[Draven]

This should be a good thread starter. I've mentioned before that I knew and was friends with Ashida Kim and many of his students. And as always when this was brought up we were directed to the claims and acusations of the man being a fraud and a fake.

At any rate this is an article sent to me by one of Ashida Kim's students and a friend of mine. So here is the challenge, read this article and see exactly where the sources come from and what was really said. Then form your own opinions, if we can keep this from being a flame war and pissing context we might actually have some fun with the thread lol...

Analysis Of Koga Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu

Ashida Kim, has been a controversial subject for years. And, the "ninja war of words" between Ashida Kim & Stephen K. Hayes has been the inspiration of many ill-researched claims toward on side or the other. So, with this article I plan to discuss Ashida Kim and dissect his Koga Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu. My goal is to remain impartial in my assessments of the style. In order to do this I must put aside my personal friendships and will quote directly from the books written by Ashida Kim on the subjects of ninjitsu.

History of Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu:
The over all history of Koga Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu begins at China in the form of Sun Tzu’s art of war. From this source does Ashida Kim traces ninjitsu to Saijin Omoto (the first "Shinobi") of Japan. There is little other historical information on ninjitsu, however Ashida Kim does mention numerous masters of other styles outside of ninjitsu which leads one to believe Ashida Kim does not practice "pure" ninjitsu but a mix of other styles blended with ninjitsu, to form a modern day ninjitsu, draw from a traditional lineage.
Ashida Kim, also quotes externally of other sources such as Mitchivelli’s the Price as an example to reference. As such, it appears that Ashida Kim follows a Philosophical Tradition rather then a historical one. While a philosophical tradition many contain a deep historic tradition, the goal of a philosophical tradition is growth of the members and the tradition itself. As such only the "idea" or "spirit" of the tradition matters.
Further evidenced as a philosophical tradition in the 16th Chapter of the book Secrets of the Ninja published by Citadel Press under the heading Mugei-Mumei-no-jitsu "Ninjitsu is revealed here in as a pragmatic art. It will employ any technique from any source which will serve its purpose."

Philosophy of Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu:
The philosophy of Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu is divided among many areas of thought. For example, one may use any technique from any source that will serve one’s purposes. Likewise, one may be predisposed to learning or favoring a certain aspect. As such a person who believes strongly in spiritualism, meditation, magic or religion may in fact do so and employ these same concepts of study. At the same time, a person predisposed to believe in science and debases religion may also find use of the scientific psychological principles there of.
Ashida Kim refers to this philosophy as Mugei-Mumei-No-Jitsu "No Name No Art" in this philosophy one is to draw on anything of value to the individual and to in turn follow this advise "Ninjitsu is revealed here in as a pragmatic art. It will employ any technique from any source which will serve its purpose. It strives always to be with the natural order of things. This is the true meaning of passing without leaving a trace… The Ninja acts alone, relying on his [or her] own ability. He is one with himself."

Magical Powers of Hai Lung Ryu Ninjitsu:
While many people have claimed that Ashida Kim preaches a doctrine of magical powers and cult-like worship of Asian mysticism. I have found this to be exact opposite. Ashida Kim has & does quote from various texts and philosophies considered to be occultism in nature. However, this "occult-doctrine" is not the case of Ashida Kim’s personal agenda. He simply makes a reference to Shinto, Taoist & Buddhist philosophies which have influenced his art.
"Ninja place as much importance on the spiritual and mental aspects of their art as on the physical. To this end they have developed exercises to sharpen their perception and psychological insight. These techniques also serve to rejuvenate the body, calm the mind, and cultivate the inner strength. It was said that the ancient ninja could sense hidden enemies, foresee the imminent death of a sick or aged person, and predict the breakup of a marriage." From page five of Secrets of the Ninja.
While Ashida Kim states that the ninja could sense hidden enemies, foresee the imminent death of a sick or aged person and predict the break up of a marriage, he also attributes this to "perception & psychological insights." What magic is there in perception of one’s environment & other’s mental/emotional states and psychological insight there employed upon these perceptions?
Even in the next paragraph where Ashida Kim discusses meditation for developing chi & chi as inner strength. Ashida Kim further defines chi as "a force within all people that can be forged to perform the will." He goes on to say in the following paragraph that "The secret of meditation is regular practice. Perseverance, diligence and quiet determination are required."
So then while Ashida Kim makes claims of chi as a force within all people that can be forged to perform the will and arguably this can be seen as a description of magical powers or simply focused intent. Ashida Kim also goes on further to call the use of such mystical-occultism as exercise in regular practice, perseverance, diligence and quiet determination of perception and psychological insights. Is it magick or psychology, that Ashida Kim is referring to? Can it be both for those who believe in both, or simply allow one side to neglect the other through their own bias?
Does Ashida Kim, believe in magic? I don’t know, but let us assume he does for the sake of argument. Is this belief in magic any different then say the religions of many continents or in the belief in psychic powers? Not really, no. At the same time, however in the books Invisible Fist, Secrets of the Ninja & Ninja Secrets of Invisibility Ashida Kim also speaks of the power of belief & of how totems give faith to these who lack such belief in their personal strength of will. So then we are left to ask does Ashida Kim believe in magical powers or does he simply see them as psychological exercises to develop "faith?" Ultimately we are left with not knowing either but see evidence of both, allowing us to decide in that which we believe ourselves to be true or false behind a magician’s smoke screen.

Continued into Next Post....