Stephen K. Hayes

Stephen K. Hayes (born September 9, 1949 in Delaware) is a 10th degree black belt. He was awarded this rank by the Bujinkan Dōjō organization in 1993.

Background

An-shu Hayes is a noted martial arts author. The nineteen books he has authored have sold over 1.3 million copies and have been translated into five languages. He is a 1971 graduate of Miami University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theater. He has worked as an actor, notably in the TV miniseries Shogun. He is married to Rumiko Urata. The couple has two daughters, Reina and Marissa.

Stephen K. Hayes is considered an authority on ninjutsu and a knowledgeable practitioner of esoteric Tendai mikkyo Buddhism. Today, Mr. Hayes lives and works in Dayton, Ohio.

Biography

After graduating from Miami University in 1971, he spent time in search of authentic martial traditions, working his way up to sam dan in the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do. Frustrated with the limitations he'd encountered in his training, he packed his bags and headed for Japan.

In June of 1975, he finally met the teacher he'd been seeking all his life in Masaaki Hatsumi, the founder of Bujinkan Dojo. Stephen K. Hayes returned to the United States, setting off the "ninja boom" of the 1980s and creating one of the largest martial arts phenomena since Bruce Lee. During this time, he helped introduce ninjutsu to America and Western Europe and is responsible for many people now even being aware of ninjutsu. A number of today's senior American Bujinkan practitioners began training with Hayes during this time period, including Jack Hoban, Bud Malmstrom, Mark Davis, Jean-Pierre Seibel, Courtland Elliott, and many more.

In 1991 Hayes also received tokudo priesthood ordination in Tendai Buddhism from Tendai Master and Vajra Acharya Dr. Clark Jikai Choffy. In 1993, Hayes earned the judan (tenth degree black belt) degree from Hatsumi sensei. In 1997, he founded the martial art of To-Shin Do, an art based in his experience of budo taijutsu and life experiences, including security escort work for the Dalai Lama of Tibet.

Since then, Hayes and his SKH Quest Corporation have continued with their work of making martial arts accessible to people everywhere. The SKH Quest network now spans 18 schools in 12 states.

Affiliation with the Bujinkan

On May 14, 2006, during training in the Bujinkan Hombu Dojo, Soke Masaaki Hatsumi had Steven K. Hayes' name placard taken off the Bujinkan rank board. Without ceremony or fanfare, 12th dan Shidoshi George Ohashi took the name placard down while people were training. Soke Hatsumi stated that Steven K. Hayes was no longer recognized as a judan in the Bujinkan. [1] [2] On May 20, 2006, as a result of the Internet rumors that circulated following these events, Shidoshi Ohashi, also the Bujinkan's administrator, posted the following on the Bujinkan's Hombu & Ayase website: [3]

Although the latest news from the Hombu seems to have surprised many people, the facts involved are very simple.

Soke has decided that the person in question has moved away from the Bujinkan and so he is no longer recognized as a Bujinkan member. His name placard has been removed from the 10th dan board in the Hombu Dojo.
(Soke doesn't care if people call it a Hamon or not.)

I hope this clarifies the issue. Please stop making a fuss on the Internet. There is no need for discussion on this matter, but you can contact Soke if you are REALLY concerned.
(I'll delete this comment in a few days because it has almost nothing to do with the two classes I'm in charge of. -- May 22nd.)

Trivia

During his time in Japan, Hayes occasionally worked as a photographic model. He can be seen in the handbook for the Canon AE1 camera, holding the camera.

Books by Stephen Hayes

Ninja combat method: A training overview manual, Beaver Products, 1975.
Ninja: Spirit of the Shadow Warrior, Ohara Publications, 1980. ISBN 0897500733
Ninja: Warrior Path of Togakure, Ohara Publications, 1983. ISBN 0897500903
Ninja: Legacy of the Night Warrior, Ohara Publications, 1984. ISBN 0897501020
Wisdom from the Ninja Village of the Cold Moon, Contemporary Books, 1984. ISBN 0809253836
Tulku: A Novel of Modern Ninja, Contemporary Books, 1985. ISBN 0809253321
The Mystic Arts of the Ninja, McGraw-Hill, 1985. ISBN 0809253437
Ninja Realms of Power: Spiritual Roots and Traditions of the Shadow Warrior, Contemporary Books, 1986.
The Ancient Art of Ninja Warfare: Combat, Espionage and Traditions, Contemporary Books, 1988. ISBN 0809253313
Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art, Tuttle Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0804816565
Enlightened self-protection: The Kasumi-An ninja art tradition : an original workbook, Nine Gates Press, 1992. ISBN 0963247395
First steps on the path of light: Tendai-shu Buddhist mind science study guide, self-published, 1997.
Secrets from the Ninja Grandmaster : Revised and Updated Edition (with Masaaki Hatsumi), Paladin Press, 2003. ISBN 1581603754
Action Meditation: The Japanese Diamond and Lotus Tradition, Self Published ISBN 0-9632473-7-9
How to Own the World: A Code for Taking the Path of the Spiritual Explorer, Self Published ISBN 0-9632473-2-8

Citations

External links