He has made a choice NOT to teach it as defined by others; the internet “pwner”, the Bujinkan bureaucrat, the MMA fan in his recliner, etc. But that “as defined by others” is key. This concept is analogous to asking if modern Southern Baptist Christian ministers are really teaching Christianity when they aren’t using the same rituals, dogmas, creeds, etc. as earlier sects…say the 480 A.D. Coptic Church. When you buy into others’ definitions of reality, you have already lost a lot.

Have they “excommunicated” SKH? Pointless. He doesn’t teach from that school anymore. Could he go back to that world? Sure. But would he…SHOULD he? Probably not.

We live in an age of officiousness; THIS is official…THAT is official etc. People seeking to tear SKH down are seeking some type of “official” notification to use as ammunition against him and to support their case. Perhaps they have been watching too many lawyer shows on TV. This is called a “argumentum ad verecundium”; the logical fallacy of appealing to authority. Their ultimate goal is to proclaim “SKH is not a ninja. You can’t learn ninpo from him. You want to learn? Here’s where you go.”

He IS teaching ninpo. The principles are universal. The core — the heart — is infinite.

Mark H.

I, too, feel that this is a private matter and no longer needs to be addressed by yourself. We are all curious but how will any revelation of what occurred benefit us? For a long period of time, I “lurked” in these so-called forums and read much of what people thought was going on in the world of Toshindo. I think many people around the world miss the point. They concentrate too much on differences of style rather than on the unique contributions that each style makes to the overall world of martial arts and to humankind. You and I (being close in age) come from a period of time when martial arts were not very prevalent in the U.S. You then chose to travel halfway across the world to meet a stranger that you read about somewhere. Again not a common thing for one to do at that period of time. Then, after spending a period of time living and learning in the country of that art, you return home and write about your experiences and attempt to sow the seeds of knowledge. Again, ninjutsu was not a household name nor many martial arts for that matter. My point is that because of you and your persistence in seeking more knowledge, the world of martial arts in the U.S. is far richer for it. In my mind, you are a major contributor to the world in terms of ancient philosophies as well as martial techniques. No one can ever take that away…it doesn’t hang on a rank board, but rather is carved in the annals of martial history.

Regards,
Rick Pola

Congratulations on your 20 year anniversary of Kasumi-An.

-Ninpo Ikkan !,
Chris Scarbrough

I believe that answering this last question will clarify this issue for everyone.
Many people in Japan and Shihan in the west have been told what happened from the Japanese Shihan. There have probably been all degrees of speculation and interpretation of the actual events, and it is important that these interpretations be corrected by revealing the actual events that transpired.
I understand that the Teacher/Student relationship is a private one, but since we are modernizing things, we might as well be open about these types of things, since being forthcoming and bold is typically part of our “Western” culture/mentality.

I look forward to reading your response to this issue. Take care.

-Gambatte Kudasai,
Chris Scarbrough

For what it’s worth, I think the student teacher
relationship is a private one. And that you
should not dignify this prying with an answer.
Unless of course this was just to see how
many superficial individuals would go away.
It would make more time available for working
with the serious students!

Mark H.

ps You might remember me as the spoon fighting
uke at spirit of the warrior in Sugarloaf Maine.