Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art

by Stephen K. Hayes

Overview

Look past the legends and learn about the REAL ninjas of feudal Japan with this entertaining, illustrated ninjutsu guide.

Ninjutsu, the least understood of the Japanese martial arts, is an ancient fighting style emphasizing natural movement, responsiveness to adversaries, and absolute practicality. In feudal Japan, ninja were feared for their skill in espionage and, particularly, assassination. Masters of weaponry, stealth, and martial techniques, ninja were credited with supernatural powers because of the near-invincibility of their unique and deadly art.

In The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art, Black Belt Hall of Fame member, Stephen K. Hayes, reveals the secrets that lead to the perception of the ninja as warriors of almost sorcerous skill--the art of invisibility, special tools and weapons, and psychological training enabling the ninja to gain advantage in any situation.

Chapters include:

• Perspective--Origin; Organization; Training; At the Height of Power; The Decline; Ninjutsu in the Modern World
• Search for the Ninja
• Unarmed Combat--The Ninja Fists; Fighting Postures; Other Factors
• Weaponry--Chains and Cords; Sticks and Staffs; Canes with Concealed Weapons; The Ninja Sword; Throwing Blades
• The Way of Invisibility--Sense Deception; Phantom Steps; Reconnaissance; Blending with the Night; Attacking the Eyes; The Art of Disguise
• Shadow Warriors--Espionage; Commando Tactics
• The Realm of the Spirit--Psychological Warfare; The Force of the Killer; The Great Harmony

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781462901838
Publisher:	Tuttle Publishing
Publication date:	12/20/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	10 MB

About the Author

Stephen K. Hayes was the first American to be accepted as a personal student by Masaaki Hatsumi, the thirty-fourth master of the Togakure-ryu ninjutsu tradition. A member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame and the founder of To-Shin Do, a mind and body self-protection system, he lives in Dayton, Ohio.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations 9

Preface 11

1 Perspective 15

Origin 16

Organization 24

Training 25

At the Height of Power 27

The Decline 28

Ninjutsu in the Modern World 33

2 Search for the Ninja 35

3 Unarmed Combat 48

The Ninja Fists 48

Fighting Postures 54

Other Factors 67

4 Weaponry 69

Chains and Cords 69

Sticks and Staffs 77

Canes with Concealed Weapons 82

The Ninja Sword 88

Throwing Blades 93

5 The Way of Invisibility 98

Sense Deception 100

Phantom Steps 100

Reconnaissance 106

Blending with the Night 108

Attacking the Eyes 110

The Art of Disguise 112

6 Shadow Warriors 115

Espionage 116

Commando Tactics 126

7 The Realm of the Spirit 134

Psychological Warfare 134

The Force of the Killer 144

The Great Harmony 149

Glossary-Index 153

Editorial Reviews

"Stephen K. Hayes [is] the acknowledged 'Father of American Ninjutsu." —Inside Kung Fu

"Those trained in the art of ninjutsu are said to be able to run up trees, to cling to the ceiling and to be able to snatch a sword from the hand of a samurai as he attacks. These are not myths; they have a basis in fact, and Hayes has researched their origin." —Black Belt Magazine

"This book is very interesting and an easy read for anyone wanting to learn a little about the art of Ninjutsu and the ninja way itself. It comes from a story of modern events, and Stephen Hayes does an excellent job as the middleman, acting as the voice of reason stepping into a world of vastly different thinking and rationalizing it for us. I highly recommend this book if you have any interest or intrigue into Ninjas." —Martial Arts & Action Movies blog

From the Publisher