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...

The Ninja Mind is the mindset that perceives things from the perspective of a ninja.
The historical ninja of Japan were known for their unconventional perspectives, perspectives that freed them to perceive possibilities that their enemies could scarcely imagine.

It’s not easy to develop an unconventional perspective – that’s why it’s unconventional. The ninja trained their minds and hearts in order to perceive the world differently. They studied Japanese shamanism, Buddhism, Taoist theory, and of course the warrior ways of Japan. They also studied politics, economics, history, and art. Then they took all this knowledge and went out into the world, observing the way of things and how history unfolds. Over time, this allowed them to develop a view bigger than an ordinary person.

Unconventional perspectives are not the same as countercultural or unpopular perspectives. While the ninja could certainly entertain countercultural or unpopular thoughts if it helped them to do so, the kneejerk tendency toward contrarianism is just as limited as blind conformity. Contrarianism and conformity both suffer by being trapped in a view, unable to seriously consider alternatives.

The Ninja Mind constantly asks, “What if things are not as they appear to be?” The Ninja Mind actively looks for clues pointing to a greater reality, asking why things appear as they do. Some of the hardest things to question are the things which are most obvious and seemingly unchanging in our lives – it is obvious, for example, that the sky is blue. However, if we ask “Why is the sky blue? Does it always have to be so?” we are led to a deeper understanding of both color and the nature of the sky.

This is a simple example that helps to explain the ninja mindset. The real questions are such things as “Why do the obstacles in my life exist? What created them? What sustains them?” In questioning, the ninja comes to understand obstacles in an unconventional way, and from there, creative and skillful solutions can be formed.