What title does your instructor have?

[Gumbi]

Browsing through these forums, I realize that there's quite a diversity of martial artists on here (duh) but more traditional than modern styles seem to be represented. My question is when you're training in class and you go to address your instructor, what name/title do you call him by? Is it sensei, master, Mr -----, or what?

 

I dont think I'd ever take a class where I had to call someone master or sensei. My classes are very informal and I call my instructors by their first name, but if you wanted a specific title for them- on their BJJ certificates their title is "professor." I know what many people are saying about sensei or master titles- it shows respect. But why must you call someone that to show respect- the respect is already there- you arrive and train under someone because you respect their skill as a fighter in that particular area.

 

I think that alot of teachers and black belts have egos and LOVE being called sensei or master. Try calling your instructors attention by saying "yo, bill I got a question" or whatever his first name may be.

[WolverineGuy]

I disagree. It has nothing to do with ego. To me, its more that the title has been earned. I am a first degree black belt, and while I'm in uniform with my belt on, I insist on people calling me Mr. Starnes...whereas, if you have a fourth degree, I would insist on calling you Master so and so. It is simply respect. My school is fairly laid back, but this is one tradition that we held on to. Its the same thing as when someone gets their Doctorate from a university. They've earned the title Dr. so and so. Some people may not agree, but maybe I'm a bit old school as well.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Well, a few years ago I tried to get my students to address me as "Lord High Master of the Friggin' Universe", but that never seemed to go over very well for some reason, so my policy is that if they are under 18 years of age, they can call me Sensei, and 18 and over call me Paul.

 

Any other sensei I've met in this system I've always addressed by their first name, with the exception for the deceased head of the system, who I always called sensei.

[Beka]

MY instructor is technically at the title of Master (7th dan), but we call him Sensei. I see no problem with that. I call all of my professors "professor soandso". It's probably just me, but i think there is something very honorable in education, whether it be history or martial arts. I'd probably be willing to call a teacher of mine just about anything they wanted. Teachers are probably the most important thing we have, and I think that stressing this importance each time we address them is perfectly acceptable.

[sAtelitte]

Half of the people in my group call the instructer "sifu" (like it should be) and the other half by his first name.

 

First i adressed him as sifu as well until one time: i couldn't figure out one form and i asked him for help, after saying "sifu" four times he didn't respond (he was only 3meters away from me so he could hear me perfectly), said his first name and he immediatly came over and helped me. Got the message

[Red J]

I don't have a problem calling my instructor Sensei or his instructor Master inside the dojo. Outside of the dojo I address them by their first names. If I didn't know them then I would say Mr. I don't think that it is an ego thing. It is more a sign of respect from the students simular to when you are in school or go to a Dr.'s office.

 

I have never heard either one of them correct someone who didn't use a title and I have heard people call them by their first names. They always introduce themselves without titles. Of course when they speak of their instructors they always say Master or Mr. It is the culture of the school.

 

When I trained with my first sensei a few years back, it was always on a first name basis. I don't think that it made any difference to how I approached training or the instruction.

 

I don't get hung up on titles because at the school that I train at the teachers are not attached to egos and I am there to learn.

[DLopez]

In Kuk Sool Won, etiquette is the #1 most important idea, therefore, we ALWAYS address our instructors by their title, and respond with "yes/no sir" to questions to everyone.

 

Some of the various titles are:

 

Dahn Boh Nim - black belt candidate (me!)

 

Jo Kyo Nim - 1st degree black belt

 

Kyo Sa Nim - 2nd degree black belt

 

Pu Sa Bum Nim - 3rd degree black belt

 

Sa Bum Nim - 4th degree black belt

 

Kwahn Jahng Nim - 5 degree black belt (Master)

 

Chohng Kwahn Jahng Nim - Chiefmaster

 

Kuk Sa Nim - National Martial Arts Teacher (our Grand Master)

 

My instructor is 2nd degree black belt, so I address him as "Kyo Sa Nim, sir" inside our school. Outside of the school, we address him by his first name.

 

His wife (also a student) has a title as well, we address her as Sa Mo Nim.

 

Addressing our instructors by their titles is done out of respect for the knowledge and position they have earned. It's the same as bowing to them, it's a show of respect.

[Fenris-wolf]

Well, we call our instructor by his first name - it's VERY informal. He is our instructor because he was the most qualified (has trained in Thailand for a couple of years - yes, straight- and I guess had the most experience) and was willing to take it on. But just because he doesn't have any fancy "degrees" doesn't mean he's not a really good instructor, he's the most dedicated man I know! He picked where he lived to be near the gym, he takes two training sessions a day Mon-Thur, Saturday and Sunday mornings, will have Friday and lunchtime sessions with you if you need it before a fight... The man's crazy! (He also works full time and gets no monetary gain from his effort)

 

Not to say I have a problem with grades or titles, I have done both Seido Karate and a little Judo and it doesn't bother me, so long I am comfortable within the environment.

[turonaga]

well, i called my math teacher before sensei. master and sensei is not the same though.

[cathal]

Definitely Sensei or Master while in the dojo and the first name outside of the dojo. Simply osu if we are passing by as a sign of respect.

 

This is definitely an acknowledgement of the years of commitment and training Sensei has gone through to earn their position. It is also an agreement between us that they are the teacher and I the student.