Stephen K. Hayes was the ?rst 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. Review Quotes: "Stephen K. Hayes [is] the acknowledged 'Father of American Ninjutsu. " -- Inside Kung Fu Review Quotes: -Stephen K. Hayes [is] the acknowledged 'Father of American Ninjutsu. --- Inside Kung Fu Review Quotes: "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 Review Quotes: -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 Publisher Marketing: 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