Dangerously awesome. Rumiko Hayes is easily one of the most inspiring martial artists in the world. As a smaller person, she has meticulously perfected her taijutsu movement to handle attackers of any size. Watching her effortlessly defend against the biggest guys in the dojo is always an impressive experience. And she does it with a smile on her face.
An-shu Rumiko grew up in a fishing village on the coast of Kyushu, the Southernmost region of Japan. As a child she was captivated by a cartoon ninja show called Kaze no Fujimaru. “When I was little, ninja were very popular on television, in movies, and in comic books. To me, the ninja was a superhero, and I wanted to be one too. I used to play with swords and pretend that I was a ninja even though I knew they weren’t real anymore.”
After graduating from college in Toyko, Rumiko was hired at Canon Camera, where she met Stephen. Soon after, she discovered that he was in Japan to study the mysterious art of ninjutsu, and even helped him to translate some of the ninja grandmaster’s books into English. In studying these books, her passion for the ninja was reignited, and she had to visit the dojo to experience the training for herself.
“The training was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. Everything we did was designed for us to overcome any challenges we may encounter in real life. In the end, what I gained as a person was how to look at life from a higher perspective. By that, I mean how to really value yourself, your relationships and others — it’s what I call the ninja mind.”
An-shu Rumiko’s training never slowed. She continued to perfect her movement, and even mastered the naginata, a 7ft long Japanese halberd. This weapon is large and heavy. Swinging it around will quickly tire the arms and shoulders. It requires skillful positioning and footwork to use effectively against a dangerous opponent.
“I am a small person. So for me, the best part of close quarters training was learning that by using precise timing and proper body positioning, the self-defense techniques put me at an advantage against a much larger adversary.”
An-shu Rumiko assisted her husband in the development of To-Shin Do. Additionally, she teaches the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. She created a yoga-like system called Ryu Tai, “Dragon Body” to enhance strength and flexibility for all students of martial arts. She is also a skilled organic cook, and a musician. She has been playing the Japanese Koto stringed-instrument for over 30 years.
An-shu Rumiko continues to teach at training events and seminars across the country. She always strives to be an encouraging presence in the dojo, helping others see for themselves the great strength and power they hold within. She is often reminding us to SMILE (See Miracles in Life Everyday!)
