How To Become A Ninja: Secrets from Ashida Kim's Training Camp [Paperback]

Anonymous (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Citadel (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806515589
• ISBN-13: 978-0806515588
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,816,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ninja Camp, YAY! Where's the Pool?, May 11, 2006

By 

C. J. Hardman (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How To Become A Ninja: Secrets from Ashida Kim's Training Camp (Paperback)

Bring the sterno, pup tent, bug repellent, guitar and black ski mask, it's NINJA CAMP TIME! Written by an "anonymous individual" with a style eerily similar, nay, virtually identical to that of neo-ninja extraordinaire Radford Davis (who prefers the multicultural nom-de-plume Ashida Kim for Polotikally Korrekt reasons), THIS is a COMPLETE GUIDE to what it is like to dress up in black or camoflague and PRANCE about the woods in an effort to re-enact the deeds of the Ancient Ninja of Old Japan!!

The author mixes in a lot of KUNG FU MYTHOLOGY and generic modern KENPO techniques in for kickz (cheezy pun intended), along with some materials [...], "borrowed" from Stephen K Hayes ninja books. He doesn't seem to know much about the actual history of either Japan or Ninja, BUT if you enjoy seeing GROWN MEN dressed up as ninjas and striking STEALTHY POSES in WIDE OPEN SPACES, ~this~ is the book for you!

Author Radford Davis is one of the FEWER than 600 American MEN who, as teens, managed to find authentic SECRET NINJA teachers here in the United States. Apparently during the late 1970's and '80's HUNDREDS of Ninja from the Koga district of Japan flooded the United States to try out for parts in various ninja films and television programs. Hollywood being as cutthroat as it is (and was then, let me tell you!), most of these Ninja had to go out and take non-ninja jobs while waiting for calls from their AGENTS which, SADLY, never came. Imagine if you will the ninja fast-food worker, the ninja landscaper, the ninja janitor, the ninja waiter. It couldn't have been easy!

Thankfully, a good number of these UNDOCUMENTED NINJA IMMIGRANTS were able to find work as SECRET TEACHERS to teenage boys, who they carefully groomed as their protegees. As with Radford Davis's Secret Teacher, they eventually disappeared when their youthful charge has mastered the elements of ninja-craft. In true ninja fashion, to date NONE of these Secret Teachers have left a TRACE, not a photograph, nore a document...no change of address on file with the post office.

It's secret stuff this ninja business,I tell you! Many of the authentic Koga Ninja techniques are artfully disguised as "modern kenpo", and much of the theory presented here is surprisingly in line with that taught by Stephen K Hayes. This in and of itself screams, "AUTHENTICITY!!". It is not known what became of Radford Davis's teacher.

Only 2 stars because he's EXPOSED the SECRETS of the NINJA, which will undoubtedly impact the market (again) and put a whole lot of Koga Ninja out of work and back behind the counter of venues as vaunted as the McDonald's and The Krusty Krab (move over Spongebob-O!). Who needs a secret teacher after all, when you can learn to be a ninja from a book?

Happy Stealthing! ;)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not believe a word of this book!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How To Become A Ninja: Secrets from Ashida Kim's Training Camp (Paperback)

I have bought a few of Ashidas books in the past. Many of the techniques seemed impossible. Then I went out and bought this book. I can say this book is pure BS! The introduction sets the book up quite nicely along the lines of "My sensei said to me..and FIND OUT WHO THIS KIM REALLY IS!". The Anonymous author of this book tells us he went to Ashida's camp to gather intelligence on the "operation" and that the whole book written is from memory! Did that guy manage to keep a secret diary whilst training? "OH GUYS HANG ON A MINUTE WHILE I JOT THAT STUFF DOWN FOR MY SECRET INFILTRATION LOG" Ha Ha! Ashida is a complete fake - i have no doubt now. I used to think the guy had something worthwhile to say. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is more for the Ninja Fanatic, January 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How To Become A Ninja: Secrets from Ashida Kim's Training Camp (Paperback)

I've read many of the titles by Ashida Kim and have found them all of great interest. However have to say this time "Sorry Ashida" I found this book rather dissapointing the content was rather shallow and not worth the buy.