The Immersion Foundation (2024) - Information Booklet (3rd Edition)

The

Immersion Foundation

2024

3rd Edition

About

Immersion Expeditions

Immersion Labs

01

02

03

Our History

04

Caribbean Expedition

10

Lab #1 - Legacy of the Blade 34

Aims

05

Portuguese Expedition

14

Lab #2 - Stickmata

38

Explorations Map

06

Southeast Asian Expedition 18 #1 - The Philippines

Lab #3 - Born of Blood

42

Lab #4 - Holy Blood, Holy Blade

46

Lab #5 - Shock & Awe

50

Italian Contra-Expeditionis

22

Southeast Asian / Polynesian 24 Contra-Expeditionis

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

American Bladecraft Expeditions

28

La Verdadera Destreza Contra-Expeditionis

30

Lab #6 - Bikers, Bralwers & 54 Badasses

Immersion Media

Ongoing Archivals & Collaborations

Immersion Dojo

04

05

06

The Immersion Review

60

Stockton Escrima Project

72

Strands of Strife and Life I

61

Moro Fighting Arts Archival

73

The Book of the Stick

62

74

Academic Papers

64

South Indian Marma/Varma Kalai Archival

Masters Magazine Special Issue

65

Donn Draeger Legacy Study

76

Kujang Project

78

Docu-Instructional Films

66

Sonny Umpad Archival

79

Podcasts

67

Serak Silat Archival

80

Talks & Guest Appearances

68

Cossack Martial Archival

81

Charles Selberg Collection

82

Way of the Warrior Podcast

82

Immersion Dojo Photo Gallery

86

Appendix: Ambassadors Index

92

C ontents |

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About Our History The Immersion Foundation (TIF; previously known as The Immersion Labs FoundationTM, or ILF) was founded in 2017 with the mission of reviving the study of hoplology, or the study of human combat. Its founder, Mahipal Lunia, cites three key influences that came together to inspire the conception of the Foundation: 1. As a life-long student of several rare forms of martial arts, he had a vision for saving those arts and passing them on to posterity.

One of his teachers, however, advised him that he should save all the arts, not just his own, and this was a major turning point in his thinking and orientation for his life’s work.

2. As a child, he had been fascinated by movies like Indiana Jones and The Librarian, and stories about finding and saving hidden treasures. He had adored explorers like Sir Richard Francis Burton and Donn F. Draeger (both credited as pioneers of the field of hoplology), and wanted to follow in their footsteps to find and save hidden knowledge around the world.

3. As a teacher of martial arts, he would often bring his students to train with some of his own teachers or other masters. After one particular seminar with the much respected Guro James Keating, he and his students formulated the initial idea for an immersive, global martial arts seminar series—The Immersion Labs.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

So, in 2018, Legacy of the Blade was launched, bringing together Ambassadors (teachers, masters, and/or representatives) of 12 different blade traditions from around the world for a 3-day intensive seminar. In the subsequent years, Stickmata (2019) and Born of Blood (2020) were hosted with success, exploring the stick traditions of the world and the arts of Southeast Asia / the Pacific Islands, respectively. The Immersion Labs continue to bring together masterlevel practitioners and dedicated students to explore exciting topics in truly unprecedented ways.

Alongside the Immersion Labs, the Foundation has expanded its work over the years to include several international expeditions, documentary production, peer-reviewed publications, podcasts and interviews, and numerous archival projects with Ambassadors of various arts from around the world.

Initiatives

Aims

T

he Immersion Foundation’s mission is to rekindle the fire of hoplology that was once lit by Sir Richard Burton and sustained by Donn Draeger through parts of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Now in the 21st century, the Foundation seeks to not only follow in the footsteps of these giants, but to vastly expand and transform the very way hoplology can be done— to create a “New Hoplology”—by utilizing new technologies and synthesizing creative modes of expression to adapt to an everchanging world.

•

Preserve, recover, and promote disappearing and/or little-known martial art traditions around the world.

•

Expand shared hoplological knowledge with scientific rigor and through living, embodied experience. Our methods are: •

Interdisciplinary—bringing together martial artists, scholars, musicians, storytellers, etc. to examine arts and their cultural contexts in a holistic way;

•

Comprehensive—extracting concepts and principles rather than just fighting techniques, and examining common threads across multiple arts;

•

Immersive—diving deep into studying and understanding each art and its environment through sustained collaboration with its practitioners.

•

Explore the relationship between the body, movement, and neural mechanisms as it relates to the goals of and the environments in which different arts developed, and establish the discipline of Neuro-HoplologyTM.

•

Nurture a lively community of collaborators across disciplines and professions, and inspire the next generation to continue the legacy of hopological exploration and innovation.

A b out |

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Explorations 7 Expeditions

10+ Archivals

50+

6

Arts

Labs

25+ Regions

USA

Hawaii

Mexico

Barbados / Trinidad and Tobago

Panama

Venezuela Colombia Brazil

Argentina

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

United Kingdom

Russia

Ireland Netherlands Spain

Italy

Portugal

Japan

China

Northern Africa India

Hong Kong Cambodia Malaysia

Philippines Indonesia

South Africa New Zealand E X P L O R AT I O N S |

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Expeditions Sponsored and led by TIF’s Explorer-in-Residence, Mahipal Lunia, the Immersion Expeditions are undertaken by specially selected teams of researchers and martial art practitioners in order to study and archive regional arts, many of which are rare and kept alive by their last keepers. Members of the Expedition team are directly involved in hands-on exploration of the arts rather than simply being spectators. The arts are meticulously recorded in high quality with state-of-the-art recording equipment and made available to the public whenever possible.

TIF has led 7 major Expeditions to date, archiving over 400+ hours of footage for 15+ arts, some of which had never been filmed publicly before.

Caribbean Expedition 2 0 1 8 • B a r b a d o s | Tr i n i d a d | To b a g o

I

t all started with a series of serendipitous phone calls—from Guro Burton Richardson to Dr. Michael Ryan, to Dr. Philip Forde and the discovery of Sticklicking. A few days later, Lunia and the TIF team were on their way to an 11-day adventure, the first major hoplological expedition in 40 years, to meet some of the last keepers of the Caribbean traditions.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

80+ hrs

of raw footage distilled into the docu-instructional film:

Secret Fighting Arts of the Americas (2021) E xpeditions |

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Arts & Ambassadors • Sticklicking - Dr. Philip Forde • Kalinda - Rondel Benjamin, Keegan Taylor • Gilpin - Rondel Benjamin, Keegan Taylor • Rope Jab - Ronald Alfred • Grima - Dr. TJ Desch-Obi • Garrote - Dr. Michael Ryan

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence) • Dr. Tj Desch-Obi (Scholar-in-Residence) • Dr. Michael Ryan (Scholar-in-Residence)

Participants • Immersion Dojo • Local resources in Barbados

E xpeditions |

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Portuguese Expedition 2 0 1 9 • Fa f e , P o r t u g a l

I

n this 5-day expedition to Northern Portugal, the TIF team immersed themselves in the village life of Fafe and got to witness the first-ever gathering of the 10 remaining schools of Jogo do Pau in Portugal, with over 80 hours of filming and side-by-side examination.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

10 schools

of Jogo do Pau assembled at this historical event, featured on:

RTP1 Portuguese TV

E xpeditions |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Arts & Ambassadors • Mestre Avelino (Headmaster of the Fafe school) • Oscar Cunha • Pedro Silva • 10 JDP Schools, including: ◊ Jogo do Pau da guarda (Daniel Simão) ◊ Jogo do Pau Portimao (Mestre Helder Valente) ◊ Associação Desportiva e Cultural do Jogo do Pau Português (Manuel Joaquim Monteiro) ◊ Esgrima Lusitana Cascais - Jogo do Pau Português (Ricardo Moura)

Investigator • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence)

Participants • Immersion Dojo • RTP1 Portuguese TV channel crew • Fafe City Council • Other local resources

E xpeditions |

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Southeast Asian Expedition #1 2019 • The Philippines

I

n this 10-day expedition, the TIF team explored the old arts of the Philippines, some of which were archived extensively and completely for the first time.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

100+ hrs

of filming, including the first-ever complete syllabus of:

Arnis Payate & Kalis Ilustrisimo The late Roberto Labaniego gifting the last of his personal sticks to Lunia.

E xpeditions |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Arts & Ambassadors • Kalis Ilustrisimo - GM Romeo Macapagal • Tapado • Ouida Whip-Stick • Visayan Sable • Lapu-Lapu • Paete Arnis • GM Roberto Labaniego

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence) • GM Romeo Macapagal • GM Ron Saturno

Participants • Jj Hervas • Immersion Dojo • Elrik and Franz Jundis • Stephen CK • Fabrizio Mansur Filograna

E xpeditions |

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Italian Contra-Expeditionis 2019 • California, USA

I

n this “reverse expedition,” TIF invited Maestro Domenico Mancino from Italy to California in order to explore the evolution of Italian fighting arts and to capture the curriculum of the Cielo e Meraviglia school, previously never revealed to outsiders.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassador • Maestro Domenico Mancino

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence) • Dr. Marco Quarta

6.5 hrs

of first-ever public instruction available through the film:

Cielo e Meraviglia: Italian Knife Fencing with Maestro Domenico Mancino (2019)

Participants • Immersion Dojo

Southeast Asian / Polynesian Contra-Expeditionis 2020 • California, USA

T

his reverse expedition hosted Ambassadors from New Zealand, the Philippines, and USA, exploring the interaction between the arts of Southeast Asia and Polynesia, which had previously been inaccessible to outsiders. Many fruitful discussions and unique collaborations took place between the Ambassadors from different regions.

1st time

to capture on public film the arts of:

Rongomamau & Moro Kampilan

E xpeditions |

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Title 20xx • Subtitle | Subtitle

Arts & Ambassadors • Timoti Pahi - Rongomamau • GM Romeo Macapagal - Kalis Ilustrisimo • Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari - Moro Fighting Arts & Silat

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence) • GM Romeo Macapagal • GM Ron Saturno • Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari

Participants • JJ Hervas • Ngarino Te Waati / Baes • Immersion Dojo

E xpeditions |

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American Bladecraft Expeditions Since 2013 • Pacific Northwest & Southwestern USA

I

n these trips across the West Coast of USA, the TIF team worked closely with Maestro James Keating and others to study and archive the arts of the bowie knife and Arkansas toothpick.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors • Maestro James Keating • Bill Bagwell (phone interviews) • Paul Kirchner (phone interviews & hand-off of all bowie knife research to TIF) • Other anonymous sources

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence) • Dexter Miksch • Dr. Michael Ryan (extensive historical background research)

Participants • Immersion Dojo

E xpeditions |

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La Verdadera Destreza Contra-Expeditionis S i n c e 2 0 2 2 • We s t C o a s t , U S A

T

his series of reverse expeditions exploring the Spanish fencing system is currently in progress, and TIF has invited Ambassadors of various expressions of LVD to share their art. Continued collaboration is expected to take place and eventually lead to an on-site expedition in Spain.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors • Ton Puey - Destreza of Rada • Puck Curtis - Early Destreza • Tim Rivera - Destreza Vulgar

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence) • Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari • Dr. Juha Vuori • Mika Harju-Seppänen

Participants • Immersion Dojo

E xpeditions |

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Labs The Immersion Labs are global symposiums bringing together Ambassadors and participants from around the world for multi-day (typically 3 full days / 30-40 hours) deep exploration of a single topic, akin to graduate-level courses at universities in terms of depth.

TIF has hosted 6 Labs to date in California, USA, bringing together 60+ Ambassadors and 100+ participants from over a dozen countries for 200+ focused hours of exploration.

The Labs are TIF’s most well-known flagship offering to the general public and hold much significance as historical gatherings—hoplologists’ “dream come true” as described by some—that are at once unprecedented and never to be repeated.

Lab #1 - Legacy of the Blade 2018 • California, USA

TIF’s first and pioneering Lab exploring 12 different blade traditions from the Philippines, Japan, USA, Hawaii, Italy, and South Africa, among others.

Labs |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors & Topics • Mark Mikita - Kampilan & Capa Capa • Burton Richardson - Karambit & Kris • Ron Saturno - Stockton Espada y Daga • Lloyd De Jongh - Piper • Dr. Marco Quarta - Italian Blades • Henri-Robert Vilaire - Japanese Tanto • Majia Soderholm - Visayan Sword & Sickle • Carlito Bonjoc - Stockton Espada y Daga • Ed Calderon - Mexican Shanks & Street Knives • Robert Stines Jr. - Hawaiian Blade-on-Skin Methods

Stats 36 hrs

Description of instruction & deep-dive with:

10 Ambassadors Featured Item & 25 Participants from 6 Countries Labs |

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Lab #2 - Stickmata 2019 • California, USA

40 hours of immersion and compare / contrast of 12+ stick traditions from the Philippines, USA, Japan, the Caribbean Islands, Italy, Russia, and Portugal, among others.

Labs |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors & Topics • Vincent Cabales, Ron Saturno, Dexter Labonog, Kalani Foster - Stockton FMA • Mark Mikita - Cuentada • Martin Wheeler - Systema • Romeo Macapagal & JJ Hervas - Kalis Ilustrisimo • Bruce Juchnik - Japanese Jojutsu • Henri-Robert Vilaire - Japanese Jojutsu • Marc Denny - Stick Grappling • Dr. Philip Forde - Bajan Stick Fighting • Dr. Marco Quarta - Bolognese Stick Fighting • Pedro Silva - Jogo do Pau • Dr. TJ Desch-Obi - Colombian Grima • Dr. Michael Ryan - Venezuelan Garrote

40 hrs

of compare / contrast of the world's stick traditions with:

15 Ambassadors & 25 Participants from 8 Countries Labs |

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Lab #3 - Born of Blood 2020 • California, USA

Deep exploration of arts of the Southeast Asian Archipelago and Pacific Islands, with the first-ever public presentation of Rongomamau and Moro Kampilan.

Hosted in conjunction with the Southeast Asian & Polynesian Contra-expeditionis.

Labs |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors & Topics • Stevan Plinck - Dutch-Indonesian Golok & Sera • Romeo Macapagal - Espada y Daga • Mark Mikita - Sumbrada • Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari - Southeast Asian Cane & Kampilan • Sulaiman Sharif - Malay Karambit & Sarong • Kenya Prach - Cambodian Bokator / Kickboxing • Jason Webster - Thai Krabi Krabong / Double Swords • Ron Lew - Filipino Latigo / Whip • Timoti Pahi - Rongomamau (Māori Grappling Arts) • JC Cabiero - Stockton FMA • Ron Saturno - Stockton FMA • Maija Soderholm - Visayan Sangot / Sickle

40 hrs

of public and 80+ hours of private investigation with:

12 Ambassadors & 25 Participants from 10 Countries Labs |

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Lab #4 Holy Blood, Holy Blade March 2023 • California, USA

A historic cross-cultural exploration of the Spanish bladecraft and its influence on the world. Hosted in conjunction with La Verdadera Destreza Contra-expeditionis.

Labs |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors & Topics • Ton Puey - La Verdadera Destreza • Ron Lew - Latigo y Daga • Joaquin Marcelo - Jeet Kune Do • Anthony de Longis - Western Bullwhip • Paul Porter - SCA Full-Contact Fighting • Dr. TJ Desch-Obi - Grima • Mahipal Lunia & Dexter Miksch - Bowie Knife • Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari - Mindanao Blade • Adam Myrie - Barbary Blade • Michael Belzer & Mahipal Lunia - Hoplology 101 • Puck Curtis - Comparison of Spanish & Italian Fencing • Tim Rivera - Spanish Influence on FMA

40 hrs

of public and 20+ hours of private collaboration with:

13 Ambassadors 3 Destreza Masters 20 Dedicated Students Labs |

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Lab #5 Shock & Awe November 2023 • California, USA

A deep dive into over a dozen components of speed, from pre-fight to post-victory, explored through 14 arts and 6 weapon systems.

Labs |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors & Topics • Tim Cartmell - Clinch/Trap to Thrwoing Speed • Stevan Plinck - Positional Speed • Eric Knaus - Combination Speed • Ron Lew - Breaking the Sound Barrier / Flexible Steel • Mark Mikita - Explosive Speed • Paul Porter - Reading Tells: Perceptual and Mental Speed • Maija Soderholm - Alteration Speed • Scott Meredith - Sensitivity Speed • Riichi Kitano - Sen: Initiative to Kill Speed in Koryu • Mahipal Lunia - Deceptive Bowie • Dr. TJ Desch -Obi - Malicia in Grima & Capoeira • Dexter Miksch - Bowei Backcut Flow • Miguel Lopez - From Golden Glove to the Street • Jerry Walker - Mature Speed & Timing

40 hrs

of exploration on 12+ components of speed with:

18 Ambassadors 14 Systems 6 Weapon Types

• Carlito Bonjoc - Speed in Transcending Limitations • James Bishop - Bruce Lee's Speed & Timing • Steaphen Fick - Alchemy of Timing in the Italian Renaissance • Michael Donohue - Proprioception and Hand-Eye Coordination

Labs |

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Lab #6

Bikers, Brawlers & Badasses

July 2024 • California, USA

A no-nonsense, comprehensive examination of deep violence & chaos across 5 major contexts, from ancient battlefields of India to the urban jungle, bikers and bouncers, law enforcement, and prisons.

Labs |

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Ambassadors & Topics • Mahipal Lunia - Fanda & Chura Baazi • Jagjit Singh & Harjaap Singh - Sikh Talwar & Dhaal • Jerry Walker - Hawaiian Lua / Lei-o-Mano • Tim Cartmell - BJJ & Shuai Jiao • Stevan Plinck - Sera Silat • Mark Mikita - Filipino Kali • Rory Miller - Meditation on Violence • Mike N. Quijano - Insights from Military & Police • Kewesi Simon & Trevor Latham - Lessons from Bouncers • Callum Carmichael - Brawling with the Irish Stick • Miguel Lopez - Bare-Knuckle Boxing • Kenneth Goodman - 52 Blocks / Jailhouse Rock • Brian Bales - Preparing for Extreme Violence • Dr. TJ Desch-Obi - Hoplology of African-American Diaspora • David Navarrete - Spanish Gypsy Knife - Navaja • Paul Porter - Power Generation • Mahipal Lunia - Hoplogy of Bharateer Yudh Kala

Labs |

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Media The Immersion Media spans digital and print publications in various formats: academic papers, journals, books, talks, interviews, podcasts, video courses, documentaries, and emerging modes of communication.

TIF’s major publications to date include 80+ peerreviewed articles, the 4-part Book of the Stick, 200+ podcast episodes, and numerous docu-instructional videos.

The Immersion Review: For the Martial Arts Comprehensivists A peer-reviewed journal featuring in-depth articles written by martial arts practitioners and scholars. A specific theme is explored in each issue across different arts and topics that are examined.

Available as ebook on Issuu.

Volume 1: Stick Arts of the World • Issue 1 (2019) - “To Thine Own Self Be True” • Issue 2 (2022) - “Traditional and Modern: False Dichotomies” • Issue 3 (2023) - “Maintaining & Reimgagining Arts” • Issue 4 (2023) - “The Ring of Fire, Part 1” • Issue 5 (2023) - “The Ring of Fire, Part 2”

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Strands of Strife and Life Vol. 1: South Caribbean Fighting Arts (2021) Editors: Mahipal Lunia, Michael Ryan, Ph.D, Benjamin Judkins, Juha Vuori, Ph.D First volume in a monograph series, featuring interviews with the Ambassadors and participants of the Caribbean Expedition. These little-known arts are deeply examined within the context of their history, culture, and myths.

Available as paperback on Amazon and ebook on Issuu.

M edia |

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Strands of Strife and Life Vol. 2: The Book of the Stick (2023) Editors: Mahipal Lunia, Juha Vuori, Ph.D, Mika Harju-Seppänen A tribute to the pioneers of hoplology, Sir Richard Francis Burton and Donn F. Draeger, a 4-part odyssey featuring peer-reviewed articles and interviews on various stick arts from around the world.

• 2000+ pages • 1000+ illustrations • 80 articles on 50+ arts from 30+ countries/regions

Available as paperback on Amazon, hardcover on Lulu, and ebook on Issuu.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

M edia |

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Academic Papers

• Ryan, Michael J. and Mahipal Lunia. “The Way of Blood, Steel and Guts.” Martial Arts Masters (Fall 2019): 22-23 (Invited Guest Editorial).

• Ryan, Michael J. “Field Notes: Sticks, Blades and Movement Along the Pacific Rim.” (2020). https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2020/03/11/field-notes-sticks-blades-and-movement-along-the-pacific-rim/.

• Ryan, Michael J. “Columbia and Venezuela: The Political Economy of Stick and Machete Fighting in the New World – Part 2.” (2019). https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2019/06/30/columbia-and-venezuela-the-political-economyof-stick-and-machete-fighting-in-the-new-world-part-2/.

• Ryan, Michael J. “Stickman doh ‘fraid no damom: Stick and machete fighting in the New world – Part 1.” (2019). https://chinesemartialstudies.com/2019/06/27/stickman-doh-fraid-no-damom-stick-and-machete-fighting-in-thenew-world-part-1/.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Masters Magazine Special Issue (Spring 2019): Hoplology, the Phoenix Rises A special issue in the Masters Magazine series by Empire Media, featuring TIF’s Caribbean Expedition and in-depth interviews with the Ambassadors and participants. Republished in 2019 with added content in TIF’s monograph publication, Strands of Strife of Life Vol. 1: South Caribbean Fighting Arts.

M edia |

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Docu-Instructional Films Cielo e Meraviglia: Italian Knife Fencing with Maestro Domenico Mancino (2020) Over 6 hours of instructional video course covering the foundations, techniques, tactics, and history of the secretive art of Cielo e Meraviglia from the Apulian Ofantina Valley of Italy, by the last living master of the tradition, in this first-ever public presentation.

Secret Fighting Arts of the Americas: A Hoplological Expedition (2021) A 3-part film combining demonstrations, instructions, and storytelling to capture TIF’s historical Caribbean Expedition in 2018.

An interdisciplinary team of martial artists, scholars, and explorers join forces to dive deep into the arts of Bajan Sticklicking, Kalinda, Gilpin, and Rope Jab of Barbados, Trinidad, and Tobago.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Podcasts

RCG podcast (2007-2017) A podcast series exploring the science and art of personal transformation, with an emphasis on the neurosciences. 235 episodes of discussions between Mahipal Lunia, Sergey Berezin, and Arman Darini that started in the halls of Stanford University during their graduate school years, also featuring guest experts in various fields. 4 million downloads in 100 countries. Unique insights and applications in martial arts explored by Lunia.

Immersion Talks An ongoing videocast series hosted by Mahipal Lunia, featuring interviews and discussions with extraordinary martial arts and scholars.

M edia |

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Talks & Guest Apperances

Martial Arts Studies Conference Chapman University, CA (2019) “Wisdom of Violence” Paper Presentation & Talk Lunia presents key learnings from TIF’s expeditions, examining the nature of violence and offering pieces of life wisdom we can glean from it.

TEDx UCLA (2019) “The Archeology of Resilience” Presentation Lunia lays out the findings from TIF’s expeditions and presents the seven ingredients of the “Elixir of Kings.” Weaving together combative behavior, poetry, and mythology, he outlines the map to pursue the path of solitude towards personal expression.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

FMA Discussion Podcast Interviews • Episode 136 - “FMA to FAMA Part 1: One Tree, Many Branches” with Dwight Woods, Mahipal Lunia and Mark Stewart (2022) • Episode 143 - “FMA to FAMA Part 2: Competing Distinctions” with Dwight Woods, Mahipal Lunia and Mark Stewart (2022) • Episode 153 - “FMA to FAMA Part 3: The Un/holy Matrimony” with Dwight Woods, Mahipal Lunia and Mark Stewart (2022) • Episode 159- “Backyard Training in Stockton” with Mahipal Lunia (2022) • Episode 256 - “Stick Arts of the World” with Mahipal Lunia (2022) • Episode 359 - “The Spanish Connection: Why It Matters” with Mahipal Lunia (2022) • Episode 428 - "Immersion Labs Speed and Timing" with Mahipal Lunia and Paulo Rubio (2023)

World of Martial Arts (WOMA) TV • “Holy Blood Holy Blade Exclusive Martial Symposium Interview” with Mahipal Lunia (2022) • "SPEED 2 Martial Arts Shock & Awe Symposium Interview" with Mahipal Lunia (2023)

Paulo Rubio Live Interview (2022) “A Historical Event for Bladed Arts” Interview with Mahipal Lunia M edia |

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Ongoing Archivals & Collaborations TIF continues to sponsor and carry out a number of archivals and collaborations with individuals and organizations, many of which have provided the groundwork for other Expeditions, Labs, and Media production.

TIF’s notable projects to date include: weekly study of Donn Draeger’s hoplological texts, Escrima’s historical research in Stockton, California, and private archival sessions covering Destreza, Sonny Umpad, Cossack weapons, Moro fighting arts, Bowie knives, Varma Kalai, and many more.

Stockton Escrima Project Over 70 in-depth interviews and extensive filming & research of the true roots, history, and legacy of Escrima and Escrimadors in the West / USA, scheduled to be published as a book in 2023.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Investigators • Mahipal Lunia • Michael Ryan, Ph.D

Moro Fighting Arts Archival Over 40 hours of video archival of the fighting arts of Northern Mindanao. Exploration of the kampilan, panabas, and kris, with secondary focus on the golok and long cane.

Ambassador • Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari

A rchi vals & C olla b orations |

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South Indian Marma/Varma Kalai Archival Over 30 hours of recording exploring the inner workings of Marma/Varma Kalai, War Magic, and South Indian spiritual work.

Translation and commentary on 9th-century Tamil palm leaf manuscript of Agathiya Kamba Sutram for silambam.

Ambassador • Rajendran Krishnaraj

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A rchi vals & C olla b orations |

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Donn Draeger Legacy Study Weekly study and research of the unpublished works of Donn Draeger and Richard Hayes, including the textbook on hoplology, all issues of Hoplos journal, private correspondences, and old records.

Ambassador • Michael Belzer

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Belzer and Lunia at the Holy Blood, Holy Blade Immersion Lab (2023)

A rchi vals & C olla b orations |

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Kujang Project Extended collaboration between The Immersion Foundation, Monsoon Foundation, and Silat Sunda Foundation to unearth what had been considered a lost art of the Javanese Kujang.

Study of 4 living traditions being translated from Sudanese into English.

Ambassadors

Investigators

• Aris Kurniawan

• Loki Jorensen

• Roedy Wiranatakusumah

• Mahipal Lunia • Mika Harju-Seppänen

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Sonny Umpad Archival Archiving of old films of Sonny Umpad and his innovations in sword fighting.

Ambassador • Maija Soderholm

A rchi vals & C olla b orations |

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Silat Sera Archival Over 30 hours of private workshops with Guro Stevan Plinck for exploration of the Silat Sera system.

Ambassador • Stevan Plinck

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Cossack Martial Archival Archival of Cossack weapon arts dating back to the late 1800s, including the shaska (sword), kinjal (dagger), whip, and lance.

Ambassador • Marc Lawrence

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Charles Selberg Collection Entire collection gifted to TIF by Angela Draicott, the goddaughter of Charles Selberg & copyright owner.

Way of the Warrior Podcast Deep discussions on the intersection of spirituality, war magic, and martial traditions with host Devon Boorman and 11 other martial artists from various traditions.

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Archival @ Immersion TIF's archivals are made using high-quality professional equipment and carefully stored, with the aim of preserving the material for at least 100 years. Select content will be made available to universities, museums, and through publication.

• 4K professional cameras • High-quality wireless mics • 100TB+ of data to date

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Dojo The Immersion Dojo (also known as Mountain View Aiki Arts) is a small private school of Mahipal Lunia, as well as the very birthplace and heart of The Immersion Foundation. In addition to working with a core group of dedicated students for 15+ years on various advanced martial arts and deep personal transformation, he has also led regular shugyos, or 2-5 days of wilderness training with specific themes of exploration. To date, 60+ shugyos have been conducted across the West Coast of the US and internationally.

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T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Dojo |

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Dojo |

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Ambassadors Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari

Brian Bales

Art(s) Represented: Silat, Moro Fighting Arts Immersion Projects: PCE, BBL, HBL, MFA

Art(s) Represented: Limalama Immersion Projects: 3BL

@tracelesswarrior

Ronald Alfred

Rondel Benjamin

Art(s) Represented: Robe Jab Immersion Projects: CE, SoSL1

Art(s) Represented: Kalinda, Gilpin Immersion Projects: CE, TIR1:3, SoSL1, SoSL2

@whipqueen

@rondel.benjamin

José Avelino

James Bishop

Art(s) Represented: Jogo do Pau Immersion Projects: PE

Art(s) Represented: Jeet Kune Do Immersion Projects: SAL

www.jogodopau-fafe.pt

@james.bishop.773

Michael Belzer

Carlito Bonjoc

Art(s) Represented: Danzan Ryu, Hoplology Immersion Projects: HBL, TIR1:4, SoSL2, DDA

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA Immersion Projects: LBL, SAL

@michael.belzer.3

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@brian.bales.16

T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

@carlito.bonjoc

ABBREVIATIONS

Vincent Cabales Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA Immersion Projects: SML @vincent.cabales.3

JC Cabiero Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA Immersion Projects: BBL, TIR1:2, SoSL2 @jc.cabiero

Ed Calderon Art(s) Represented: Edged Weapons, Hostage Retrieval Immersion Projects: LBL @edsmanifesto

Callum Carmichael Art(s) Represented: Irish Stick (Bataireacht) Immersion Projects: 3BL @callum.carmichael.18

IMMERSION EXPEDITIONS: CE = Caribbean Expedition PE = Portuguese Expedition SE = Southeast Asian Expedition ICE = Italian Contra-Expeditionis PCE = Southeast Asian / Polynesian Contra-Expeditionis ABE = American Bladecraft Expeditions LVDE = La Verdadera Destreza Expeditions IMMERSION LABS: LBL = Lab #1: Legacy of the Blade SML = Lab #2: Stickmata BBL = Lab #3 - Born of Blood HBL = Lab #4 - Holy Blood, Holy Blade SAL = Lab #5 - Shock & Awe 3BL = Lab #6 - Bikers, Brawlers & Badasses IMMERSION MEDIA: TIR = The Immersion Review (Volume#:Issue#) SoSL1 = Strands of Strife and Life 1 (South Caribbean) SoSL2 = Strands of Strife and Life 2 (The Book of the Stick) ARCHIVALS: MFA = Moro Fighting Arts Archival MKA = Marma/Varma Kalai Archival DDA = Don Draeger Legacy Study KJA = Kujang Project SUA = Sonny Umpad Archival SSA = Silat Sera Archival CMA = Cossack Martial Archival AMBASSADORS |

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Tim Cartmell

Marc Denny

Art(s) Represented: Chinese Arts, BJJ Immersion Projects: SAL, 3BL

Art(s) Represented: Dog Brothers Martial Arts Immersion Projects: SML, TIR1:1, SoSL2

@tim.cartmell.7

@marc.denny1

Oscar Cunha

T. J. Desch-Obi

Art(s) Represented: Jogo do Pau Immersion Projects: PE, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2

Art(s) Represented: Colombian Grima Immersion Projects: CE, SML, HBL, SAL, 3BL, TIR1:2, SoSL1, SoSL2

@gabriel.cunha.1257

Author of Fighting for Honor (2008)

Puck Curtis

Michael Donohue

Art(s) Represented: La Verdadera Destreza, Italian Fencing Immersion Projects: HBL

Immersion Projects: SAL

@puck.curtis

Llyod De Jongh

Steaphen Fick

Art(s) Represented: Piper Immersion Projects: LBL

Art(s) Represented: HEMA Immersion Projects: SAL, TIR1:3, SoSL2

@PiperSystem

Anthony De Longis

Philip Forde

Art(s) Represented: Western Bullwhip Immersion Projects: HBL

Art(s) Represented: Bajan Sticklicking Immersion Projects: CE, SML, SoSL1, SoSL2

@anthony.delongis

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@steaphen.fick

T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

@philip.forde.14

Kalani Foster

Riichi Kitano

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA Immersion Projects: SML

Art(s) Represented: Koryu Immersion Projects: SAL, TIR1:4, SoSL2

@buffalo.black.9

@riichikitanous

Kenneth Goodman

Eric Knaus

Art(s) Represented: 52 Blocks, Jailhouse Rock Immersion Projects: 3BL

Art(s) Represented: Dog Brothers Martial Arts Immersion Projects: SAL

@52_vtk

@topdogknaus

Jj Hervas

Aris Kurniawan

Art(s) Represented: Kalis Ilustrisimo Immersion Projects: PE, SML, BBL

Art(s) Represented: Silat Immersion Projects: KJA

@jj.hervas.1

Bruce Juchnik

Dexter Labanog

Art(s) Represented: Kosho Ryu Kempo Immersion Projects: SML

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA Immersion Projects: SML, TIR1:1, SoSL2

www.skski.net

James Keating

Trevor Latham

Art(s) Represented: Bowie Knife Immersion Projects: ABE

Art(s) Represented: Street Fighting Immersion Projects: 3BL

James Keating

@trevor.latham.75

AMBASSADORS |

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Marc Lawrence

Joaquin Marcelo

Art(s) Represented: Cossack Immersion Projects: CMA

Art(s) Represented: Jeet Kune Do Immersion Projects: HBL

@marc.lawrence.142

@joaquin.marcelo.374

Ron Lew

Scott Meredith

Art(s) Represented: Latigo y Daga Immersion Projects: BBL, HBL, SAL

Art(s) Represented: Chinese Internal Martial Arts Immersion Projects: SAL, TIR1:4, SoSL2

@ronrlew

@scott.meredith.393

Miguel Lopez

Mark Mikita

Art(s) Represented: Bare-Knuckle Boxing Immersion Projects: SAL, 3BL

Art(s) Represented: Kali Immersion Projects: LBL, SML, BBL, SAL, 3BL, TIR1:1, SoSL2 @mark.mikita

Romeo Macapagal

Dexter Miksch

Art(s) Represented: Kalis Ilustrisimo, Espada y Daga Immersion Projects: SE, SML, BBL, TIR1:4, SoSL2

Art(s) Represented: Bowie Knife Immersion Projects: HBL, SAL

@romeo.macapagal.3

Domenico Mancino

Rory Miller

Art(s) Represented: Cielo e Meraviglia Immersion Projects: ICE

Art(s) Represented: Police Tactics Immersion Projects: 3BL

@domenico.mancino.792

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@dexter.miksch

T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

@rory.miller.965

Adam Myrie

Kenya Prach

Art(s) Represented: African Martial Arts Immersion Projects: HBL, TIR1:3, SoSL2

Art(s) Represented: Cambodian Bokator, Kickboxing Immersion Projects: BBL

@ahc.myrie.7

@kenya.prach

David Navarrete

Ton Puey

Art(s) Represented: Spanish Gypsy Knife (Navaja) Immersion Projects: 3BL

Art(s) Represented: La Verdadera Destreza (Rada) Immersion Projects: LVDE, HBL

@David.navher

@ton.puey

Timoti Pahi

Marco Quarta

Art(s) Represented: Rongomamau Immersion Projects: PCE, BBL

Art(s) Represented: Italian Martial Arts Immersion Projects: LBL, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2

@timoti.pahi

@marco4quarta

Stevan Plinck

Mike N. Quijano

Art(s) Represented: Silat Sera Immersion Projects: BBL, SAL, 3BL, TIR1:2, SoSL2, SSA

Art(s) Represented: Maní, Cocobalé Immersion Projects: 3BL

@mahagurustevanplinck

@michael.quijano.581187

Paul Porter

Krishnaraj Rajendran

Art(s) Represented: SCA Full-Contact Fighting Immersion Projects: HBL, SAL, 3BL

Art(s) Represented: South Indian Marma/Varma Kalai Immersion Projects: MKA

@paul.porter.944023

@rajendran.krishnaraj

AMBASSADORS |

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Burton Richardson

Pedro Silva

Art(s) Represented: Jeet Kune Do, FMA Immersion Projects: LBL, TIR1:1, SoSL2

Art(s) Represented: Jogo do Pau Immersion Projects: PE, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2

@JKDUnlimited

@pedro.fma

Tim Rivera

Kewesi Simon

Art(s) Represented: Destreza Vulgar, Payate Arnis Immersion Projects: HBL

Art(s) Represented: Muay Thai Immersion Projects: 3BL

@tim.rivera.311

@kewesi

Michael Ryan

Jagjit & Harjap Singh

Art(s) Represented: Venezuelan Garotte Immersion Projects: CE, SML, SoSL1

Art(s) Represented: Gatka Immersion Projects: 3BL

@michael.j.ryan.54

Jagjit Singh

Ron Saturno

Maija Soderholm

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA Immersion Projects: SE, PCE, LBL, SML, BBL, TIR1:1, SoSL2

Art(s) Represented: Visayan Style Corto Kadena Eskrima Immersion Projects: LBL, BBL, SAL, TIR1:5, SoSL2, SUA

@ron.saturno

@maija.soderholm

Sulaiman Sharif

Robert Stines Jr.

Art(s) Represented: Malaysian Silat Gayong Immersion Projects: BBL

Art(s) Represented: Various Immersion Projects: LBL Bob Stines

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@harjap.singh.5492

T H E I M M E R S I O N F O U N D AT I O N

Keegan Taylor

Roedy Wiranatakusumah

Art(s) Represented: Kalinda, Gilpin Immersion Projects: CE, TIR1:3, SoSL1, SoSL2

Art(s) Represented: Silat Immersion Projects: TIR1:4, SoSL2, KJA

@keegan.taylor.96

@roedy.wiranatakusumah

Henri-Robert Vilaire Art(s) Represented: Aiki-Jujutsu Immersion Projects: LBL, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2 Henri-Robert Vilaire

Jerry Walker Art(s) Represented: Lua Immersion Projects: SoSL2, SAL, 3BL @jerry.walker.98892

Jason Webster Art(s) Represented: Krabi-Krabong Immersion Projects: BBL @jason.webster.3994

Martin Wheeler Art(s) Represented: Systema Immersion Projects: SML, TIR1:5, SoSL2 @wheelersystema

AMBASSADORS |

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Contact Us We would love to hear from you! admin@theimmersion.foundation Please get in touch with us if you are interested in: • Archiving your art • Collaborating on a research project • Sharing ideas for an Immersion Lab, Expedition, or other exploration • Working as an intern

www.theimmersionlabs.com www.theimmersionmedia.com http://www.mountainviewaiki.com/ @TheImmersionFoundation @immersion.foundation

Editing & Production by Hana Shin Design by Sanyukta Kothari ©2024 The Immersion Foundation All rights reserved.