Product Description

In feudal Japan, ninja warriors were credited with supernatural powers of invisibility and ways of learning any secret. They also were feared for their skill in espionage and assassination. Behind these legends is the reality of an ancient, sophisticated, highly systematic martial art: ninjutsu. Perhaps the least understood martial art of Japan, ninjutsu emphasizes naturalness of movement, responsiveness to one's adversary, and total practicality. Women as well as men were trained in this obscure deadly art. As its form crystallized, practitioners established an organized system for maintaining absolute secrecy. Now, all aspects of ninjutsu are revealed in this remarkable book written by the first American trained as a ninja.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #64103 in Books
• Published on: 1990-07-15
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Stephen K. Hayes has spent over one-third of his life practicing and teaching the Oriental fighting arts. He is the first American ever accepted as a personal student by the master of the last historically unbroken ninjutsu tradition in Japan. Stephen K. Hayes, called the "Father of American Ninjutsu" by Inside Kung Fu wrote this classic.

Customer Reviews

Great First Book
This is a good introduction the the Ninja's Taijutsu and AnShu's first experience.

Great book from the first Weatern Master of Ninjutsu
A must-have book to any martial arts student or researcher.

Hayes own Experience and Introduction to Ninpo as an Art
This was the first book on ninpo I read as a youth. Thankfully, I believe it did a lot to innoculate me against much of the...other stuff out there claiming to be "ninjutsu". Author Stephen K. Hayes actually was proficient in Karate (3rd dan), running a dojo in Atlanta, Georgia before hanging up everything and flying off to Japan to find Masaaki Hatsumi, a Ninja historian and one of the few holders of a legitimate titles of proficiency in traditional Japanese martial arts associated with the ninja of Old Japan.

In Noda City, Hayes meets Master Teacher Hatsumi, and the two discuss martial arts. At one point Hayes is discussing the intricacies of a particular kata (form), when Hatsumi shows an exact imitation of it. For the first time Hayes is struck by the stiffness of the movements.

During their initial meeting, in a discussion concerning the varied physical aspects of Taijutsu in Ninpo, Hatsumi describes making use of striking as well as locking techniques, when Hayes interjects, "Like karate and Judo combined". Hayes ruminates on how his original assumptions probably appeared to Hatsumi a lot like "...comparing ninjutsu to wine tasting and insect collecting" (page 40). What sets this book apart from others is the personal tone, the recounting of actual experiences and situations Hayes encountered. He does his darndest to paint a true picture and keep grandstanding and ego out of the picture.

This is not an repetitive pedantic self help book (thankfully!). Hayes telling of his various encounters in ninjutsu training, with the Grandmaster and other teachers and students in Japan, and Japanese culture--new and old, are the best teaching tools.

Hayes went on to return to the United States and pioneer the legitimate teaching of Ninjutsu. Whether you practice martial arts or not, this book is an eye opening experience, a real education.