THE NINJA DEFENSE: A MODERN MASTER'S APPROACH TO UNIVERSAL DANGERS

I am always on the lookout for books that teach honestly, truthfully and effectively. They have often been hard to find.  Stephen K. Hayes is well known in the Ninjutsu community and in the martial arts field and has numerous books and videos on Ninjutsu. I have read most of his books and seen several of his dvds.  I like Mr. Hayes approach and teaching methods. His coaching skills are excellent and very professional. Most importantly any good coach or instructor has to have the ability to communicate with his students and get his points across.

There are many things to like about this book. Besides the clear instructions and the color photos showing each technique, this book also includes an excellent (almost 70 minutes) DVD which reinforces the techniques and tactics explained in the book.  The book and Dvd set approaches the subject of self-defense in a unique and interesting way. Mr. Hayes has created a simple and effective method for the average person to avoid trouble and defend themselves in numerous situations by applying traditional principles of ninjutsu to the possible conflicts we may find ourselves in today’s world.

“The Ninja Defense” covers preparation for real threats and not just from a physical aspect but from a mental and psychological aspects as well , making the choice to fight, winning mentality, how danger escalates.  Also  defense postures, five phases of the fight, forward strikes and kicks, front arm captures and restraints, front body holds and restraints, captures and restraints from behind.

Mr. Hayes is open and honest that this is level one training or a beginner level and that there is more, much more to learn.  I believe this to be for anyone interested in learning a simple and effective self-defense method but also for the serious martial artist.

The material on the DVD ties in directly with what you're reading in the book and brings it to life. The DVD shows each technique numerous times and again the instruction by Mr. Hayes and his instructors are clear and concise. The teaching and coaching style again is excellent I see a lot of positive reinforcement which makes for a more productive presentation of his modern ninjutsu applications.

The last chapter deals with why the ninja approach may in our day and time be better than the samurai approach. Ninjutsu has very little to do with proving yourself the toughest guy on the block at every chance.  Mr. Hayes applies traditional ninjutsu to modern self defense as well as takes into account things like the laws we live under.  The Ninja Defense by Stephen Hayes book and DVD  is full of quality information and quality instruction and for the price is an absolute steal.

FUJITA SEIKO'S SECRET KENPO KILLING STRIKES

There is a general belief that Ninja used in close quarter combat or in the close fight several dozens of external vital points or Sakkatsu that allowed him to either kill the enemy quickly and right on the spot or completely maim or disable him. This subject never ceased to attract acute attention of ninja, right on up to the man known as the last of the living ninja, who served in assignments for the Japanese Imperial Government during the Taisho and Showa eras, Fujita Seiko.

Seiko Fujita served as an instructor at the Rikugun Nakano Gakko the Japanese Imperial Military Intelligence School, teaching Ninjutsu and Nanban Satto ryu Kenpo. Fujita's style combat was well suited for the Japanese Army's special operations and guerrilla warfare training facility. Fujita’s Kenpô can be described as an unarmed/minimally armed close combat method for fighting and killing an opponent, using ancient methods and modern methods for attacking anatomically sensitive areas.

 Fujita stressed combat NOT spiritual refinement or Kata, just CQB close quarter battle. A non koryu killing art that Fujita synthesized from the koryu he knew at the request of the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII. A 20^th century style method of killing to be used by Nakano’s Neo Ninja operatives.

Fujita led 2500 men into the Burmese jungle, their mission was to go behind the enemy's positions kill as many soldiers as possible, as quietly as possible, and to sabotage and prepare for an invasion without revealing their existence. Fujita and his elite unit stealthily eliminated the their enemies in the jungles behind enemy lines. In the end, only 14 members of this group survived the mission. It is said that during this time Fujita’s unit had over two hundred kills.

According to his autobiography, “Doronron Saigo no Ninja”, Seiko was ordered by the Imperial Japanese Government to put his expertise to further use. He was tasked to come up with a manual or hand book for the Imperial Japanese Army on Hand to hand combat. The soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army were trained in Karate and Judo or at least the basics, however, the Japanese command felt that it just wasn’t enough and was dead set on developing on shortest terms a system of close quarter combat that could kill the enemy out or put the enemy out of commission quickly and efficiently.

Fujita’s knowledge, expertise, combat experience and the research performed in service of his Government led to the publication of “Kenpo Gokui Atemi Sakkatsuho Meikai” & “Kenpo Gokui Sakkatsu Ho Zukai” (“Illustrated Secret Kenpo Killing Strikes”) Fujita’s “Kenpo Gokui Sakkatsu Ho” may have been the closest thing to an actual though modern shinobi (ninja) assassin martial art.

“Based on the result of a long term research on the Human body this book shows the right places of the most effective vital organ parts/vital points in anatomical diagrams for the secrets of killing and reviving.

This book also shows the effective way of hitting those places. If you learn the places of vital organs points and the way of hitting them you will obtain the way of Killing/taking down enemies with one stroke/strike.

 The most effective way of hitting the anatomical weak points/ vital points hinges upon multiple factors; physical application, conditioning, awareness of targets and psychological preparedness.

The right places to strike the most effective vital points for the secrets of killing/disabling/rendering unconscious/ maiming.( If you learn the way of hitting the vital organs points you will obtain the way of taking out enemies quickly and efficiently.)

The energetic transference of force needed to affect the targets:

1) Velocity: efficiency of the blow in a striking technique is determined according to the following: formula  I =MV2/2     where M- is the mass and V- is the velocity. Force is the speed: the bigger and harder the object is, the higher the speed, with which it is struck the more efficient the blow.

2) Body mechanics: all hand, hips, legs and foot movements are coordinated and fast.

3) Precision of the blow: Be right on target the strike must be executed at strictly the right angle to the target.

4) Drawing back the striking limb after the blow: (Snapping out and then back) after the blow you must pull back your hand with the same if not greater speed with which he delivered the strike be able to follow up with another. Striking should be practice in combination with withdrawals. In other words it explodes outward and is snapped back.  A violent and dynamic action.

5) The strikes are most effective/destructive when the piercing effect is combined with a revolving or snapping motion of the hand upon impact.

For the effective use of striking techniques one needs to be relaxed NOT rigid, calm, cold blooded and calculating. Strikes should be applied resolutely, fearlessly, without doubt whole heartedly and with full force based on knowledge of proper coordination of movements and distance."

Sam Lonewolf 8th degree black belt First Nations Kajukenbo

Barron Shepherd is a 7th degree blackbelt in Kenpo karate and Kajukenbo under Sam Lonewolf, First Nations Fighting Arts/Kajukenbo and a 2nd degree black in judo (USA Judo).