Sensei Sempai

[Surfer_Sam]

Hi kakatootoshi,

No the Shihan was an Aussie. I still train with him and hold him in great respect. I took it as part of my learning process. I was the senior student and should have realised his rank.

I was trying to say that People who move onto higher grades deserve to be acknowledged for their achievements. The truly good senior people arent fussed on thier titles, and that is part of the reason we use the titles to address them. Does that make sense? It's late and my brain is shutting down.



regards and

[ksan]

Originally Posted by Surfer_Sam

I was trying to say that People who move onto higher grades deserve to be acknowledged for their achievements. The truly good senior people arent fussed on thier titles, and that is part of the reason we use the titles to address them. Does that make sense?

Yes, i agree with that and it makes perfect sense

[Deaken]

I think I may have mentioned this in another thread somewhere, but when I graded for Sandan at the end of the test Shihan was speaking to all those present and he said that a Sandan was only a Sensei if actually invovled in regularly teaching classes.

I found this interesting because I always thought that the titles followed the belts befor hearing this. It makes sense though. And yes, within our group if you run your own dojo then within your dojo you are called Sensei at Nidan if you are the senior intructor and director in the school. Outside of your dojo I understand that you are still Sempai in respect for the other Sensei's and Shihan who are senior to you until you reach Sandan or above.

[mpeters]

Interesting thread. I just want to comment on my situation. My Instructor, who has been operating his dojo for 3.5 years or so now, and is about to complete his Nidan grading, still prefers to be called sempai. Often I have asked him weather we should refer to him as Sensei, along the lines that have been noted in this thread (teaching and instructing level, dojo operator etc), but he often says that he personally feels that he has not done the "hard, long yards" that define a Sensei. He has been training for about 14 years. To me this opitomizes the true qualities of a karateka who one day will be an awsome Sensei. Osu

[shinobijesus]

Originally Posted by Surfer_Sam

And re the Shihan thing, I always call Shihan "Shihan". Although once a long time ago when leading the formal bow out, with visiting Shihan in attendance, did sempai ni rei. got given a very stern look, mentally cursed my self, tried sensai ni rei. another stern look. Maybe its my pronounciation of Japanese, tried Sensei NI rei again. Another stern look, and a slight tap on the belt. Being a smart person, counted the stripes. Light comes on!!!! Shihan ni rei. Stern look disappears!!

i dont get it, do you always say 'Shihan ni rei' in the formal bowing and you just forgot that one day? or do you just have to bow to the ranks present?