Ninja . . . that single word conjures up images of mystery and power. The ability to move swiftly and silently, to mesmerize one's victim, to strike infallibly, and then to disappear into the night--this is the legend of the ninja. These nearly sorcerous aspects of the ninja, as well as the exotic weapons they use, are the focus of The Mystic Arts of the Ninja. Its author, Shidoshi Stephen K. Hayes, is the sole American to be granted teaching credentials by the 34th grandmaster of the Togokure School of Ninjutsu in Japan. Going beyond the basic conditioning and training techniques of his best-selling Ninjutsu: The Art of the Invisible Warrior, Hayes explains the most sought after secrets of his ninja training: Hypnotism: Saiminjutsu, the ninja's hypnotic powers are described and explained. Sample exercises are provided to help develop your hypnotic powers. Invisibility: Stealth walking and camouflage are discussed. Hayes provides examples of how to move silently across various kinds of terrain and how to blend into your surroundings to become invisible. Weaponry: The Hanbo cane, the sword, and the infamous shuriken throwing stars are ninja trademarks. Hayes fully describes their use in grappling as well as in attacking. More than 400 black-and-white photos are used to illustrate the secrets and techniques that have been used by the ninja to surprise and outwit their foes over the past 800 years. The authenticity of Shidoshi Hayes's instruction is perhaps the most important aspect of this book: no other book represents the true ninja tradition.

This book offers self-defense enthusiasts a comprehensive guide to the mysterious and ancient art of the ninja, written by the Western world's foremost authority, Stephen Hayes. Profusely illustrated with more than 580 action photographs and diagrams, this book clearly shows the correct body positions and movements for mastering the ninja method. Techniques such as hitting the ground and rebounding safely, shifting and evading strikes and weapon hits, and applying natural body weapons and handheld tools for combat are covered in detail. The book's physical conditioning program includes training exercises for increasing flexibility and building muscle strength, followed by footwork drills, reaction drills, counter techniques, and combat skills. Of equal importance to this ancient art is the spiritual training. Stephen Hayes provides all movement and meditation tech- niques essential to the ninja combat method. Stephen K. Hayes is the only American ever awarded the title of shidoshi ("teacher" in Japanese) and full teaching credentials in the art of ninjutsu. He has written eight books and numerous articles for Black Belt, Kick, Official Karate, and Ninja. He operates his own dojo ("school") of ninjutsu and spends his time between trips to the Far East, as a teacher, lecturer, and writer. He is the author of Wisdom from the Ninja Village of the Cold Moon and The Mystic Arts of the Ninja (both Contemporary Books).

The author relates the history and significance of the birthplace of Daisuke Nishina, the founder of the Togakure Ryu of ninjutsu, and introduces advanced principles such as enlightened consciousness, secrets of ninja invisibility, the union of body and weapon, and how to direct the power of one’s surroundings.

Ashida Kim reveals the meditations, breathing exercises and kuji-kiri hand forms that enable readers to cultivate and direct the chi, as well as tune into the minds of others.

A vain man driven by greed and hubris, Dr. Stephen Strange was a world-renowned surgeon until the night a car accident crippled his hands. Broken and destitute, he journeyed to Tibet to seek a cure from a legendary healer. There he found not a man of medicine but the venerable Ancient One and the path to the mystic arts! From Doctor Strange's eerie Greenwich Village home, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created new dimensions and otherworldly terrors unlike anything seen before. These stories remain as infl uential today as they were on 1960s counter-culture. In the pages ahead, you'll experience the debut of iconic characters including Baron Mordo, Eternity, Dormammu, the Mindless Ones, as well as Wong and the mystic mistress Clea. COLLECTING: VOL. 1: STRANGE TALES (1951) 110-111, 114-146; AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL (1964) 2

Expanded and collected for the first time in a single volume, the six ninja books by this legendary ninjutsu master offer a comprehensive guide to this misunderstood martial art. Beginners will be introduced to the building blocks of ninjutsu: the basic postures, the natural elements that correspond with fighting techniques, the sorts of weapons utilized, and the “scheme of totality.” More advanced practitioners will benefit from descriptions of such principles as enlightened consciousness, the goton-po theory of escape and invisibility, and the union of body and weapon. Meditation exercises are included to strengthen the consciousness and decrease reaction time. Expanding upon his original writings, and interwoven with the wisdom and insight garnered from four decades of martial arts training, the author addresses misconceptions associated with ninjutsu and shares the story of his path to becoming an internationally recognized warrior and martial arts educator.