To Shin Do: History and Tradition

The Tokagure Ryu itself was the result of a forced "musha shugyo" or warrior errantry in the life of Diasuke Nishina, the originator of the Budo Taijutsu system in the late 1100's. Diasuke had originally been trained in the ways of the Tokagure Mountain shugendo, a practice of warrior asceticism and power development in which attunement with and direction of the natural elements is gained. The mountain dojo of the Tokagure shugenja practitioners had been established by the warrior monk En no Gyoja during the reign of Tenmu Tenno in the year A.D. 637. The teachings were handed down from one generation to another for 500 years until the young Daisuke found himself involved in the seemingly magical methods of self-protection attained by the warrior wizards of Tokagure. With those wild holy men of the mountains, Daisuke exposed himself to the elements of nature, the demands of the body and emotions, and the intricacies of the intellect, in order to transcend all and attain the spiritual heights that are said to lend one the "mind and eyes of God".

Throughout the seasons, the energetic Daisuke practiced the ways of physical and spiritual endurance taught by his hermit mentors high in the peaks of the Joshinetsu Plateau. Eventually, Daisuke's fascination with the ways of heaven, earth, and mankind, as embodied by his fanatical teachers, was put to the ultimate test when Heike troops moved in to crush local resistance. The teenage Daisuke sided with Kiso Yoshinaka, in the year 1181. After three years of intermittent battling, the locals were defeated by the invaders who went on to rule the nation of Japan in the later years of the 12th century.

Diasuke was forced to flee for survival. He left his northern home and wandered in exile to the remote Iga province far away to the southwest of his original nal family home. There he encountered he mystic warrior priest Kain Doshi, who further initiated the youthful Daisuke in the ways of warrior power. In compliment to his experiences with the yamabushi of Tokagure Mountain, Daisuke learned the omote (outer) and ura ( inner) manifestation of worldly perspective as he moved thorough his training in the powers of light and darkness. The exiled warrior plummeted and soared thorough new levels of consciousness, awareness and perspective.

To commemorate his rebirth on a new level of living, Daisuke Nishina assumed the name of Daisuke Tokagure, reflecting his roots and celebrating the flowering of his destiny. Thus was established the foundation of what later generations would come to know as the Tokagure-Ryu, or tradition of Budo Taijutsu, the esoteric natural life ways made famous by the ninja phantom warriors of feudal Japan

Stephen K. Hayes, Ninja Volume III: Warrior Path of Tokagure

Ancient Yamabushi warrior priest

Following the great cultural and political change in the nation of Japan during the Meiji Era, there were significant changes in the martial arts. Most martial arts were altered to reflect an emphasis of personal development, sacrificing the life-protection methods distilled by centuries of combat. The old arts became rituals of movement, designed to reflect a "modern" spirit of gentlemanly, civilized art. Very few masters retained the lessons and essence of their arts as combat proven skills. As they died, scorned as barbaric relics of a long dead era by the modern martial arts students, so did their secrets and information, often as they had no heir to pass along their legacy.

Masaaki Hatsumi assumed the title of Soke shortly before Takamatsu's death. His title confers authority of the generations past in the following arts:

34th Soke of Tokagure-Ryu Ninpo; founded by Daisuke Togakure
28th Soke Gyokko-Ryu Koshijutsu; founded by Hakuunsai Tozawa
28th Soke of Kuki Shinden-Ryu Happo Hiken; founded by Izumo Kanja
26th Soke of Shinden Fudo-Ryu Dakentaijutsu; founded by Izumo Kanja
21st Soke Gyokushin-Ryu Ninpo; founded by Sasaki Goemon Teruyoshi
18th Soke of Koto-Ryu Koppojutsu; founded by Sandayu Momochi
18th Soke of Gikan-Ryu Koppo; founded by Sonyu Hangan Gikanbo, Lord of Kawachi
17th Soke Takagi Yoshin-Ryu Jutaijutsu; founded by Oriuemon Shigenobu
14th Soke Kumogakure-Ryu Ninpo; founded by Heinaizaemon Ienaga Iga

Soke Masaaki Hatsumi

Gambatte "Keep Going! - Forget your sadness, anger, grudges and hatred. Let them pass like smoke caught in a breeze. You should not deviate from the path of righteousness; you should lead a life worthy of a man. Don't be possessed by greed, luxury, or your ego. You should accept sorrows, sadness and hatred as they are, and consider them a chance for trial given to you by the powers...a blessing given by nature. Have both your mind and your time fully engaged in budo, and have your mind deeply set on bujutsu."

Founder Stephen K. Hayes, his wife Rumiko and Bujinkan Grandmaster Hatsumi

Hatsumi founded the Bujinkan Dojo ("Warrior God Training Hall") for the purpose of disseminating the information and enlightenment lessons of Budo Taijutsu to the whole world. His students, upon receiving the title of Shidoshi (teacher of the warrior ways of enlightenment) have the authority to begin their own organizations for the same purpose of bringing these amazing concepts to the world around them. For some time, Hatsumi's group of students remained small and dedicated, until the 1970's, when Westerners began to seek out the legacy of he Ninja in Japan.

One such seeker of knowledge, Stephen Hayes, came to Japan in search of the ultimate martial art. After several disappointing encounters with what appeared to be useless leads and dead ends, he finally met Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. After completing his apprenticeship under Dr. Hatsumi, and fully completing his first phase of training in the Bujinkan, Hayes was directed to leave the safety and security of the dojo. He was to return to the United States and share his knowledge with those who would learn.

Unfortunately, his arrival came but a short while before the "ninja boom" of the 1980's. Despite the negative stereotypes, the false teachers posed in black gi's, and crack-pot military camps claming to teach Budo Taijutsu, Hayes founded the Kasumi-An dojo. During the early years Stephen Hayes taught by giving a series of seminars and lectures to many different students across the country and the world. He was, at the time, the only true teacher of Budo Taijutsu in the Western world. Despite the bad publicity and numerous "fakes", Budo Taijutsu has flowered in America, and several Americans have traveled to Japan to begin their tutelage under Dr. Hatsumi.

Stephen Hayes' Kasumi-An Dojo represents thousands of dedicated teachers and students of an authentic Budo Taijutsu tradition. There are several dojos across the country who are affiliated with the Kasumi-An/Quest Center Dojos, including the Tampa Quest Center, which is located in Tampa, Florida. For a listing of other dojos who are affiliated with and teach the warrior ways of enlightenment of the Kasumi-An/Quest Center Dojos visit our links page or visit the Stephen K. Hayes Home Page.