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Iron Body Ninja: The Secrets of Superior Strength

Iron Body Ninja: The Secrets of Superior Strength

List Price: $9.95
Your Price: $9.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Your life depends on the Truth
Review: Ashida Kim came to South Africa in about 1988/1989 and I briefly met him. At that stage I was learning ninjutsu under Brin Morgan. Brin Morgan is a personal student of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi and is one of the most highly qualified ninjutsu practitioners in the Western World.

To cut a long story short, Ashida Kim's real name is Radfid Davies (not sure of the spelling) and he is not an authority on ninjutsu. The ninjutsu fraternity is very aware of his shortcomings but leave him to his own devices in the knowledge that the true seekers on ninjutsu will unravel the truth.

Stephen Hayes is one of the few legitimate authors of ninjutsu. He speaks Japanese fluently, is married to a Japanese woman and is a personal student and friend of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. Books written by Stephen Hayes are based on information gained from Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi who is the present grandmaster of ninjutsu and therefore the undisputed authority on ninjutsu. Hopefully this snippet of truth shall set you free.

May the force be with you in your quest to seek out the truth.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Uncertain...
Review: At first when I read this book I was suprised at depth and number of excercises it had in it, which all seemed valid regardless of whether Ashida Kim is truly Oriental or not. After reading some reviews of this book I began to doubt its credibility, but most of the people raging at Kim didn't seem to have much reason behind their words, and just called him things like a "bath-robe wearing pansy". Since I had purchased some other Kim titles which also seemed credible, I went to [the website] on the internet, and am starting to also doubt the truth behind his words. In his books he preaches a peaceful way of life, but then his site features a "[bad] list" of all the people he would like to sue, maim, etc. When I went to his sight I figured I would find information to back up my belief in him, but I'm starting to have my doubts. Visit the site and see for yourself. Just because I don't agree with him doesn't mean his exercises are bad though, but practice at your discretion. Another thing I don't understand is all these other Ninjitsu trainee reviewers with all this supposed experience behind them. You rave at Kim for encouraging violencein a peaceful art and say how you can beat him up. What happened to controlling your agression? Seriously people, you may have mastered the technique, but the roots of ANY martial arts form run much deeper than just the punches and kicks.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Bash the book, not the author (however, both are good)
Review: I've read the Ashida Kim series before. They're different in the regard that if you truly want to learn what he teaches, you have to experience for yourself what he describes. He isn't giving you the guided tour or a checklist, he instead tells you WHY something will work rather HOW to do it. This leaves with the options to either not do what is needed and cry about it, or to create a way within the boundaries he described and do what needs to be done. This book is no different, if you want to learn it, you must first experience it.

For all (if not most of) the negative reviewers: You repeatedly bash Ashida Kim because he's not asian, and thus cannot be a true ninja, or something along those lines. I'm not asian either, but does that mean that I can't learn Jeet Kune Do? No, because there is no rule that only Asians can learn and practice such skills (though I agree with Bruce Lee, JKD is not a conventional martial art, because it uses no-style as style). Just how do you know the limits of another person's knowledge? Do you know whether I took physics or programming? How do you know what I've learned and haven't learned? I make a point to never get into a fight with somebody I don't know, because I don't know the extent of his training, or lack thereof. So unless you've actually met Kim and field tested both his methods and your own, don't disrespect it. In other words, don't knock it until you've tried it (I note that in most of the negative reviews there are no "So-and-so idea repeatedly failed for me" type of sentences, just insults to Ashida Kim and comparisons to other Ninjitsu instructors, whom I haven't read from but will still respect for their efforts.)

On another note, there are variations of the spellings in books about Ninjitsu : some say NinjUtsu, some say (and I prefer) NinjItsu. In any case what does it matter? Which is more important: a name like "Sprialing fist of death" or a technique to knock a guy down in one hit with no name at all?
Ninjitsu after all is the essence of "No-Name, No-Art

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Lacks intellegence to have real authority on subject
Review: If you want to find a real book on ninjitsu dont bother with this guy. All he needs to do Is open up a mcdonalds dojo. Must be too broke for the dojo, so instead he is writing for money since he cant find any students. please take my advice and dont waste your money.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good book, but not authentic ninjutsu
Review: Let me make one thing clear: This book is not authentic ninjutsu. In fact, it is closer to being shaolin qiqong than ninjutsu (the Da Mo series, for example). It even has sections with yoga in it (sun salute)!
This book is divided into many different sections, each of which are not necessarily originated from the same art (and definitely not from ninjutsu). This doesn't stop the book from being good, however, but it does impede readability for the reader who knows something on the subject already.
I would recommend this book for intermediate qiqong practicioners that are looking for ways to improve their qiqong, but I would NOT recommend this book to anyone trying to learn more about ninjutsu.
Also, the last section of this book (on iron body) is really dangerous, even for someone who knows what they are doing, and although the author stresses precaution, anyone without years of preliminary training will get hurt if they try and practice the exercises described.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What?
Review: Ninjitsu? I thought it was ninjUtsu. Iaijitsu? I thought it was iaijUtsu. Tsubo? I thought it was Tsuba. Sayo? I thought it was Saya. Wow, he sure does spell a lot of these wrong.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not real Ninjutsu, Buyer beware!
Review: The only reason this book gets a 1 star is because negative stars don't exist! This book is a sham, "Ashida Kim"'s real name is Christopher Hunter, he changed it to sound more Asian. He has not trained in Ninjutsu a day in his life, but writes fiction as fact in books about the "iron body", "the death touch", and "turning invisible". If you're interesting in learnign about real Ninjutsu, study the Bujinkan dojo and read a book by Soke, Masaaki Hatsumi.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Ninjutsu?!! A Confused Author, Perhaps?
Review: The techniques which the author describes most definately have nothing to do with authentic ninja arts (ninpo). They are a blend between yoga and some of the more superstitious and outdated Chinese Chi-Gong (power building) exercises. The sole improvement I can see over this author's earlier books is the fact that there has been no outright "borrowing" of materials from authentic and established ninjutsu intructors' published writings. As there is no bibliography provided, I don't know where the other fanciful theories presented in this volume originated.

There are some terrific books on ninjustu out there (anything by Masaaki Hatsumi), and also some wonderful books on Iron Palm and Iron Body training in the Chinese martial arts (Brian Gray's two books come to mind). I don't like being overly negative, but this book made me feel cheated and I must admit, somewhat embarrassed. I can't begin to guess at the reasons this author has for bestowing upon his novels such misleading and nonsensical titles.


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