Episode 026 – Mr. Stephen K. Hayes - Ninjutsu

Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes. In the 1970’s Mr. Stephen Hayes traveled to japan to seek out Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei, the grandmaster of the ninjutsu fighting art. Without even correspondence from Hatsumi Sensei Mr. Stephen Hayes accomplished the seemingly impossible for a westerner at the time – he began studying the art of the ninja. After several decades of training Mr. Stephen Hayes brought back the teachings of Hatsumi Sensei and opened his own schools to spread awareness of one of the most esoteric fighting styles known to man. Black Belt magazine regards Mr. Stephen Hayes as “A Legend; one of the most infuential martial arts masters alive in the world today” In the late 1980’s Mr. Hayes serendipitously began serving as the head of the protection detail to his holiness the Dalai Lama. In this episode we cover Mr. Hayes’ story, his adventure through Japan and how he has changed the face of martial arts in the west forever. The Ninja: A ninja (忍者?) or shinobi (忍び?) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, and open combat in certain situations. Their covert methods of waging war contrasted the ninja with the samurai, who observed strict rules about honor and combat.The shinobi proper, a specially trained group of spies and mercenaries, appeared in the Sengoku or “warring states” period, in the 15th century,but antecedents may have existed in the 14th...