Deaf said:
althought it really doesn't matter... however I would love to hear what some of those differences are especially since his article was a bit... egoistical!
I really don't look forward to getting into the middle of things by being the bearer of unpleasant news.... But I just checked something and it made my jaw hit the floor.
I have been told that Hatsumi is really, really pissed off about the whole thing of Hayes using the name "Kukishinden ryu" in some teaching certificates and such he gives out. It is just a matter of course in Japanese culture that you do not do that type of thing without the soke's permission. It is something you don't even bother to lay out because it is just common sense. But then again, so is not coming to class drunk and we know that has happened. It is just not done in Japanese martial arts to do that type of thing, and yet Hayes did it, continues to do it and many people are confused by the issue.
I need to stress that Hatsumi never used the term ?? (Hamon- to throw out, ban) in relation to Hayes. Hatsumi has often said he does not need to ban people because the bad ones all fade away. In fact, I think he set things up so that he does not have the power to toss anyone out and it requires ten people of tenth dan to cause someone to be booted.
But, Hatsumi did get mad and ordered that Hayes tablet in the tenth dan board be taken down.
It may not sound like a lot, but this is something in my Japan experience is worse than being slapped in public would be for Americans. I went and saw it for myself. I looked for Hayes' tablet and it was no longer there. Hayes no longer stands next to other people who are considered the highest in the Bujinkan.
Hayes has not been thrown out. His rank has not been revoked. But this very public display of a withdrawing of support by his teacher is much worse IMO in a Japanese context than those acts would be in an American one. And it is all over the use of the Kukishinden ryu name without permission- a fact that Hatsumi has been aware of for a long time.
So you can see how I just can't concieve of Hayes being treated as friendly as he seems to be making it sound. The tablet has been taken down. You can search for it yourself. You can ask Hatsumi if you want about it. I don't have much of a stake in the matter.