Hanshi Stephen Kaufman has enjoyed an extensive career in the martial arts world since the middle 1950’s. An acknowledged founding father of American Karate, he is, along with his rank and title Hanshi 10th dan, Shodai soke, 1st generation founder of Dojo no Hebi-School of the Snake (Hebi-Ryu Budo), considered by many masters to be one of the most formidable and realistic martialist methods in the world. He began serious study of Ishinryu karate in Naha, Okinawa while serving in the United States Air Force and was one of the first USAF karate instructors as part of the American Karate Federation (Accredited by the Japan Karate Assn: Messrs. Shuji Masutani, Masotomo Takagi, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Charles R. Collinsworth).
He is the author of 37 books, including the world famous Martial Artist’s Book of Five Rings, Sun Tzu’s Art of War, The Shogun’s Scroll, The Living Tao, The Sword in the Boardroom, The Way of the Modern Warrior, among others.
