"Avoid being seen; seen, avoid capture; captured, avoid being held." This was the credo of the shinobi ninja of medieval Japan, and the strategy and skills required to accomplish this ideal were known as taisavaki-jutsu - the art of avoidance or, more simply, "the shadowhand." Through this careful study of these ninja shadow-masters, including in-depth discussion of the nine training halls of ninjutsu, the basics of human sight and the quest for invisibility, the serious martial artist gains an appreciation of the devastating techniques of stealth, secrecy and subterfuge they collected, honed and practiced in order to strike down their enemies. The second half of the book shows the modern shadowhander how to apply the strategies and techniques of ninja taisavaki, including ukemi methods of movement used to disguise intention, and strikes, kicks, combinations and grappling techniques used to misdirect the enemy's attention.

Table of Contents:
Introduction The Upperhand of Shadowhand Part I Appreciation: Masters in the Shadows Chapter 1 - Shadow Walkers Chapter 2 - The Ninja Shadowhand Origins of the Ninja The Myth The Fact The Nine Training Halls of Ninjutsu Unarmed Combat Combat with Wooden Weapons Combat with Blade Weapons Combat with Flexible Weapons Specialized Combat Training The Art of Disguise The Art of Espionage The Art of Escape and Evasion The Art of Mysticism Chapter 3 - Taisavaki-jutsu (Art of Avoidance) Chapter 4 - The Basics of Seeing The Three We See Movement Shadow, Shape, and Silhouette Color To See or Not to See Field of Vision Line of Sight Peripheral Vision Uncommon "Sense" Physical Blind Spots Warnings FLAGS Object Fixedness The Straw Man Chapter 5 - The Quest for Invisibility Invisibility in Western Tradition The Shadow Knows! Modern Accounts of Invisibility Invisibility in Eastern Tradition Indian Invisibility Techniques The Anahata Chakra The Mahashunya Shinobi Ninja Invisibility Explanations for Invisibility Physical Explanations Scientific Explanations The Physical Explanation Invisibility Versus Shadowhand Part II Application: Mastering the Shadowhand Chapter 6 - The Strategy of The Shadowhand Disguising Intention Attitude Masking Your Wa Approach Attack! Ukemi (Methods of Movement) Forward Diagonal Step Half-Moon Step Over-the-Fence Pivot Chinese Shift Horse-Stance Shift The Duck Chinese Squat Arch escape Misdirecting Attention Chapter 7 - The Techniques of the Shadowhand Daikentaijutsu (Striking) The Collapsing Principle Striking with the Hands Striking Inside The Rising Sun Shadowhand Combinations Low Blows Arch-Escape Striking Striking with the Feet Kicks and the Collapsing Principle Hidden Kicks Additional Unarmed Strikes The Turtle's Head Forearm Blows The Short Wing Shoulder Head Butt Hips Shin Jutaijutsu (Grappling) Hidden Sweeps Hidden Throws Kobudo-Jutsu (Weapons Use) Shadow Weapons Conclusion The "Perfect" Weapon Bibliography Index Glossary of Schools, Strategies, and Techniques