To-Shin Do is a martial art style established by Stephen K. Hayes as a means of teaching ninjutsu (or taijutsu) in a format more accessible to American audiences. It is now practiced in other countries including the U.K.,Belgium, and Italy. His prior organizations, the Shadows of Iga Ninja Society, and the Nine Gates Institute, relied more on the Bujinkan’s methods of instruction. To-Shin Do was founded with the aim of blending classical martial arts techniques taught with more modern educational methods and techniques, classic weapons can also be learned in to-shin do.
In 2008, Ricky Sweum founded the Pikes Peak Quest Club located in Colorado Springs, CO. He is the first person to officially offer the To-Shin Do curriculum in that city. He holds the ranks of 2nd Degree Black Belt in To-Shin Do and a 4th Degree Black Belt in Budo Taijutsu.
Sweum began training 15 years ago at “New York Budo” with Jean-Pierre Sieble (Stephen Hayes’s first student to bring ninjutsu to NYC). He received his Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1998. Under Sieble’s direction, he was put in charge of the S.T.O.R.M team (special team of role models) and eventually led the black belt instructor team just before the closing of the dojo in 2000.
After NY Budo closed, Jason Bell (one of Jean-Pierre Sieble’s top students) started “DojoLab” in NYC. Many of NY Budo’s students continued to train there until it’s closing in 2001. While at DojoLab, Sweum received his Nidan (second degree black belt) and continued to teach regularly.
When DojoLab closed, Sweum continued his warrior training under Mark Guest at his “Bruin Bujinkan Dojo”. In 2002 he was awarded his Sandan (third degree black belt) and given a Shidoshi-ho license (junior master instructor). In 2003 he received his Yondan (fourth degree black belt). Also during these years, he cross-trained in Aikido at the NY Aikikai, attended seminars in Boston with Dr. Yang Jing Ming on Shaolin Chin Na, studied the Jinenkan system of ninjutsu, and attended many senior Bujinkan seminars including Hatsumi Soke, Miramatsu, Bud Malstrom, Jack Hoban, Tim Bathurst, and Stephen Hayes.
In 2003, Sweum left New York to join the United States Air Force as a musician and moved to Texas for two years. During this time he began the To-Shin Do black belt home study program that had just begun through Stephen Hayes. Even though he held a Yondan through the Bujinkan ranking, he felt it was important to be ranked in Mr. Hayes’s new To-Shin Do system. Sweum started over as a white belt and in 2005 became the first ever to complete his Shodan through the home study program. He was also able to travel to Japan for further study with Hatsumi Soke.
TO-SHIN DO Historical Legacy
The Kasumi-An martial art of To-Shin Do was born of the historical legacy behind three important roots of the ancient cultural heritage of Japan:
TO – the sword
From the ninja combat methods of the legendary phantom warriors born of Mt. Togakure and cultivated in the wooded mountains and marshes of shadowy Iga comes the core of our physical protection techniques and strategies. To-Shin Do martial arts practice is a great way to reduce stress and increase strength, endurance, and flexibility, while fostering a sense of peace, security, and control in life.
SHIN – the focused spirit of intention
From the kuji intention-channeling training of the shugenja mountain spirit seekers of Mt. Yoshino comes the essence of our program for the discovery and development of the nine key qualities that characterize a fully actualized human being. We can achieve a more focused and disciplined understanding of the cause and effect dynamics that lead to success and fulfillment in life.
DO – the path to mastery
From age-old Himalayan mind, spirit and personal mastery sciences comes the technique of cultivating our unlimited physical, mental, emotional and spiritual potentials. We can learn skillful ways to transform the inner and outer challenges of life, and ultimately come to grips with the very question of how to experience directly the significance of life itself.