Stephen K. Hayes
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Stephen K. Hayes (born September 9, 1949 in Delaware) is a martial arts teacher and author.
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[edit] Background
Black Belt Hall of Fame member, 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, and was once again featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine for their March 2007 issue. The issue contains a chapter from his soon-to-be-released book Ninja Vol 6, Secret Scrolls of the Warrior Sage. The magazine’s opening editorial as well focuses on Mr. Hayes, and describes him as "one of the 10 most influential living martial artists in the world."
[edit] 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 (tangsudo). 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 Grandmaster Masaaki Hatsumi, the founder of Bujinkan Dōjō. Stephen K. Hayes returned to the United States, and with his close friend Bud Malmstrom set off the "ninja boom" of the 1980s, 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 becoming aware of ninjutsu. A number of today's senior American Bujinkan practitioners began training with Hayes during this time period, including Bud Malmstrom, Jack Hoban, 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 was awarded the judan (tenth degree black belt) degree from Grandmaster Hatsumi. 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. Hayes has also founded a Buddhist Order based on his teachings and experiences with Tibetan Buddhism and Tendai called the Blue Lotus Assembly.
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.
[edit] 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.
He was the stunt double for Richard Chamberlain in the TV miniseries Shogun
[edit] Books by Stephen Hayes
- Ninja combat method: A training overview manual, Beaver Products, 1975.
- Ninja: Spirit of the Shadow Warrior, Ohara Publications, 1980. ISBN 0-89750-073-3
- Ninja: Warrior Path of Togakure, Ohara Publications, 1983. ISBN 0-89750-090-3
- Ninja: Legacy of the Night Warrior, Ohara Publications, 1984. ISBN 0-89750-102-0
- Wisdom from the Ninja Village of the Cold Moon, Contemporary Books, 1984. ISBN 0-8092-5383-6
- Ninjutsu, McGraw-Hill, 1984. ISBN 0-8092-5478-6
- Tulku: A Novel of Modern Ninja, Contemporary Books, 1985. ISBN 0-8092-5332-1
- The Mystic Arts of the Ninja, McGraw-Hill, 1985. ISBN 0-8092-5343-7
- Ninja Realms of Power: Spiritual Roots and Traditions of the Shadow Warrior, Contemporary Books, 1986. ISBN 0-8092-5334-8
- The Ancient Art of Ninja Warfare: Combat, Espionage and Traditions, Contemporary Books, 1988. ISBN 0-8092-5331-3
- Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art, Tuttle Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0-8048-1656-5
- Enlightened self-protection: The Kasumi-An ninja art tradition : an original workbook, Nine Gates Press, 1992. ISBN 0-9632473-9-5
- Action Meditation: The Japanese Diamond and Lotus Tradition, Nine Gates Press, 1993. ISBN 0-9632473-7-9
- 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 1-58160-375-4
- How to Own the World: A Code for Taking the Path of the Spiritual Explorer, self-published, 2006. ISBN 0-9632473-2-8
