What is Fusion?

The label ‘Fusion’ has been applied to western bondage that has borrowed aspects of Japanese bondage. The influence of Kinbaku cannot be denied, but Fusion typically ignores any limitations that have been built up around a method – or, more correctly, methods – that evolved over hundreds of years.

Whilst some of the beauty and ‘artform’ inherent within Kinbaku and Shibari has been compromised, there are many innovations that have benefited rope bondage as a whole.

How is Fusion different to other forms of Bondage?

There are particular ropes preferred by those practicing Fusion:

• Ropes actually tend to be synthetic, with preferences for nylon and MFP (multi filament polypropylene)
• The use of rope with a diameter of 8-12mm
• The use of coloured ropes is very common
• Lengths vary dramatically and the use of a single rope to complete each section of bondage is supported

Further Identifiers:

• Fusion seems equally about restraint and aesthetic appearance. Many ties, particularly decorative ones have been borrowed from the Japanese disciplines, but the restraining ties have a definite focus on the use of rope to replace leather cuffs, or other forms of bondage that are not directly sexually stimulating.   
• Fusion has no preference between using knots or weaves to secure ties and even borrows decorative knots to be incorporated into ties on a purely aesthetic basis.

There is less focus placed on the journey (the experience of being tied) than there is on the final outcome of the tie itself.
These characteristics, do not define Fusion as a discipline, they are merely preferences that can be seen when observing the fusion or western bondage communities. As with all generalisations, individuals should not be judged against such criteria.