The "Ninja" series 1-5, featuring the beautiful full-color cover artwork of Gregory Manchess, published in the years between 1980 -1989, offers the higher-level philosophical aspects of the ninja arts with a look at the combat techniques in action. These were the original volumes that identified Stephen K. Hayes as an extraordinary writer-scholar willing to explore the spiritual significance of authentic warriorship to a depth unapproached by any martial arts writer before.

Ninja Vol. 5 - "Lore of the Shinobi Warrior" deals with how to practice fundamental defenses and counters as skill-building drills, real-world situational self-defense, false legends of the ninja, bringing the lore to the West, interview with Stephen K. Hayes.