The Way Of The Ninja: Secret Techniques (Hardcover)

Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, Ph. D, is the most famous Ninja grandmaster in the world today. In this book, he explains the essence, truth, and wisdom of Ninjutsu, an art of a thousand forms and innumerable variations. Through perceptive observations and many detailed pictures, the author reveals the hidden reality behind this mysterious and fascinating martial art. The Way of the Ninja will help widen readers’ perceptions and deepen their understanding of two essential principles. One is that Ninjutsu is the very backbone of the martial arts; the other, that Ninjutsu reveals their true spiritual significance.

From the Publisher
THE DEFINITIVE BOOK BY A LIVING NINJA GRANDMASTER

About the Author
Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi Born in 1931. After progressing through various martial arts, he found his life’s mentor, Takamatsu Toshitsugu, and studied under him for the next fifteen years, becoming 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ry¯u Ninjutsu and eight other arts, which he unified into the Bujinkan system. While traveling the world, teaching thousands of individual students as well as law enforcement agencies, he received numerous accolades from politicians and spiritual leaders of many nationalities. He has also worked as a professional osteopath, acted in a popular television series, and as the author of many books on Ninjutsu, was for many years Chairman of the International Department of the Japan Literary Artists’ Club.

Ben Jones After winning a scholarship to Oxford University to study Japanese, he moved to Japan and trained in the Bujinkan, interpreting for Dr. Hatsumi at seminars around the world. Former head of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting’s Japanese Network, he now runs a successful translation and typesetting business from his home in Kent, UK.

Review: A personal philosophy on the martial art of ninjutsu
Masaaki Hatsumi would have us believe that the ninja are/were an intense, inner-focused group more intent on developing their spiritual strengths and discipline than being involved in any sort of assassination or waring. He claims that the ninja opposed bloodshed of any kind, and "would avoid unnecessary conflict, and even if armed with a blade, would find a way to win without staining it."

This spiritualist portrayal of ninja is distinctly at odds with historically focused books such as Stephen R. Turnbull's "Ninja: The True Story of Japan's Secret Warrior Cult," which show the ninja as remote clans who specialized in spy work, assassination, infiltration and castle-breaking. Hatsumi's ninjas are surely not the same as Turnbull's, who's favored technique was to sneak into a castle, set the storehouses on fire, and send the castle dwellers fleeing into the waiting swords of the Samurai army.

Ah, but this is Hatsumi's book, and he obviously has enough clout to say what he likes. He is the Grandmaster of the last remaining ninja school, with accolades enough from every possible martial arts society as well as the FBI. Also, as he puts forth plainly in "The Way of the Ninja," one should not apply scientific thought to ninjas. They should be felt and experienced, not researched and reasoned about.

Although the book is subtitled "Secret Techniques," it is much more about Hatsumi's philosophy than active martial arts. The text is overflowing with his personal musings on things as varied as diet, art, the role of martial arts, personal pride and boasting, wealth, how to properly tie a ninja mask, and pretty much every other topic. His thoughts are free-form, drifting from topic to topic with little linear logic. According to the translator's note, this is very typical of Hatsumi's writing, as he feels that a reader should make discoveries on his own, rather than be told directly.

There are martial techniques in the book. Scattered about are photo-layouts showing various maneuvers. Not being a budoka myself, I am not sure how valuable these are to learning the techniques presented. I assume this is more of an introduction than an actual training manual, to give interested parties a feel to what they can learn from Hatsumi's tutelage. The photos are excellent, and I wish I could see some of them in action.

All in all, probably the most complete text available on the martial art of ninjutsu, but not something that will give insight into the historical ninja or the role they played in Japanese history. But there are other books that provide that. "The Way of the Ninja" has a unique insight, a personal touch lacking in historical text. Hatsumi is a man who has lived the life of a ninja, and preserved an intense physical lifestyle and tradition to pass onto future generations.

Review: Good book
Maasaki Hatsumi is definitely the real thing (unlike Ashida Kim) and this book doesn't disappoint. It is informative and enjoyable to read. You won't be able to train or learn techniques from the book (for that, find a good instructor) but you will come away with an understanding of what Ninjitsu is and was.

Hatsumi's book is more philosphical and spiritual, focusing on the essence of this historical art.

Review: The First of Three Important Books by Hatsumi Sensei,
This book is the first in a series of three important books by Hatsumi Sensei. The first two have been written and released within the last five years, the third one will be released soon.

1. The Way of the Ninja
2. Advanced Stickfighting
3. Japanese Kenjutsu

I might be wrong about the title of the third book as it has not been released, but that is the subject. These books are filled with amazing photographs and some pretty high-level concepts in the text.
These books contain secret techniques that a non-Bujinkan student may have trouble deciphering.

In any event, there is much truth and wisdom written in between the lines and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Honestly, there really aren't any other authors that are worth reading when it comes to this subject. If you want to study real ninjutsu, start with these books)

Review: Good book, Great Photographs
There is little I can say about how in awe I am of this books photographs and insights. A meld of Hatsumi sensei's words and actions, its a recommended addition to any ninjutsu library collection.

Review: The Complete Story
Dr. Hatsumi is possibly the most famous Ninja grandmaster in the world today. In this book he explains the essence, truth, and wisdom of Ninjutsu, an art of a thousand forms and innumerable variations.

A Ninja, in ancient Japan was not the hired assassin of the movies, but a feudal warrior assigned to protect their families, their clans, and their country. Harshly trained they developed a tough but pliant spirit, and martial skills suitable for coping with any situation. He would avoid unnecessary conflict, and even if armed with a blade would find a way to win without staining it. The basic creed was to win without conflict. Continual fighting requires that you must win all the time, one failure (with Japanest swords) was likely your last. The true skill of the Ninja was to survive.

Here is the story of the Ninja told in a combination of writing and photographs that deliver the essence of the Ninja way of life.

Secrets from the Ninja Grandmaster : Revised and Updated Edition (Hardcover)


Book Description
Secrets of the Ninja Grandmaster is a collection of heart-to-heart lessons from ninja grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi to his senior student and first American disciple, Stephen K. Hayes. When this book was first published in 1987, it gave Western martial artists their first chance to learn what the grandmaster himself had to say about the essence of warrior training that emphasized real-world battlefield fighting methods (jissen-gata) - from the use of weapons to ninja invisibility to kuji warrior spirituality - as opposed to art or sport. This important volume is now available once again through Paladin Press, with an all-new epilogue and a techniques section that illustrates various classical ninja fighting defenses. This is essential reading for every martial artist who has ever wanted to go beyond the stereotypical images of the ninja sensationalized in action-adventure movies and gain access to the true secrets of the ninja grandmaster.

About the Author
Stephen K. Hayes was inducted into the prestigious Black Belt Hall of Fame for his years of pioneering work in introducing the Japanese ninja martial art to the American public. Hayes was awarded the extremely rare Ju-dan Tenth Degree Black Belt license by grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi of Chiba-ken, Japan. He is the founder of the martial art of To-Shin Do, a contemporary mind and body self-protection system based on ancient ninja martial arts principles updated and adapted for application to modern threats and pressures. Masaaki Hatsumi trained with grandmaster Toshitsugu Takamatsu for 15 years and was granted the title of soke (lineage head) for the nine martial arts that he learned from Takamatsu Sensei. Hatsumi was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1986. His many books on the history, philosophy and methods of the Japanese martial arts have been translated into several languages.

Review: A Welcome Return of a Great Classic
I was delighted to see this in print again. If you have any interest in what the art of ninjutsu is about, this book will give you keen insights and serve as a great teaser to find out if one of hatsumi's students os teaching near you.
One of the catchy characteristics of this book is that is is for the most part the transcript of a meeting that Hayes and his wife had with Hatsumi over 12 years ago, back in 1986. Its new conclusion is a modern transcript of a meeting that the three had a year ago.

You will especially enjoy this book if you have trained with Hatsumi or his more skilled students. I would also recommend his other books, along with Stephen Hayes' books. Please take the time to look into getting Stephen Turnbull's books on Japanese martial arts. They are very well done and well illustrated!

A real gem! Enjoy!

Review: The Welcome Return Of An Old Classic
Palladin Press has certainly done an outstanding job of reissuing a definite classic in the canon of Ninpo books. The harcover edition is built for endurance, a thankful thing in my dog-eared library of martial arts texts.

If you've never experienced authentic ninjutsu before (because there are certainly plenty of fraudulent hucksters out there purporting to teach the real thing) then this book might confuse you at certain points, given the interesting taped-conversation transcripts that make up the bulk of this tome. At certain times, Hatsumi-sensei seems to say things which are contradictory to other statements he's made in the past. Fools will say this simply proves the man is nothing but a fraud. People who have known Hatsumi-sensei and experienced the true nature of this art will understand that such spoken contradictions are merely another aspect of what may well be the most comprehensive and fascinating system of self protection available anywhere. Hatsumi-sensei teaches quite a lot when he talks...and even more when he doesn't.

Most interesting to me was the updated chapter "Twelve Years later" which brings both Stephen K. Hayes and Masaaki hatsumi together once again in the recently opened Hombu Dojo to discuss the world of their art since the original conversations in 1986. Hatsumi-sensei once again has a great deal of important things to say - things that a lot of people should listen very carefully to. Having been over at the Hombu Dojo with a group of friends back in February of this year made the chapter all the more stirring for me.

There are some illustrated techniques at the end of the book, but the draw for me was to have this book to replace the beaten-to-hell Xeroxed copy I made from another friend's book, since I couldn't find this years ago. I'm glad to have the book itself now, made all the better with the updated chapter and excellent hardcover edition.

Don't miss this book!

Review: Words to live by
Most people would consider days of listening to an old man drone on about his elders and his life's work to be boring, but this is Masaaki Hatsumi, the 34th Grandmaster of Togakure-ryu ninjutsu. In this book he is interviewed by Stephen K. Hayes, the man known for bringing the art of the ninja to the Western world.

In a series of conversations, Hatsumi discusses his own training experiences, his views on the art as it was hundreds of years ago as well as today, and his philosophy on life in general. It is sometimes hard to follow him for two reasons: his words are translated and he's doing it on purpose. Hatsumi doesn't answer questions, he asks them and urges you to find the answers yourself.

While not as informative, in a technical sense, as other works by Hatsumi or Hayes, this book is full of valuable insight for the curiosity seeker, amateur practitioner/student, or someone with experience in the art. Reading the book felt like sitting in the room as Hatsumi and Hayes spoke, seemingly holding nothing back. Not the best thing either of them have done, but something you won't want to pass up if you have an interest in this subject.

Each chapter is an interview conducted in 1986, and the new chapter in the revised edition is a recent interview. There is also a combat technique section at the end, which is amazing if you've never seen examples of Hatsumi's style. Looking at the pictures, it seems as if he's barely moved from one frame to the next as he effortlessly counters different attacks, armed and unarmed.




The Mystic Arts of the Ninja (Paperback)

Book Description
Ninja . . . that single word conjures up images of mystery and power. The ability to move swiftly and silently, to mesmerize one's victim, to strike infallibly, and then to disappear into the night--this is the legend of the ninja. These nearly sorcerous aspects of the ninja, as well as the exotic weapons they use, are the focus of The Mystic Arts of the Ninja. Its author, Shidoshi Stephen K. Hayes, is the sole American to be granted teaching credentials by the 34th grandmaster of the Togokure School of Ninjutsu in Japan. Going beyond the basic conditioning and training techniques of his best-selling Ninjutsu: The Art of the Invisible Warrior, Hayes explains the most sought after secrets of his ninja training:

Hypnotism: Saiminjutsu, the ninja's hypnotic powers are described and explained. Sample exercises are provided to help develop your hypnotic powers.
Invisibility: Stealth walking and camouflage are discussed. Hayes provides examples of how to move silently across various kinds of terrain and how to blend into your surroundings to become invisible.

Weaponry: The Hanbo cane, the sword, and the infamous shuriken throwing stars are ninja trademarks. Hayes fully describes their use in grappling as well as in attacking.
More than 400 black-and-white photos are used to illustrate the secrets and techniques that have been used by the ninja to surprise and outwit their foes over the past 800 years. The authenticity of Shidoshi Hayes's instruction is perhaps the most important aspect of this book: no other book represents the true ninja tradition.

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