Looking back almost 1,000 years, the mists of Japan's chaotic past shroud the development of a way of life, an ancient struggle waged against fierce feudal lords who ruled the island nation with swords of steel and a code of death before dishonor. The people of the mountainous regions of what is now Iga prefecture wanted to live in peace, but their lords had other plans-so the people learned the martial arts of self-defense and used their meager farm tools as weapons against the samurai blades of their oppressors. Nine traditions of the ninja arts grew out of this seemingly endless struggle, and legends were told of the supernatural abilities of the ninja fighters. The ninja never gained the kind of power that topples tyrants, but they gained a reputation that made tyrants cautious. And they gained the kind of power that makes the spirit endure and the mind the master of its fate. Told in actual stories of past grandmasters and in dojo lectures on techniques-with photographs, drawings, and paintings-the last surviving grandmaster of the ancient art of ninjutsu, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, presents Essence of Ninjutsu: The Nine Traditions. In it, he explains why, after more than 900 years, the art of the shadow warriors continues to inspire and serve practitioners from around the world. Dr. Hatsumi's book contains historic ninja scrolls and describes techniques for self-defense, and it debunks tricks that are attributed to the ninja but actually derive more from the circus than the martial arts. Essence of Ninjutsu is a fascinating, authoritative look at the roots of ninjutsu and how it continues to enrich the lives of its practitioners today. Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi is a bone doctor, artist, and writer, as well as the 34th grandmaster of the nine schools of the ninja arts in Japan. He has toured the United States in recent years to help Americans better understand the ninja and their way of life. His articles have appeared in all of the major martial arts magazines.

Essence of Ninjutsu

Sports & Outdoors

Masaaki, Hatsumi

Individual Sports

McGraw=Hill

Explains the techniques of Kukishin Ryu in illustrated step-by-step instructions

Stick Fighting: Techniques of Self-Defense

Quintin Chambers

Kodansha International, LTD.

Step-by-step instructions and over 300 photographs allow the trainee to follow and learn the techniques with ease. The ideal weapon for self-defense is a stick. To find a comprehensive system of techniques using the stick, we must turn to the East, for systems known to the West have fallen into disuse. In this book, the techniques of Kukishin Ryu-an ancient Japanese method-have been updated and adapted for use today. A thorough grounding in the fundamentals dealt with here will enable you to disarm and control any assailant. CONTENTS Section 1: Basic Movements Section 2: Techniques against First Attack Section 3: Techniques against Foot Attacks Section 4: Techniques against Wrist Holding Section 5: Techniques against Sleeve and Lapel Holding Section 6: Techniques against Seizure from Behind Section 7: Techniques against Stick Holding Section 8: Immobilizations

KODANSHA AMERICA +

By Masaaki Hatsumi Understand? Good. Play! Words of Consequence (2nd Second Edition) [Hardcover]

Benjamin Cole

Bushin Books LLC

Ninpo: Wisdom for Life

Kihon Press

Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Art

Steve Olsen

Steven Olsen

In February of 2017, Masaaki Hatsumi, head instructor of the Bujinkan Dojo, exhibited a selection of his paintings at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan in Tokyo. These were from a large collection that he began creating about thirty years earlier. Until the time of the exhibition, he had displayed some of them at his dojo, but this was an unprecedented opportunity for the public. The success of the 2017 exhibition inspired this book, “Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Giga | Heaven.” Fans of Japanese art will recognize the subjects of Hatsumi Sensei’s paintings, like Dainichi Nyorai’s wrathful manifestation, the immovable defender of the teachings, the Wisdom King, Fudo Myoo, and the beloved bodhisattva, Ojizo-sama. But Hatsumi Sensei breathes new life into these subjects. With brushwork and commentary, he relates his paintings to the traditions of his dojo and to his personal martial arts training. In this way, his paintings (and this book) are like a diary — they give rare insights into Hatsumi Sensei’s mind and the history of his Bujinkan Dojo. “Heaven” includes photos of Hatsumi Sensei teaching at his dojo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. An appendix offers commentary by the publisher. And essays by (calligrapher) Yuko Okuma and (Bujinkan practitioner) Steve Olsen offer perspective. The book is written in both Japanese and English.Masaaki Hatsumi is the head instructor of the Bujinkan Dojo and Soke of these 9 martial schools: Togakure Ryu, Shindenfudo Ryu, Koto Ryu, Takagiyoshin Ryu, Kukishinden Ryu, Gyokko Ryu, Gikan Ryu, Gyokushin Ryu, Kumogakure Ryu.

Masaaki Hatsumi: Dojo Giga | Heaven (An award-winning book of paintings and martial insights)

Secrets of the Ninja Grandmaster is a collection of heart-to-heart lessons from ninja grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi to his senior student and first American disciple, Stephen K. Hayes. When this book was first published in 1987, it gave Western martial artists their first chance to learn what the grandmaster himself had to say about the essence of warrior training that emphasized real-world battlefield fighting methods (jissen-gata) - from the use of weapons to ninja invisibility to kuji warrior spirituality - as opposed to art or sport. This important volume is now available once again through Paladin Press, with an all-new epilogue and a techniques section that illustrates various classical ninja fighting defenses. This is essential reading for every martial artist who has ever wanted to go beyond the stereotypical images of the ninja sensationalized in action-adventure movies and gain access to the true secrets of the ninja grandmaster.

Secrets From The Ninja Grandmaster: Revised and Updated Edition

Stephen K. Hayes

Paladin Press

Life Secrets of the Amatsu Tatara 
The Documents of Takamatsu ToshitsuguInterviews with Dr. Hatsumi Masaaki 
Following an extensive series of interviews and discussions between the author and Hatsumi Sensei, who is the Sōke (Head) of the Bujinkan Dōjō Organization, this book details the traditional medical methods that Dr Hatsumi inherited from his teacher Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei. It is Hatsumi Sensei’s wish that a record of these traditions continues into the future. This book covers a broad range of subjects relating to traditional medical and health methods used in Japan, and in particular their relationship to Budō (Martial Arts). 
Containing numerous photographs of Hatsumi Sensei demonstrating these techniques in the Hombu Dōjō in Japan and transcripts of interviews with him, this book also provides a historical record of the Amatsu Tatara Hisshin Ginroku, which was written by Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei, now for the first time translated* and published. It includes the spiritual aspects of the documents and an encyclopaedic list of pathologies and historical natural treatments. *(these documents fully translated into English and also shown in Japanese).

Life Secrets of the Amatsu Tatara: The Documents of Takamatsu Toshitsugu, Interviews with Hatsumi Masaaki

Health, Fitness & Dieting

King,Peter

Toshitsugu, Takamatsu

Alternative Medicine

Independently published

Hidden Essence of the Martial Arts and the Spirit of the Samurai Japanese history is replete with great sword masters. Legendary figures such as Koizumi Isenokami, Tsukahara Bokuden, Yagyu Munenori, Miyamoto Musashi, and Ito Ittosai have been revered as deities for countless years, forged into the history of Japan's martial arts. But there were also many lesser known samurai who carried the spirit of Bushido, Tirelessly devoting themselves to Japan's martial traditions and mastering their many fighting forms. Japan's rich legacy of swordsmanship has been passed on through these generations of samurai, who developed many techniques using the long sword, short sword, and Ninja sword, among others. In this book, Masaaki Hatsumi, the most renonwned Budo and Ninja grandmaster in the world, explores the venerable history of Japanese sword fighting, sharing with the reader his reflections on the hidden essence of this revered martial art. He covers a variety of classical techniques including Ninja kenpo, Yagyu Shinkage-ryu, as well as two-sword techniques. Drawing on his deep knowledge, the author demonstrates advenced, practical applications of the art, using the stick, spear, naginata, and kusarigama. More mysterious, secret techniques are also discussed, including those involving armor, and the variety of renowned mutodori (no-sword) forms-the ultimate martial skill of the samurai. Works of calligraphy by famous samurai masters, such as Asari Matashichiro and Yamaoka Tesshu, accompany the descriptions, as well as important historical scrolls and an array of lavish illustrations that help demonstrate the grace and beauty of Japanese sword fighting. After his highly acclaimed works The Way of the Ninja and Advanced Stick Fighting, Masaaki Hatsumi continues to pursue his life's ambition of fostering and spreading Budo throughout the world, with this definitive book on the art of Japanese sword fighting. Within his technical descriptions and musings on the history of Bushido, Hatsumi's philosophy of promoting a world of peace and tolerance is ever present, as is his firm belief in the universality of Budo, espoused in his own words: ". . . if the seed of Japan's Budo is planted anywhere in the world, it will continue to grow and flourish."

Japanese Sword Fighting: Secrets of the Samurai

Kodansha USA

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Masaaki, Hatsumi. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Masaaki, Hatsumi