under 10 are unlikely to be interested, and age reduces hormone levels, so older men may not need or want to do it so often.

Variety is the spice of life, so whether you have a foreskin or not, using a range of masturbation techniques can really enhance your enjoyment. It's amazing how many men have difficulty being masturbated by someone else. What should be a supremely erotic experience turns into an exercise in frustration. Usually it turns out that the man is locked into one specific technique - often backed up with a big load of guilt. Relax, enjoy your masturbation, take your time and try as many ways as possible, and it's not just your solo sex life that will improve. Sure, your man has the same equipment as you, but if you don’t try different methods to get you to climax, chances are when he comes to jerk you off, he won’t have a clue how to do because you’ve locked yourself into one method.

Here are a few tried and true methods you can use:

1)      The Cold Climax: Wank as you normally would, but when you feel the sensation of ejaculation coming on, grab hold of some ice cubes or crushed ice with the other hand, then continue masturbating to completion. The feeling of cold in one hand, heat in the other, and the sensation of ejaculating will enhance the experience.

2)      Rings Around Your Penis: Cover both your hands with lube, and form a ring with your thumb and forefinger. Place it around the base of your penis. Slide the ring up to the base of the glans (where the head starts). Now form a ring with the fingers on your other hand and do the same thing. Keep stroking with one ring at a time until you climax.

3)      The Palm Rubber: Once you're erect, place some lube on the inside of one hand, and rather than rub your penis with your hand, keep rubbing the tip of your penis against the palm of your hand to orgasm. This one is great for circumcised guys.

4)      The ball holder: The next time you're masturbating and feel as though you're about to ejaculate, put your other hand over your scrotum and lightly squeeze and pull it down (or more aggressively, if you like that sort of thing). That way, you get to feel your semen travelling through your body, making its way to the exit. It can also slow down the process of ejaculation to give you an even better climax when you do.

5)      The gentle tap: Although you have to have a sensitive penis for this to work effectively, this will at least demonstrate that you don't if it doesn't work. Keep your underwear on and make yourself erect. Once you're at your fullest erectness, tap the tip of your penis with the tips of your fingers. It should take somewhat longer than usual for you to reach climax but when you do, oh yeah...Try this hands free as well. In other words, get hard in your underwear and think really sexy thoughts. If you are doing it right, you’ll be able to cum without touching yourself, or with only a light brush of your fingertips against your cock. The resulting climax is mindblowing, trust me!

6)      Screw your hand: While standing, twist your lubed-up hand (whichever you're most comfortable using) so that your thumb is against your belly button. Wrap your hand around your penis and, rather than stroke with your hand, move your pelvis to pump in and out of your hand. It'll make you feel like you're actually penetrating a vagina/anus. Okay, maybe not, but hey, it’ll feel damn good.

7)      The plastic bag: In your bedroom (or someone else's if you wish), fill a plastic sandwich bag with petroleum jelly and put your erect penis in the bag, squishing the jelly so that your entire penis is covered. Then, place your penis, still in the bag, between the mattress and the box spring. Pump in and out to orgasm. The best part? No mess.

8)      Warm Water Fill: This one is for guys with a foreskin. When in a bath, get yourself erect but keep your foreskin over your head (don’t retract) With a turkey baster or syringe, fill it with the warm bath water. Insert the tip of the baster/syringe into your foreskin and while masturbating, release the warm fluid in steady intervals then suck it back up again. Repeat until orgasm. The sensation of the water going over your head, back and forth from the syringe, combined with your actions will be fucking awesome. What’s more, your cum will go inside the syringe and not in the bath water with you.

9)      The Twist: Again if you have a foreskin, get yourself hard and don’t retract. With your thumb and fingers on opposite sides of your glans, move in short, quick movements while rotating at the same time. The result will be a nice ejaculation and a tingling foreskin as a bonus!

10)  The Foreskin Teaser: Sit down and get hard. Fully retract your foreskin. If you are right-handed, use 2, 3 or 4 right-hand fingers to move the skin on the base of your cock. Do not touch the head or move your skin over it. Keep your foreskin retracted at all times. You will notice that it is difficult to get an orgasm this way, since there is no head stimulation. It’s all good, don’t worry. Now, use your left hand to stimulate other parts of your body, say your nipples. After 5-10 minutes, you will get close to orgasm. Again, do not stimulate your glans, with either your hand or by un-retracting your foreskin. When you reach the ‘point of no return’ slow down. Keep moving very slowly during this moment. If you do this right, you can ‘surf’ on this wave for 5-10 seconds—a mind blowing feeling. Afterwards, ejaculate as usual.

There are many, many more techniques you can use. I have only covered 10 or so! Let your imagination run wild. Enjoy your body and what a great feeling your cock can give you. That way, when you get to play with others, you’ll be more confident and a better lover by being able to show them how to pleasure you as well. Simple as that.