Using the Title "master"

[Ichi_Geki]

I know one "Kancho Master" thats a nidan haha, he opened up his own school last year and runs a LARGE Mc Dojo...He awards shodan after one year...but he has the title of "judan" and is only 27 yrs old....

[KarateGeorge]

Unfortunately there is a very common misunderstanding in the west when it comes to rank and titles in traditional Okinawan Karate. This is the way I was taught and read in my research. Sensei is the highest and most honorable title that one can hold and is usually the head of the dojo. Shihan is a title used to refer to the head of an associtation or style. For example I call my instructor Sensei and I call his instructor Shihan because he is the head of our association. He would not consider it an insult if I called him Sensei. When it comes to the titles of Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi this are more of a teaching rank to separate the different master instructor levels. An equivalant would be Bachelor Degree, Master Degree or a Doctorate. These are ranks not titles. A person named Dave should not be called Renshi Dave, He should be called Sensei or Shihan depending on his position within an organization.

I do not mean to mean to offend anyone with this post, just trying to helo clarify proper use of rank and title as I understand it to be. I do not consider myself the foremost authority on the subject. I was recently promoted to Rokudan and given the rank of Renshi, however I feel that I am far from being a "master".

Very interesting and informative. Thanks for the insight!!!

[SenseiJ]

Unfortunately we have have those Mc Dojos in our respective areas. We have a whole chain here in my area. Now there are off shoots opening up of students from the chain that have left to be on their own. They do not know any better it is what they were taught. I have a hard time with the schools where the instructor knows better but is selling the rank instead of teaching the art.

I teach because I love the art and want to pass it on to the next generation, not because I want to own an expensive car or mansion.

[Wa-No-Michi]

Sensei is the correct way to address even the highest grade instructor.

What others choose to refer to them as is nothing to do with them.

WNM

[Wa-No-Michi]

Ichi_Geki,

As we are talking about "Shogo" titles what is yours.

WNM

Edited December 11, 2009 by Wa-No-Michi

[Ichi_Geki]

Unfortunately we have have those Mc Dojos in our respective areas. We have a whole chain here in my area. Now there are off shoots opening up of students from the chain that have left to be on their own. They do not know any better it is what they were taught. I have a hard time with the schools where the instructor knows better but is selling the rank instead of teaching the art.

I teach because I love the art and want to pass it on to the next generation, not because I want to own an expensive car or mansion.

EXACTLY!!!...my students call me what ever..some call me sempai (DUE to the fact my teacher usually visits me during my classes) Some call me sensei, and some call me renshi which I do not prefer...My ranking as of now is fourth degree, and I am testing for fifth degree next june.

[Ichi_Geki]

Ichi_Geki,

As we are talking about "Shogo" totles what is yours.

WNM

I have no shogo title. Since I am only a fourth degree. But my students refer to me as renshi, they dont do this infront of me, but I figured one of my shodans referred to me as renshi, because a white belt referred to me as renshi once...And he is friends with one of my shodans.

[Wa-No-Michi]

Sorry about typo.

Why would they refer to you as Renshi?

Did you put them straight?

WNM

[Ichi_Geki]

Sorry about typo.

Why would they refer to you as Renshi?

Did you put them straight?

WNM

Of course!

But the american way is 'show respect' although respect is misguided between the two cultures. What they do is actually disrespectful to me, my teacher and the organization, but...to them it is showing immediate respect and compassion towards me.

[DWx]

I'm not a Japanese stylist but in our style there are some pretty specific rules about who can have what title. 1st through to 3rd dans are boosabum (assistant instructors) although its not a big deal if you call them instructor, 4th to 6th sabum (instructor). Only at 7th can you be called "master" (sahyun), 8th are called senior masters although we still use the same Korean title and 9th are grandmasters (saseong). Its generally considered a big faux pas if you use the wrong title especially for a master or above, less so for below 6th. In most cases I say stick with Sir and Ma'am, can't really go wrong with that.