Comments on: Questions and Answers – Part 4 http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:50:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Kevin Winters http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-610 Kevin Winters Sat, 01 May 2010 15:19:57 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-610 It seems incredibly likely that I will be moving back to AZ in the near future. There I could have the opportunity to train at the Phoenix Quest Center and/or with the Arizona Bujinkan Ninpo and Budo Kai (http://www.arizonabujinkan.org). I could probably only afford and have the time to do one and don't yet know how to decide. Any suggestions? Is anyone familiar with either of the main instructors, Peter Crocoll at ABNBK or Michael Stinson at the PQC? [Editor note: No choice or comparison at all - you need to get to the Phoenix Quest Center where Michael Akitoshi Stinson and his staff practice the incomparable visionary martial arts of An-shu Stephen K. Hayes, based on An-shu's years of study in the Togakure ninja martial arts and then testing those findings in the world as a bodyguard for Asian royalty. No choice at all! Phoenix Quest Center is the only answer!] It seems incredibly likely that I will be moving back to AZ in the near future. There I could have the opportunity to train at the Phoenix Quest Center and/or with the Arizona Bujinkan Ninpo and Budo Kai (http://www.arizonabujinkan.org). I could probably only afford and have the time to do one and don’t yet know how to decide. Any suggestions? Is anyone familiar with either of the main instructors, Peter Crocoll at ABNBK or Michael Stinson at the PQC?

[Editor note: No choice or comparison at all - you need to get to the Phoenix Quest Center where Michael Akitoshi Stinson and his staff practice the incomparable visionary martial arts of An-shu Stephen K. Hayes, based on An-shu's years of study in the Togakure ninja martial arts and then testing those findings in the world as a bodyguard for Asian royalty. No choice at all! Phoenix Quest Center is the only answer!]

]]> By: ANDRIJA http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-453 ANDRIJA Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:34:19 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-453 1000 years old tradition cant be changed by one man. Traditional ninjutsu is not efective because of its moves but because of its philosophy. When you train your mind to accept every new situation, the forms of tehniques r not important. [ Editor note: An-shu saw this and commented with a smile, "It would be a lot easier if that were true." ] 1000 years old tradition cant be changed by one man. Traditional ninjutsu is not efective because of its moves but because of its philosophy. When you train your mind to accept every new situation, the forms of tehniques r not important.

[ Editor note: An-shu saw this and commented with a smile, "It would be a lot easier if that were true." ]

]]> By: SVR http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-134 SVR Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:51:51 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-134 Very good repost Stephen, It is well worth remembering that there are still those of us in the Bujinkan more active in our Dojos than on slandering forums. We respect people and their skills, not wood boards and cloth patches and will be fighting for the soul of the Bujinkan utill the bitter end, however near or far that may be. All the best to you and your family. Very good repost Stephen,

It is well worth remembering that there are still those of us in the Bujinkan more active in our Dojos than on slandering forums.

We respect people and their skills, not wood boards and cloth patches and will be fighting for the soul of the Bujinkan utill the bitter end, however near or far that may be.

All the best to you and your family.

]]> By: Russ Nemhauser http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-133 Russ Nemhauser Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:58:27 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-133 I have often wondered about these rumors and even though I never felt that you owed anyone an explanation, I very much appreciate your thoughts on this subject. Thank you, An-shu. I have often wondered about these rumors and even though I never felt that you owed anyone an explanation, I very much appreciate your thoughts on this subject. Thank you, An-shu.

]]> By: Brian Anderson http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Brian Anderson Wed, 13 May 2009 20:30:03 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-117 Many have seem to forgotten when Hatsumi took over after Takamatsu, the negative reaction that occured when Hatsumi opened the school to foreigners. There will always be people with negative reactions to everything we do in life. We just have to keep doing what we feel is right. Stephen Hayes, you are doing a great job, and keep it up! Sincerely, Brian Anderson Many have seem to forgotten when Hatsumi took over after Takamatsu, the negative reaction that occured when Hatsumi opened the school to foreigners.

There will always be people with negative reactions to everything we do in life. We just have to keep doing what we feel is right. Stephen Hayes, you are doing a great job, and keep it up!

Sincerely,

Brian Anderson

]]> By: Bradley Knowles http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Bradley Knowles Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:02:00 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-119 Hello, Mr. Hayes: I have read with a fair degree of interest over the years the negative comments and barbs which have been hurled at you by others training in Ninjutsu and the associated Budo Taijutsu arts. It is empirical evidence of the aphorism "the bigger the front, the bigger the back", isn't it? As your popularity and martial acumen have grown, so in direct proportion have the jealousy and spite of those who do not have the energy and perseverance to accomplish that which you have. Many have conveniently forgotten (or, perhaps more appropriately, deliberately blindered themselves to the fact) that you, like the pioneering adventurers of yore, forsake the comforts and security of home and hearth and dove into the wilderness on a quest to capture your dream. That takes a special form of courage and discipline - something in sorely short aupply today. This is not meant to be one of the proverbial suck-ups: I, too, fell under the spell of "Ninjutsu" when it first came to light, but with age and experience I have also come to the realisation that shining a light on the (once) obscure also reveals the slimier things residing in the darkness. You have always comported yourself with grace and dignity and have always been willing to discover more about the human condition and ways of improving and/or defining one's self. For that alone, you deserve credit and acknowledgement. However, the higher one climbs above the pack, the more clearly one becomes a target for the sniping shots of the less-qualified whose venom spills out over the easily-accessible internet fora where those who are even more deluded feed at the trough. I know that the snide comments will have some effect on you, however small - you are, after all, also human. But comfort yourself with the knowledge that you have many supporters, students and friends who are more than happy to keep you in their hearts as an inspiration. Bufu Ikkan. Hello, Mr. Hayes:
I have read with a fair degree of interest over the years the negative comments and barbs which have been hurled at you by others training in Ninjutsu and the associated Budo Taijutsu arts. It is empirical evidence of the aphorism “the bigger the front, the bigger the back”, isn’t it? As your popularity and martial acumen have grown, so in direct proportion have the jealousy and spite of those who do not have the energy and perseverance to accomplish that which you have.
Many have conveniently forgotten (or, perhaps more appropriately, deliberately blindered themselves to the fact) that you, like the pioneering adventurers of yore, forsake the comforts and security of home and hearth and dove into the wilderness on a quest to capture your dream. That takes a special form of courage and discipline – something in sorely short aupply today.
This is not meant to be one of the proverbial suck-ups: I, too, fell under the spell of “Ninjutsu” when it first came to light, but with age and experience I have also come to the realisation that shining a light on the (once) obscure also reveals the slimier things residing in the darkness.
You have always comported yourself with grace and dignity and have always been willing to discover more about the human condition and ways of improving and/or defining one’s self. For that alone, you deserve credit and acknowledgement. However, the higher one climbs above the pack, the more clearly one becomes a target for the sniping shots of the less-qualified whose venom spills out over the easily-accessible internet fora where those who are even more deluded feed at the trough.
I know that the snide comments will have some effect on you, however small – you are, after all, also human. But comfort yourself with the knowledge that you have many supporters, students and friends who are more than happy to keep you in their hearts as an inspiration.
Bufu Ikkan.

]]> By: Kent Bergstrom http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Kent Bergstrom Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:19:38 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-112 Thanks for your candid answer and I appreciate the way and ethical/professional way you dealt with it. I have witnessed many "rumors" of things involving instructors through the years - including Japanese Shihan themselves. The bottom line is that seniors in the Bujinkan answer to Hatsumi Sensei and no one else. So no matter what circulates the doom and gloom rumor mills, it still boils down to the personal relationship with student to teacher and vice/versa. As one of my teachers directly below Hatsumi Sensei in Japan likes to say; "dogs will bark - so let them - eventually they grow tired and they will still be dogs..." Thanks for your candid answer and I appreciate the way and ethical/professional way you dealt with it. I have witnessed many “rumors” of things involving instructors through the years – including Japanese Shihan themselves. The bottom line is that seniors in the Bujinkan answer to Hatsumi Sensei and no one else. So no matter what circulates the doom and gloom rumor mills, it still boils down to the personal relationship with student to teacher and vice/versa.
As one of my teachers directly below Hatsumi Sensei in Japan likes to say; “dogs will bark – so let them – eventually they grow tired and they will still be dogs…”

]]> By: Jiun Foster http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-120 Jiun Foster Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:55:20 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-120 "My real rank is Stephen K. Hayes" -POW- That says it all right there, doesn't it? “My real rank is Stephen K. Hayes”

-POW-

That says it all right there, doesn’t it?

]]> By: John Sutton http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-118 John Sutton Sat, 28 Mar 2009 03:03:08 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-118 I think a little more "Japanese" than I should for a 6' Irish/Apache, and I felt this was a terrible slight against your honor and much undeserved. Those eager to tear down a castle are never those who built it. Apparently the feudal system is alive and well... And though my anger at this insult against you began to build, you again prove to us and the world that you, sir, are a true warrior gentleman. Your response was calm, measured and truthful. Who can deny what you've built and accomplished? You followed the path of the blade, then the soul, all the while tending the garden of the arts. Anyone who knows the Way knows that is the Way. You've set the standard for thousands of true warriors. So thank you again, An-Shu Hayes. You continue to teach and inspire me. Today's lesson: "Every wolf suffers fleas." Oh yeah, and I should watch my temper. Blessings to all on the path, john I think a little more “Japanese” than I should for a 6′ Irish/Apache, and I felt this was a terrible slight against your honor and much undeserved. Those eager to tear down a castle are never those who built it. Apparently the feudal system is alive and well…

And though my anger at this insult against you began to build, you again prove to us and the world that you, sir, are a true warrior gentleman. Your response was calm, measured and truthful. Who can deny what you’ve built and accomplished? You followed the path of the blade, then the soul, all the while tending the garden of the arts. Anyone who knows the Way knows that is the Way. You’ve set the standard for thousands of true warriors.

So thank you again, An-Shu Hayes. You continue to teach and inspire me. Today’s lesson: “Every wolf suffers fleas.” Oh yeah, and I should watch my temper.

Blessings to all on the path,
john

]]> By: Kent Wood http://www.skhquest.com/2009/03/17/questions-and-answers-part-4/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Kent Wood Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:11:15 +0000 http://www.skhquest.com/?p=954#comment-131 What Stephen Hayes has done with the training he recieved from Hatsumi Soke is exactly what many on their death beds (real or figurative) will realize they should have done. He is a ninja, pure and simple. Watch, listen and learn! What Stephen Hayes has done with the training he recieved from Hatsumi Soke is exactly what many on their death beds (real or figurative) will realize they should have done.

He is a ninja, pure and simple. Watch, listen and learn!

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