In 1998 I stumbled in to To-Shin Do without any real consciousness of how profoundly it would become my life. The system had only just taken the name To-Shin Do in 1996, but it is the distillation of ancient ninjutsu, the art of the ninja, as experienced by the great martial arts legend Stephen K. Hayes. As a yellow belt, as I read his biography and the story of his journey to Japan to lift this astonishing martial art out of the shadows, I recognized a spiritual journey as well. I resonated with his description of his adventure and the insights he gained.

His journey included ordination in the Tendai sect of Buddhism in Japan, which led me to investigate the same in 2000. His journey included training in classical weapons such as sword and shuriken, which led me to do the same, earning my first Kihon licenses in classical weapons in 2004. His journey included bodyguarding for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, which led me to study and develop the skills that ultimately led me to bodyguard for His Holiness the 17th Karmapa of Tibet in 2008.

To-Shin Do unfolded in my life as a proving ground for my spiritual insights. If I thought I recognized something about the nature of time and space, I could quickly test myself with people who tried to punch me, kick me, or choke me unconscious. If I thought I had reached an inner state beyond any disturbance, I could swiftly experience as much pain, struggle, or awkward failure as needed to clarify my actual attitude. Transcendent fantasies were quickly dispelled. Not only could I not phase through solid objects, but I also couldn’t entirely contain or ignore my displeasure at being dominated, overwhelmed, or panicked in martial practice.

During the early years of my training, it became clear to me that I demanded a spiritual truth which could persevere beyond a few seconds of anger or struggle. I was humbled but motivated to realize that real spiritual presence in the world was going to take a lot more inner strength than I guessed - an inner strength cultivated to be ready in a heartbeat, in the face of all kinds of actual and perceived threats. Without that, any person, or even the accidents and whims of nature, could take away my equanimity, skill, and happiness almost instantly.

As the years passed, I put my theories to the test and discovered more about the right way to move, speak, and think. I found truth grounded in experience and experiment. As a member now of the To-Shi order of protectors, I have access to even more of the inner secrets of how life works and how we work in it. I train with more enthusiasm than ever, and I bring a warrior’s commitment to determining what is real, worthwhile, and reliable.

The results of my studies are many, but one very visible result is our dojo community. Come see what we've built, and then let me show you how to make your own dreams real...