Ninpo: Living and Thinking As a Warrior [Paperback]

Jack Hoban (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1988

This book offers a unique and comprehensive approach to learning the art of the ninja. This book is appropriate for new and experienced Ninjutsu practitioners, alike. Serious students who want to move beyond the ninja myths to practical application of the art will also benefit from reading this book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An excellent description of authentic ninja philosophy. I am currently a student of the Bujinkan (the organization with which the author is affiliated), and this book was my first look at the philosophy put forth in ninjutsu. As opposed to the "icy black hand of cruel death" nonsense found in many publications and movies, Ninpo presents genuine ninja ethics, which are based on the principle that the warrior is motivated by love and a desire to protect life (especially the lives of loved ones). Jack's book presents a philosophy of life which everyone interested in warrior ethics, or simply in the mysterious art of being a good person, should read. -- Book Review

About the Author

Jack Hoban--a former marine corps captain and one of the acknowledged "founding fathers" of Ninjutsu in America--reveals the core physical techniques of this mysterious and often misunderstood art. Hoban, who received Ninjutsu training from Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi in Japan, is a long-time practitioner of the martial arts. Now a Shidoshi (senior instructor), Hoban is an ideal instructor to teach Ninjutsu to new and experienced Ninjutsu practitioners, alike.

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Contemporary Books; First Edition edition (November 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809247259
• ISBN-13: 978-0809247257
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,053,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Hoban
Author, Guest Lecturer/Speaker
Leadership, Ethics, Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution, Martial Arts

Jack Hoban is President of Resolution Group International (RGI). He served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer and is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). He has led over 500 workshops and seminars around the world on ethics, leadership and martial arts. He has addressed the FBI, numerous police departments, military units, universities, and other government and private organizations over the last two decades. His presentations are interactive, informative and entertaining. His business and military experiences, as well as an extensive 30-year background in martial arts, give him a unique and interesting perspective.

In Hoban's presentations, attendees typically:

- Obtain a clearer understanding of the "nature of human nature."
- Develop a better understanding of moral values and ethics.
- Understand the art of keeping the "moral compass" calibrated under stress.
- Learn how to deal effectively with cultural differences.
- Gain insight into what to do when cultural differences cannot be reconciled.

Hoban is a long time practitioner of martial arts. He assisted in the creation of MCMAP and continues to teach the program at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia and elsewhere.

In addition to his military experience, Jack is a 25-year business veteran in the areas of information technology (IT) and business process outsourcing (BPO) in healthcare and other industries.

For 17 years Hoban was an associate of the late Robert L. Humphrey, noted conflict resolution specialist, and author of Values for a New Millennium.

Hoban earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Villanova University and an MBA from National University in San Diego. He is also a Master Instructor in the Japanese Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu martial arts system.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Passionate Exposition of Hoban's Beliefs & Some Training, September 21, 2001

By 

Keith L. Goode "Keith L. Goode" (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ninpo: Living and Thinking As a Warrior (Paperback)

This book is truly a rare read. I've been looking to purchase it (at a reasonable price) for some time now, and I finally found a copy. But I must say that the anticipation of the reading experience was greater than the actual reading experience itself.

The majority of the book is dedicated to Jack Hoban's personal take on the state of affairs present in the late 80's, when this book was written. In fact, very little of the first two-thirds of the book has anything to do with the history, philosophy, or ethics of the ancient ninja ... or even the current Bujinkan organization as a whole.

Hoban briefly mentions the history of the ninja, which includes how their way of life compared to the rest of Japanese society. And the last one-third of the book, concerning the physical aspects of warriorship, is really one of the best explanations of taijutsu written (which is why I give the book 3 stars). But the rest of the book contains Hoban's take on our free-market society, laissez-faire, democracy, the impending doom of our society if government is allowed to attain more control of our lives, the role that government should play in regards to a free society, and a lot of other conservative political ideals.

Don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't agree with Jack Hoban's ideas, but that's not what I bought the book for, and that's not what the title suggests. I could've bought a Rush Limbaugh book and a Hatsumi Sensei book for what I paid for this book and would've gotten what I was expecting.

But, I now own the book. And if our free-market society persists, perhaps in a few decades, I can sell it for a large profit. :)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for training in Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu), January 25, 1999

By 

TPSALES "tp-sales" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ninpo: Living and Thinking As a Warrior (Paperback)

I train with Jack Hoban and he brings a fresh approach to martial arts training. Through his book he outlines a practical and down-to-earth approach to training. Jack talks about nutrition, smart training and also demonstrates in pictorial form the Kihon Happo. Training with Jack is an experience and through this book one gets a glimpse of what he feels is important in the training.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent description of authentic ninja philosophy., July 17, 1998

By 

Charles Hackney ([e-mail]) (Fairbanks, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ninpo: Living and Thinking As a Warrior (Paperback)

I am currently a student of the Bujinkan (the organization with which the author is affiliated), and this book was my first look at the philosophy put forth in ninjutsu. As opposed to the "icy black hand of cruel death" nonsense found in many publications and movies, Ninpo presents genuine ninja ethics, which are based on the principle that the warrior is motivated by love and a desire to protect life (especially the lives of loved ones). Jack's book presents a philosophy of life which everyone interested in warrior ethics, or simply in the mysterious art of being a good person, should read.