When an administration publicly claims that the founder’s signature is invalid, the issue extends far beyond disagreement. It calls into question the administration’s integrity, legitimacy, and relationship to martial tradition. Such a statement is not only culturally unacceptable but organizationally self-destructive.
Here’s why.
Every title an administrator holds, President, Director,
Kaicho, Shihan, etc, originates from the founder. Their rank, instructor license,
and leadership position were issued, endorsed, or inherited through the
founder’s organizational structure.
If they declare the founder’s signature invalid, they
logically declare their own certifications invalid, their own administrative appointment invalid, the
organization’s founding principles invalid. To invalidate the founder is to literally
invalidate themselves by their own hand.
It Signals political motivation over martial integrity. In
Japanese budo culture, challenging the founder’s authority is viewed as a power
grab, not a legitimate decision. A trustworthy leader protects the lineage. A
political leader manipulates it.
If an administration is willing to rewrite history or
authority to suit present objectives, it demonstrates a willingness to distort
or reinterpret tradition. A capability to alter curriculum, titles, and
organizational decisions. A prioritization of personal or political gain over
lineage principles. If they can
invalidate the founder’s signature today, they can invalidate your rank
tomorrow.
In classical martial arts, legitimacy is defined by
connection to lineage. By rejecting the founder’s authority, they detach
themselves from the source and are regarded as no longer representing the
founder’s art and being unrecognized in traditional circles. Once lineage is
broken, trust is lost.
If the administration attempts to remove the founder’s
presence or authority, the founder remains valid the administration does not. An
administration that declares the founder’s signature invalid cannot be trusted
or believed, because their claim directly contradicts the very foundation of
legitimacy they themselves rely on.
Can This Administration’s Word Be Trusted or Believed?
No…..here’s why:
They contradict their own origin - All of their rank,
titles, and authority come from the founder. If they now say the founder’s
signature is invalid, then logically their own credentials are equally invalid,
since the founder issued or authorized them. If they deny the source that
created them, how can they claim authenticity for themselves?
Rejecting the founder is not a technical or historical decision. It’s a political maneuver. In traditional budo, this is considered a power play, not an act of honesty. This raises serious doubts about intention and ethics. An honorable leader protects lineage; a political leader revises it for convenience.
If they will rewrite history, then they will rewrite truth.
By
selectively invalidating the founder when convenient, they demonstrate they can
alter rules, rewrite lineage, manipulate documents and change standards to suit
political goals. If they can deny the founder today, they can deny anyone or
anything tomorrow.
They have already broken trust by breaking lineage.
Once the
founder is dismissed, they no longer represent his art or authority. A
leadership that abandons its own foundation forfeits its moral right to be
followed. Such an administration’s word cannot be trusted or believed in
matters of legitimacy, rank, history, or authority. Their actions show a
willingness to reject lineage, place political interests above the truth, undermine
martial arts tradition and contradict their own origins.
Conclusion
When an administration dismisses the founder’s signature as
invalid, any statement they make own lose any and all credibility. By
denouncing the very source of their legitimacy, they demonstrate that:
a.) Their words are not to be believed,
b.) Their claims are not to be considered genuine, and
c.) Their actions their statements cannot be regarded as honorable.
In traditional martial arts, honor is inseparable from
loyalty to one’s lineage. To undermine the founder is to act without integrity.
Therefore, any statements made by such an administration regarding rank,
authority, history, representation or discussion cannot be viewed as authentic, genuine or
trustworthy.
