The Invisible Fist: Secret Ninja Methods of Vanishing Without a Trace

Use your mind, readers and seekers; support of random and violent acts is not the way of a martial artist, and never has been the way of the schools and families that have contributed to ninjutsu over the millennium.


Ashida Kim... Human being, teacher, Ninja.   October 30, 1999
 10 out of 17 found this review helpful

If you're reading a review of this book, you're looking for an opinion on which to base your purchase. Here is mine, but I also discern it from the facts. I highly value this book more than any other I own on Ninjitsu. I have learned an enormous amount from it, and it has improved my life. Some people say Ashida Kim teaches only basic karate moves. Ashida Kim teaches invisibility here and stresses it more than anything. The prime concern with all the tactics are hiding oneself to stop or avoid a conflict. There may at some points be moves that resemble karate but, there are only so many ways the body can move. All styles of physical combat are merely variations.

As for Ashida Kim being a fake, A Zen Koan fondly comes to mind (there are a few versions of it): A decorated martial artist comes to a new teacher to learn a new style of combat and is invited in for tea. He talks about all of his victories as the sage pours the hot liquid... when the cup is full, the sage keeps pouring, spilling it on the hand of the student. "WHY DID YOU KEEP POURING???", asked the student. "Your head is like the cup", said the sage.

The point is, Ashida Kim has something to teach. Call it what you will. He isn't here to prove a point, himself, or his style. What you can learn from something and how it affects your life is what counts. There are many roads up the mountain who's summit is your goal. This may be the road for you, maybe it isn't. Life is a learning process.


Ashida Kim is helping people...   October 26, 1999
 5 out of 10 found this review helpful

Ashida Kim has as always carefully written a helpful text to help others find the Way. Whether truth or fiction, the book is carefully laid out for those individuals who are capable to find the Way. The techniques in this book, as in all others, require a great deal of practice, discipline and self understanding to make effective, but once one has trained oneself to this level, the techniques do nothing but shine. One will find that other schools only delude themselves into thinking that the skill levels that those in their schools have attained are capable in combat. Some say Ninjitsu would never be good in a competitive arena, some say Koga Hei Long Pao Ying techniques are fairy tale. Only those who have trained themselves to a high enough level will be able to see past their own emotions and mental states to see these techniques for what they are.