Ninja & Their Secret Fighting Art [Hardcover]

Stephen Hayes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1989

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.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1ST edition (December 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804813744
• ISBN-13: 978-0804813747
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,388,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The FIRST book you should own!, January 8, 2000

By 

Reed Shahan (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art (Paperback)

After 16 years of training, this is still my favorite ninjutsu book. The story of how Hayes searched out real ninjutsu and became accepted in what had been a closed system is the heart of its honesty. If you're looking for "How to Kill in 6 Easy Steps", then this is not it. But if you've done the sport arts, the belts, and the ego strokes of other arts (I did) and are looking for the real thing, here's where to start. As his first book after returning from years in Japan, it is not as polished as his later books but it is so honest and you come away with a feeling of his respect for the art and Grandmaster Hatsumi. It's a great read whether you ever train or not and the beginning of the path for those that do.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvelous introduction to the world of Ninjutsu, July 18, 2001

By 

Ro (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art (Paperback)

This book is a great introduction to the world of ninjutsu for those not already involved. The book, however, does not contain step by step fighting examples as some of Mr. Hayes' other books do. This book, although different in set-up, is just as valuable, perhaps more so. The book takes your along with Mr. Hayes on his odyssey in search for the last remaining ninja master. It is the details of his experiences training in Japan with Soke Hatsumi. The style of the book is to explain what he went through in his training, but not how to go about doing it. This may be a slight put-off to some people, but for ninjutsu practitioners, or those hoping for a chance to become one, it is a great addition to your library for background history and information. I did find the last several chapters to be particularaly enlightening; those chapters containing the philosophical viewpoints and spiritual outlooks of the ninja. Bravo to Mr. Hayes for this fine piece of work. This book was the first book on the Ninja that I ever purchased, only two years ago, when I was 13. It has become a sort of cornerstone in my martial arts library, and an inspiration to me to keep training every day.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hayes own Experience and Introduction to Ninpo as an Art, May 1, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art (Paperback)

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.