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

The

Immersion Foundation

Caribbean

Portuguese

Southeast

Italian

Southeast

American

The Immersion Review

Strands of Strife and Life I

The Book of the Stick

Academic Papers

Masters Magazine

Special Issue

Docu-Instructional Films

Podcasts

Talks & Guest Appearances

Stockton Escrima Project

Moro Fighting Arts Archival

South Indian Marma/Varma

Kalai Archival

Donn Draeger Legacy Study

Kujang Project

Sonny Umpad Archival

Serak Silat Archival

Cossack Martial Archival

Charles Selberg Collection

Warrior Podcast

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 .

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

The 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.

Aims

• 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.

Explorations

Expeditions

Archivals 10+

Arts 50+ Labs 6 Regions

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n ew z ealand

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

2018 • Barbados | Trinidad | Tobago

It 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.

of raw footage distilled into the docu-instructional film: 80+ hrs

Secret Fighting Arts of the Americas (2021)

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

Portuguese Expedition

2019 • Fafe, Portugal

In 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.

of Jogo do Pau assembled at this historical event, featured on: 10 schools

RTP1 Portuguese TV

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

Southeast Asian Expedition #1

2019 • The Philippines

In 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.

Arnis Payate & Kalis Ilustrisimo of filming, including the first-ever complete syllabus of: 100+ hrs

The late Roberto Labaniego gifting the last of his personal sticks to Lunia.

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

Italian Contra-Expeditionis

2019 • California, USA

In 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.

Cielo e Meraviglia: Italian Knife Fencing with Maestro Domenico Mancino (2019) of first-ever public instruction available through the film: 6.5 hrs

Ambassador

• Maestro Domenico Mancino

Investigators

• Mahipal Lunia (Explorer-in-Residence)

• Dr. Marco Quarta

Participants

• Immersion Dojo

Southeast Asian / Polynesian Contra-Expeditionis

2020 • California, USA

This 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.

to capture on public film the arts of: 1st time

Rongomamau & Moro Kampilan

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

American Bladecraft Expeditions

Since 2013 • Pacific Northwest & Southwestern USA

In 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.

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

La Verdadera Destreza Contra-Expeditionis

Since 2022 • West Coast, USA

This 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.

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

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.

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 of instruction & deep-dive with: 36 hrs

Description

Featured Item

10 Ambassadors & 25 Participants from 6 Countries

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.

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

15 Ambassadors & 25 Participants from 8 Countries of compare / contrast of the world's stick traditions with: 40 hrs

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.

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

12 Ambassadors & 25 Participants from 10 Countries of public and 80+ hours of private investigation with: 40 hrs

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.

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

of public and 20+ hours of private collaboration with:

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.

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

• 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

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.

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

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”

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.

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.

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/ .

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 .

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.

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.

Talks & Guest Apperances

Martial

Arts Studies ConferenceChapman 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

• Aris Kurniawan

• Roedy Wiranatakusumah Investigators

• Loki Jorensen

• Mahipal Lunia

• Mika Harju-Seppänen

Sonny Umpad Archival

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

Ambassador

• Maija Soderholm

Silat Sera Archival

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

Ambassador

• Stevan Plinck

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

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.

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

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.

Ambassadors

Mushtaq Ali Al Ansari

Art(s) Represented: Silat, Moro Fighting Arts

Immersion Projects: PCE, BBL, HBL, MFA

@tracelesswarrior

Ronald Alfred

Art(s) Represented: Robe Jab

Immersion Projects: CE, SoSL1

@whipqueen

José Avelino

Art(s) Represented: Jogo do Pau

Immersion Projects: PE

www.jogodopau-fafe.pt

Michael Belzer

Art(s) Represented: Danzan Ryu, Hoplology

Immersion Projects: HBL, TIR1:4, SoSL2, DDA

@michael.belzer.3

Brian Bales

Art(s) Represented: Limalama

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@brian.bales.16

Rondel Benjamin

Art(s) Represented: Kalinda, Gilpin

Immersion Projects: CE, TIR1:3, SoSL1, SoSL2

@rondel.benjamin

James Bishop

Art(s) Represented: Jeet Kune Do

Immersion Projects: SAL

@james.bishop.773

Carlito Bonjoc

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA

Immersion Projects: LBL, SAL

@carlito.bonjoc

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

ABBREVIATIONS

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

Tim Cartmell

Art(s) Represented: Chinese Arts, BJJ

Immersion Projects: SAL, 3BL

@tim.cartmell.7

Oscar Cunha

Art(s) Represented: Jogo do Pau

Immersion Projects: PE, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2

@gabriel.cunha.1257

Puck Curtis

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

Immersion Projects: HBL

@puck.curtis

Llyod De Jongh

Art(s) Represented: Piper

Immersion Projects: LBL

@PiperSystem

Anthony De Longis

Art(s) Represented: Western Bullwhip

Immersion Projects: HBL

@anthony.delongis

Marc Denny

Art(s) Represented: Dog Brothers Martial Arts

Immersion Projects: SML, TIR1:1, SoSL2

@marc.denny1

T. J. Desch-Obi

Art(s) Represented: Colombian Grima

Immersion Projects: CE, SML, HBL, SAL, 3BL, TIR1:2, SoSL1, SoSL2

Author of Fighting for Honor (2008)

Michael Donohue

Immersion Projects: SAL

Steaphen Fick

Art(s) Represented: HEMA

Immersion Projects: SAL, TIR1:3, SoSL2

@steaphen.fick

Philip Forde

Art(s) Represented: Bajan Sticklicking

Immersion Projects: CE, SML, SoSL1, SoSL2

@philip.forde.14

Kalani Foster

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA

Immersion Projects: SML

@buffalo.black.9

Kenneth Goodman

Art(s) Represented: 52 Blocks, Jailhouse Rock

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@52_vtk

Jj Hervas

Art(s) Represented: Kalis Ilustrisimo

Immersion Projects: PE, SML, BBL

@jj.hervas.1

Bruce Juchnik

Art(s) Represented: Kosho Ryu Kempo

Immersion Projects: SML

www.skski.net

James Keating

Art(s) Represented: Bowie Knife

Immersion Projects: ABE

James Keating

Riichi Kitano

Art(s) Represented: Koryu

Immersion Projects: SAL, TIR1:4, SoSL2

@riichikitanous

Eric Knaus

Art(s) Represented: Dog Brothers Martial Arts

Immersion Projects: SAL

@topdogknaus

Aris Kurniawan

Art(s) Represented: Silat

Immersion Projects: KJA

Dexter Labanog

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA

Immersion Projects: SML, TIR1:1, SoSL2

Trevor Latham

Art(s) Represented: Street Fighting

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@trevor.latham.75

Marc Lawrence

Art(s) Represented: Cossack

Immersion Projects: CMA

@marc.lawrence.142

Ron Lew

Art(s) Represented: Latigo y Daga

Immersion Projects: BBL, HBL, SAL

@ronrlew

Miguel Lopez

Art(s) Represented: Bare-Knuckle Boxing

Immersion Projects: SAL, 3BL

Romeo Macapagal

Art(s) Represented: Kalis Ilustrisimo, Espada y Daga

Immersion Projects: SE, SML, BBL, TIR1:4, SoSL2

@romeo.macapagal.3

Domenico Mancino

Art(s) Represented: Cielo e Meraviglia

Immersion Projects: ICE

@domenico.mancino.792

Joaquin Marcelo

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

@joaquin.marcelo.374

Scott Meredith

Art(s) Represented: Chinese Internal Martial Arts

Immersion Projects: SAL, TIR1:4, SoSL2

@scott.meredith.393

Mark Mikita

Art(s) Represented: Kali

Immersion Projects: LBL, SML, BBL, SAL, 3BL, TIR1:1, SoSL2

@mark.mikita

Dexter Miksch

Art(s) Represented: Bowie Knife

Immersion Projects: HBL, SAL

@dexter.miksch

Rory Miller

Art(s) Represented: Police Tactics

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@rory.miller.965

Adam Myrie

Art(s) Represented: African Martial Arts

Immersion Projects: HBL, TIR1:3, SoSL2

@ahc.myrie.7

David Navarrete

Art(s) Represented: Spanish Gypsy Knife (Navaja)

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@David.navher

Timoti Pahi

Art(s) Represented: Rongomamau

Immersion Projects: PCE, BBL

@timoti.pahi

Stevan Plinck

Art(s) Represented: Silat Sera

Immersion Projects: BBL, SAL, 3BL, TIR1:2, SoSL2, SSA

@mahagurustevanplinck

Paul Porter

Art(s) Represented: SCA Full-Contact Fighting

Immersion Projects: HBL, SAL, 3BL

@paul.porter.944023

Kenya Prach

Art(s) Represented: Cambodian Bokator, Kickboxing

Immersion Projects: BBL

@kenya.prach

Ton Puey

Art(s) Represented: La Verdadera Destreza (Rada)

Immersion Projects: LVDE, HBL

@ton.puey

Marco Quarta

Art(s) Represented: Italian Martial Arts

Immersion Projects: LBL, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2

@marco4quarta

Mike N. Quijano

Art(s) Represented: Maní, Cocobalé

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@michael.quijano.581187

Krishnaraj Rajendran

Art(s) Represented: South Indian Marma/Varma

Kalai

Immersion Projects: MKA

@rajendran.krishnaraj

Burton Richardson

Art(s) Represented: Jeet Kune Do, FMA

Immersion Projects: LBL, TIR1:1, SoSL2

@JKDUnlimited

Tim Rivera

Art(s) Represented: Destreza Vulgar, Payate Arnis

Immersion Projects: HBL

@tim.rivera.311

Michael Ryan

Art(s) Represented: Venezuelan Garotte

Immersion Projects: CE, SML, SoSL1

@michael.j.ryan.54

Ron Saturno

Art(s) Represented: Stockton FMA

Immersion Projects: SE, PCE, LBL, SML, BBL, TIR1:1, SoSL2

@ron.saturno

Sulaiman Sharif

Art(s) Represented: Malaysian Silat Gayong

Immersion Projects: BBL

Pedro Silva

Art(s) Represented: Jogo do Pau

Immersion Projects: PE, SML, TIR1:2, SoSL2

@pedro.fma

Kewesi Simon

Art(s) Represented: Muay Thai

Immersion Projects: 3BL

@kewesi

Jagjit & Harjap Singh

Art(s) Represented: Gatka

Immersion Projects: 3BL

Jagjit Singh

@harjap.singh.5492

Maija Soderholm

Art(s) Represented: Visayan Style Corto Kadena

Eskrima

Immersion Projects: LBL, BBL, SAL, TIR1:5, SoSL2, SUA

@maija.soderholm

Robert Stines Jr.

Art(s) Represented: Various Immersion Projects: LBL

Bob Stines

Keegan Taylor

Art(s) Represented: Kalinda, Gilpin

Immersion Projects: CE, TIR1:3, SoSL1, SoSL2

@keegan.taylor.96

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

Roedy Wiranatakusumah

Art(s) Represented: Silat

Immersion Projects: TIR1:4, SoSL2, KJA

@roedy.wiranatakusumah

We would love to hear from you!

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

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