Life Mastery Through Martial Arts

An-shu Stephen K. Hayes’ To-Shin Do martial arts training leads to the ability to live life fully, fearlessly, and freely. Ours is a thorough system of personal preparation for facing the kinds of conflict and opposition that can surprise us in the course of daily life and emerging as a winner.

To-Shin Do Ninja Martial Arts Training

In our programs, students are introduced to the success skills of the historical ninja through training in highly practical physical, mental, and strategic tactics of To-Shin Do. Our techniques are based on ancient and well-tested systems of warrior disciplines handed down by nine historical Japanese samurai and ninja family lineages. At the same time, our training program is built around a very modern approach to handling the kind of threats and confrontations most likely in our own contemporary culture.

To-Shin Do is a realistic self defense system that includes techniques and strategies for dealing with:

• grappling, throwing, choking, and joint-locking
• striking, kicking, and punching
• stick, blade, cord, and projectile weapons
• successfully handling multiple assailants and surprise attacks
• overcoming psychological intimidation or bullying

Beyond the basic training that leads to Black Belt in To-Shin Do is a collection of optional advanced courses including:

• methods for survival in hostile environments
• security protection for dignitaries
• how to instruct classes and run a school
• classical Japanese weapons
• meditation mind science
• health restoration yoga

To-Shin Do ® Historical Roots

Stephen K. Hayes’ To-Shin Do was born of the historical legacy behind 3 important roots of Japan’s ancient cultural heritage:

To – the sword

From the ninja combat methods of the legendary phantom warriors born of Mt. Togakure and cultivated in the mountains and marshes of Iga comes the core of our physical protection techniques and strategies.

To-Shin Do martial arts practice is a great way to reduce stress and increase strength, endurance, and flexibility, while fostering a sense of peace, security, and control in life.

Shin – the focused spirit of intention

From the rigorous kuji intention-channeling training of the shugenja of Mt. Yoshino comes the essence of our program for the discovery and development of the key qualities that characterize a fully actualized human being.

We can achieve a more focused and disciplined understanding of the cause and effect dynamics that lead to success and fulfillment in life.

Do – the path to mastery

From the originally Himalayan esoteric mikkyo vajrayana mind and spirit sciences of Mt. Hiei comes the technique of cultivating our unlimited physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual potentials.

We can learn skillful ways to transform the inner and outer challenges of life into success, and ultimately come to grips with the question of how to experience directly the significance of life itself.

Nin – Important Symbolism Behind the To-Shin Name

The Japanese written character for nin of ninja can also be pronounced shinobi . It is best translated as “stealth, endurance, perseverance, or putting-up-with”. Nin communicates the kind of inner strength we need to keep our eyes on the grander goal. We know what we need and we are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. We are not diverted, even when tempted to fight back against the petty affronts and insults tossed in our path from those who fear or envy us.

• The top portion of the Japanese character is toh and means “sword” or “blade edge.” This symbolizes our martial arts technology we study.
• The bottom portion is shin and means “heart”. This symbolizes the resolute spirit needed to prevail over negative forces that attempt to drive us to defeat.

Together as the one character for nin, the To-Shin ideal inspires us with the power of knowledge and intention channeled to produce spirited intelligence in action.

Why the name To-Shin Do and not the original “ninjutsu”?

Ninjutsu is our historical Japanese art, and To-Shin Do is our contemporary evolution, what ninja training from 1500s Japan looks like in 21st Century America. To-Shin Do is a way of training for self-defense and personal development that embodies everything the historical ninja art has to offer, plus a whole collection of modern training methods and insights crucially important for western students today.

How does To-Shin Do compare to historical ninjutsu?

Obviously, fights are different in modern America than they were five hundred years ago in feudal Japan. It is not the responsibility of Japanese masters to translate classical lessons into relevance for cultures outside Japan. That is our job, and Stephen K. Hayes’ genius is his ability to eliminate the need for all the guesswork and translate historical lessons into vibrant modern relevance through his unique ability to teach the classics in ways that allow us to apply the essence of the kata to today’s challenges.

Can I still learn historical Togakure Ryu ninja methods?

Absolutely. An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes designed To-Shin Do to get you going quickly in learning effective useful self-defense, but the underlying principles and tactics of the original ninja combat method are all there, even in your first lessons. As your belt grows darker in color and you move deeper into our inner circle, you will possess increasingly more of the historical skills.

How does To-Shin Do relate to An-shu’s ninjutsu teachers?

An-Shu Stephen K. Hayes has said for years, “To-Shin Do is the greatest tribute I can pay to my teachers. Training in the dojo in Japan opened my eyes to vast realms of warrior truth that were inaccessible in the American martial arts scene of late 1960s. After immersing myself in training in the 1970s and 1980s, my inspiration was bubbling over. This stuff was incredibly valuable, and I was captivated by the idea of translating these lessons into a form that could serve my own culture and people back in America.”

How many people have earned Black Belt in To-Shin Do?

Hard training students have been earning belts in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts since the mid-1990s. Some students started as White Belt beginners, and others transferred in with previous belts from other ninjutsu ranking systems. For a complete listing of Black Belt holders in An-shu Stephen K. Hayes’ To-Shin Do click here.