Title of Sensei

[bushido_man96]

I have been in schools over the years that have been very hung up on titles. Anyone wearing a black belt is always referred to as Mr. (or Miss/Mrs.) and their last name.

In one school, if someone reached 4th Dan, they were considered "Master" and you were actually corrected if you called them "Mister"

It goes this way in my school, too.

I may be in the minority here, but I am not a big fan of titles. I never expect anyone to call me by my last name or stop what they are doing and bow because I enter a room.

I don't care for the either, but in order to keep the higher ranks happy, I pretty much conform to the, for now. However, I make sure that they know that when class is over, they don't have to use the titles.

[tori]

I don't care about the titles as much. I believe the "title" thing at our school is just how it has been done in my instructors school and his instructors school, and so on. However, I am proud to have gotten there, and am proud of those who I can call sensei. But, I am just me and the most important titles I hold are sister, wife, daughter, friend. The only time I am sensei is for a few hours at night a few times a week. I am much more than being a sensei and I do not let that title define me as a person. However, the principles I have learned at our school, I carry with me at all times.

[doug_kissaki]

It's ironic... quite often, the people most deserving of titles are those who have the humility to feel that they don't need to be addressed by those titles.

My instructor travels the world giving martial arts seminars. He says he can always tell who in the room is the "master". He is the one who isn't training.

[bushido_man96]

It's ironic... quite often, the people most deserving of titles are those who have the humility to feel that they don't need to be addressed by those titles.

My instructor travels the world giving martial arts seminars. He says he can always tell who in the room is the "master". He is the one who isn't training.

Good points. I think there is a lot to that.

I don't care about the titles as much. I believe the "title" thing at our school is just how it has been done in my instructors school and his instructors school, and so on. However, I am proud to have gotten there, and am proud of those who I can call sensei. But, I am just me and the most important titles I hold are sister, wife, daughter, friend. The only time I am sensei is for a few hours at night a few times a week. I am much more than being a sensei and I do not let that title define me as a person. However, the principles I have learned at our school, I carry with me at all times.

I pretty much agree with your sentiments here. But, I look at it a bit differently. I don't like having titles used much, especially outside the school. However, I like for the students of the school to feel that they can approach me about anything school related, or otherwise, at any time, either outside or inside the school. I don't want them to view me as some unapproachable persona that they can only visit with or ask questions of once they bow into the dojang. I try to present that "side" of the instructor/sensei aspect all the time.

Does that make sense? I'm kind of rambling here....

[doug_kissaki]

One of my favorite stories about titles happened shortly after I moved one time and was looking for a new school in which to train.

I walked in to one of those franchised karate schools and the head instructor came out to greet me. He said, "Hi, my name is Sensei". I wanted so badly to reply "Wow... that would make you Sensei Sensei".

I just kept my mouth shut.

[bushido_man96]

Hey, wasn't there a singing group called Mister Mister???

[doug_kissaki]

That was years ago... I belive they're called Sempai Sempai now.

[Zanshin]

Hey, wasn't there a singing group called Mister Mister???

Yep,

[tori]

...I pretty much agree with your sentiments here. But, I look at it a bit differently. I don't like having titles used much, especially outside the school. However, I like for the students of the school to feel that they can approach me about anything school related, or otherwise, at any time, either outside or inside the school. I don't want them to view me as some unapproachable persona that they can only visit with or ask questions of once they bow into the dojang. I try to present that "side" of the instructor/sensei aspect all the time.

Does that make sense? I'm kind of rambling here....

It definitely does make sense. I always present myself to other students as being someone they can come to with any questions or problems. I try to be the "in between" for them and the head instructor. He is a very nice man and never acts as though he is unapproachable to his students. He just looks very military like and I believe he seems intimidating to many. I have told him this before (as many students tell me they are afraid to talk to him). He feels very bad about this and encourages students to come to him with anything, but they don't. So at least they come to me.

I wonder if other instructors have had similar problems with this.

[bushido_man96]

I have known of instructors that have had this problem, too. I think it is just an issue that many people have with someone who appears to be an authority figure to them. Many times, the more tenured colored belt ranks, and even some of the lower dan black belts, will be approached more often than the head instructor. It can be good and bad. As that person, it is important to let the other students know that they should approach the head instructor with some of their questions from time to time.