Shadow Strategies of an American Ninja Master

Rating:
Summary: Yet another mind-expanding book by Glenn Morris
Review: Glenn Morris furthers the subjects he originally touched on in his book "Path Notes," and also gives even more insights into his experiences with meditation, things that go "bump" in the night (as well as the mind!), and his experiences in the martial arts. His insights are useful in exploring the inner workings of the mind, the body, and the spirit, as well as expanding your knowledge of your OWN martial art, whether it be aikido, kung fu, karate, ninjutsu, or whatever.

And, to make matters even better, check out his reading list / bibliography for an even more intense mind screw! :)

Rating:
Summary: Yet another mind-expanding book by Glenn Morris
Review: Glenn Morris furthers the subjects he originally touched on in his book "Path Notes," and also gives even more insights into his experiences with meditation, things that go "bump" in the night (as well as the mind!), and his experiences in the martial arts. His insights are useful in exploring the inner workings of the mind, the body, and the spirit, as well as expanding your knowledge of your OWN martial art, whether it be aikido, kung fu, karate, ninjutsu, or whatever.

And, to make matters even better, check out his reading list / bibliography for an even more intense mind screw! :)

Rating:
Summary: Ruminations of a Ninjutsu Teacher....
Review: Glenn Morris picks up where he left off in his first book, "Path Notes of an American Ninja Master" (1993). This is not an instructional book on ninjutsu per se (no pictures), although it is chok-full of Morris's further journey on the martial arts /ninpo path (Bujinkan style under Masaaki Hatsumi), anecdotes and interpretations of philosophy, both Asian, Occidental, and other. I found it similar in some ways to Robert Smith's book, "Martial Musings". Some of Glenn Morris's most interesting views he presents in Chapter 9, "Characteristics of Shugyosha Across Cultures" (page 169). Shugyosha he defines as a person who is searching for the truth...I have a feeling that this is what Morris is doing with his series of books.

There is also the enjoyably opinionated Chapter 11, "Mud and Water, Purity and Power" where Morris allows his biases against other well known (sometimes questionable) martial artists of our time, to hang out in the wind. Among them Harunaka Hoshino (originally known as Chi Yuan) who created his own ninpo art from Japanese karate and kobudo during the ninja boom, Choi Hong-hi of Taekwon-Do whom he lambasts as having earned only shodan (1st black belt) before his return to Korea from Japan (now, now--nobody promoted Hatsumi sensei to 15th dan), and Genbukan Ninpo's Shoto Tanemora, once a student of Ninja Great Masaaki Hatsumi (and others) whom he dismisses as "...another cop..." with robotic movements (page 244). Some of the criticisms are fair, some are not...Morris doesn't bother to share his sources.

I don't accept Glenn Morris's interpretations and claims concerning the many things supernatural/psychic which pepper his writings--but if I only read things I agreed with, I wouldn't be living! I am, I admit, a cautious skeptic. I find Morris to be overly generous in the way he doles out his faith, often optimistic in accepting theories and studies which have not been scientifically counducted or checked, although even he draws the line at things like Alien abductions (see Chapter 13, pages 312-316). On the other hand, his insights are honest, and personal. In sharing his beliefs, he hides nothing, holds back nothing. Reading between the (esoteric) lines without any adaptation or interpretation, I find much of the advice he offers on this volume to be homespun, and often sensible.

Morris seems a cross between a scholar-warrior and a pseudo-intellectual hippy. This book is entertaining and fun to read. You don't have to share the man's opinions or beliefs to enjoy his adventures. If you enjoy martial arts autobiographies, or reading the personal thoughts of other people, this volume is just the thing.

Rating:
Summary: Cheerfully blows your mind to little bits, & you'll love it.
Review: There are some vague, wishy-washy, picturesque people out there who call themselves 'New Agers', and they're all well and good - but for my money Glenn Morris is the only true 'New Age' guy out there, that I've come across anyhow.

Why? Because not only has he really DONE the stuff that old Tantric and Taoist and Shamanistic cultures talk about (experiencing in the process what many would regard as marvels, and finding ways to teach them more effectively than many who take themselves more seriously) - with all this, he STILL sees everything as cross-cultural, as scientifically replicable, as doable by anyone. He's into freedom of knowledge. He trusts the general public not to be idiots. You don't have to join anything or be anyone in particular. You don't have to 'believe'. You don't become a celibate hermit (if you don't want to). You just do it!

Moreover, he's funny. He's a great writer. He's a very skilled (hall of fame) martial artist cheerfully referred to in certain quarters as 'Dr. Death'. He just has a terrific attitude! Here's someone who's gone through all the old coded stuff and really distilled it, and now he just hands it out with no strings! That's the way to make a real 'New Age' - one focussed on sharing information respectfully (the way scientists do) rather than keeping it a secret, and on allowing the student to make it his/her own, rather than having to subscribe to some dogma. Glenn Morris doesn't want followers, he just wants some cool people to hang out with. He wants YOU to get IT.

This is the second and biggest (400 pages) and most philosophically inclined of his three books on martial arts, enlightenment, life, the universe and everything. It's too much to break it all down. You may not breeze through it the way you did with 'Path Notes' because there's alot to take in - but you'll find yourself returning to it. I often catch myself wondering where I read some little tidbit, and mostly it turns out to have been in here.

I'd have a hard time describing the content of this book to anyone. The 'Shadow' of the title is your true self or maybe its distortion - Jungian psychologists will always feel at home with Dr. Morris - and in essence the theme throughout the book is how to get in touch with it, how NOT to, what to think about it, how to spot people who've lost it, who've integrated it, and who are still working on it.

Now if you suspect maybe this is a big subject - well, yes, it is! To Morris's way of thinking it could take in anything from finding ways of walking and/or balancing your movement through to discussions of the difference between the psychopathic and the saintly. There's a big block of comparative religion, taking in not only basic tenets but also the ('paranormal') signs of enlightenment as seen from various scriptural perspectives. There's talk on the questions of friendship, respect, and moral behaviour (sounds boring? - isn't!). Use of weapons. The role of women in martial arts (with mention of many very positive exemplars). Energy skills. Near death experiences. Intuition, leadership, strategy, learning theory....

Much of the material has stunning, even prophetic impact since it was published in 1996. Now that religious warfare has broken out, a re-reading of Morris' dissection both of the underlying samenesses in all religious systems (vs. the way these can be perverted), and also of the American Way - its virtues, and its Shadow distortions - is quite essential. As the world situation worsens, one may find the ninja techniques of self-concealment equally valuable! All this plus hip throws, diet, gods, and the biggest and best and baddest annotated bibliography known to man.

I can't recommend this large, knowledgeable, chatty, laugh-out-loud funny tome of rambling insight enough. The man's a phenomenon, some mutant cross of Falstaff and Musashi and Jung and Lao-Tzu. If only everyone could read this, and his other stuff, and every book in the bibliography too, plus of course do the meditations.... But at least I can, and at least you can. Rest assured, Morris's path is eventful and stimulating to say the least! But we're all living in 'interesting times' anyhow, shadowy ones, like it or not. This will help you prepare and get through it. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Home run, again.
Review: This guy is just amazing. He comes back to answer all of the questions you had from the first book. If you miss these you are missing the chance to improve every aspect of your life. It makes it easier to laugh at all our demons. Mr Morris is uncanny in his observations and ability to relay such amazing information. Definate must for any one interested in martial arts, self-improvement or self-exploration.