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When an administration claims that the founder’s signature is invalid, they are not simply disputing a signature. They are severing their own connection to the founder and undermining their own authority, rank, and positions, whether they realize it or not. This is why such claims are self-defeating and contrary to martial arts tradition.
1. All Administrative Authority Comes FROM the Founder
Every president, chairman, board member, and senior
instructor derives their position from the founder. If an administration
declares the founder’s signature invalid, the logical consequences are:
The founder’s appointments are then invalid - The founder’s rank promotions are invalid - The founder’s endorsements are invalid - The founder’s formation of the organization is invalid. But all their own ranks and positions were granted through those founder-issued decisions. To invalidate the founder is to invalidate themselves.
2. If the Founder’s Signature Is “Invalid,” Then So Are
Everything They Hold
Black belts - Instructor licenses - Teaching certificates - Board positions - Titles (President, Kaicho, Director, Shihan, etc.) - The organization’s founding charter - The curriculum the founder created - The organization’s very legitimacy. Everything they possess traces directly to the founder. You cannot cut the root and pretend the tree still stands.
3. By Denying the Founder, They Break Lineage
Lineage is the lifeblood of Japanese and Okinawan martial
arts. It encompasses authority, curriculum, tradition and technical legitimacy.
When an administration rejects the founder’s signature they
no longer represent the founder’s art. They represent only themselves
To the broader martial arts community, they become a breakaway
group, a splinter organization, an unrecognized faction, a political offshoot
with no lineage support.
Meanwhile, the founder remains the true line, even if he steps aside or withdraws support.
4. They Lose the Right to Use the Founder’s Name, Art, Property, History or
Lineage
If the founder’s signature is “invalid,” the organization cannot legitimately claim the founder’s style, the curriculum, the founder’s lineage, his title history or authority. By rejecting the founder, they have effectively declared themselves independent, whether or not they intend to.
5. Japanese Budo Culture Interprets This as a Rebellion (造反 — zōhan)
In traditional Japanese martial arts culture, attempting to
overthrow or nullify the founder is viewed as:
a.) Betrayal
b.) Dishonor
c.) Power-grabbing
d.) Politically motivated
An administrator who denies the founder’s authority is culturally regarded as having left the founder’s house (ie) a student who rejects their instructor is no longer a student. Any administrator who rejects the founder or the founder's signature is no longer legitimate.
6. The Founder Loses Nothing—They Lose Everything
Even if the founder is pushed aside or an administration
attempts to override him the founder’s authority remains, the founder’s rank
remains, his lineage remains, his ability to issue rank remains. The founder’s
curriculum remains valid.
For the administration, however their authority evaporates the moment they deny the founder’s legitimacy. They can no longer claim founder-given rank, titles, or endorsements. They have severed themselves from the source
Conclusion
When an administration declares the founder’s signature
invalid, they automatically undermine and invalidate their own ranks, titles,
and authority. They break lineage - Lose legitimacy - Sever themselves from the
source - Become a splinter group - Retain no traditional authority
The founder remains the highest authority. The
administration becomes, at best, a political faction with no foundation in
tradition.
In martial arts, the source of authority cannot be bypassed,
revoked, or replaced—the founder is permanent, and all else flows from them.
