Don Roley said:
The thing is, the Bujinkan is not a koryu orginization like the ones that orginize events at Meiji shrine. The guys that put on the demos there are not koryu orginizations. They are schools. The Bujinkan is a school. It is not an orginization that looks at records and claims and determines if they are koryu or not. And THAT is what is meant by a Japanese Koryu Association.
And Hatsumi never recognized the Juko-kai. He gave Rod S an honorary rank, and Wilson promoted him to 2nd dan- just high enough so that with a shidoshiho liscense he could promote people to black belt himself. So his attempts to use the Bujinkan name were fraudulant. Is anyone surprised?
Well of course not. To Rod, links to Japan are all that is really important. The "Bujinkan" issue is always going to be there, as long as John Willson is a member of both organizations. I think if you read the information concerning the Juko Kai Ninpo division, it has been changed to reflect the fact that John Willson heads that divison, not Rod Sacharnoski. I'm sure this is due to Hatsumi not renewing the Shidoshikai license. Otherwise, Rod's name would be all over it, because it's always, "Me, Me, Me."
I do not think that Hatsumi will ever do that. I can't really say much, but based on stories I have heard, it looks like the chances of Rod getting back into the Bujinkan are rather slim to none. Only one other person I know of has ever gotten back into the Bujinkan after a blow up like this. And he had to show remorse in person and have at least one Japanese teacher serve as a gurenter (I know the spelling is off- I mean someone who will take responsibility for him) for the guy. I do nto think Rod will be showing up to Japan soon. And I know at least one guy who has expressed glee at the idea of seeing the brotherhood when they say they will be here next March.
Can we really call this a "blow-up?" From what I have heard, it was really nothing more than a private conversation between Willson and Hatsumi. And I would think that if Rod came to the point that he simply admitted that he was wrong, and tried to make some positive change, that Hatsumi probably would let him back in, maybe with limits. You would know better than I, but I would think that such a move would be honorable enough that Hatsumi would probably consider it.
I've seen the word "Fraud" used in a couple of forums, and I think a point needs to be made here. Rod WAS NOT convicted of Fraud. He lost his case against myself and Don Cunningham for Defamation. He didn't lose that case on the merits (however he most certainly would have), but on the fact that he did not continue the case by filing the proper fees. I think through all of the documented evidence that we had, it was clear (at least to his attorney's) that this case was not going to go anywhere for him.
The other case that he lost was for Forgery and Telephone Harrassment. This case was brought on by Mr. Cunningham. According to Sacharnoski, he was not served papers properly. It basically becomes his word, against that of the process server. He is contesting the judgement, but as of right now, he lost this case too.
So he has not lost any case involving the accusation of Fraud. However, it could easily be argued that he fits the profile. According to the dictionary, a Fraud is:
A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain
It also means:
One who assumes a false pose; an impostor.
I think that if Rod simply admitted to everything, and changed all of his literature to reflect the truth, people would still stand behind him. Unfortunately, pride seems to be keeping him from it.
