Shorin Ryu and shotokan, differences?

[ps1]

I just get annoyed by the improper use of language. Which is what you are doing by referring to all black belts as Sensei and all brown belts as sempai.

[baronbvp]

What are the correct usages of renshi, sensei, and sempai?

[Elky]

What are the correct usages of renshi, sensei, and sempai?

Renshi is "master of himself" and is generally a high level teacher or one who has mastered an activity.

Sensei is "forerunner" and means one who is more educated than oneself in scholarly matters - usually used for someone teaching you a skill, although all people educated to higher level than yourself in arts or sciences is "sensei" to you.

Sempai is "senior" and is one who is (usually) older and holds more experience than oneself in an organisation or activity (to them you are "kohai" or "junior")

[baronbvp]

Thank you. I don't find these incompatible with all black belts being referred to as sensei, and brown belts as sempai (which I previously understood to mean, "one who has gone before.") These are terms my dojo used for students to refer to senior belts.

[Elky]

Thank you. I don't find these incompatible with all black belts being referred to as sensei, and brown belts as sempai (which I previously understood to mean, "one who has gone before.") These are terms my dojo used for students to refer to senior belts.

I'm a beginner at the japanese language so you might not want to take my word as gospel. But I think those definitions are right.

[baronbvp]

No, those sound good. I'm just wondering about the karate context of the terms. Their proper use seems to cause a bit of heat and light. I don't have a dog in the fight either way, just curious as to generally accepted usage.

[bushido_man96]

No, those sound good. I'm just wondering about the karate context of the terms. Their proper use seems to cause a bit of heat and light. I don't have a dog in the fight either way, just curious as to generally accepted usage.

I may be wrong, but I have read in some places that Karate's use of these terms tends to be taken a little farther in their American/Karate usage than they really are.

Just what I have read, though.

[ShawnJ]

Just another note on the kata. Shotokan Tekki kata is also known as Naifanchin and Naihanchi kata in the Okinawan system depending on the branch or system.

Also Shorin schools will typically have less kata. Shotokan I believe has 24 kata and the Shorin Ryu systems usually have 15 to 18 kata depending on the school.

I agree get used to the Cat stance and higher stances.

I practice Shorin-Ryu USA. We have 19 kata whereas traditional Shorin-Ryu has 18.

In my dojo, Kata makes up 50% of our classes.

[stoneheart]

Not all black belts are sensei. It's usually reserved as a title of respect for someone who teaches. Would you really want to call that 16 year old who just earned his shodan "sensei"? In my opinion, no.

[Zanshin]

I agree,

Although sensei does refer to a black belt who teaches, in my experience the title of sensei is limited to sandan and above. Brown belt through to nidan are referd to as senpai.

Z