Outside the Dojo Etiquette

[mr_obvious]

First name.

[Tzu-Logic]

sir, or first name depending on the moment.

[ps1]

It depends on whether or not you're on a first name basis with your instructor. If you're not, sir or Mr... would be appropriate.

[sensei8]

There's not just one way to address my Dai-Soke. I've been with him for a very long time.

Sensei: I would only use this when in the dojo while he's teaching.

Mr./Mrs./Ms [surname]: I would only use this in most business transactions. Other times, he's referred to only as Dai-Soke. Both depends on the formality of the occasion.

By his or her first name: I would only use this when it's him, other very close students/friends, as well as myself. This of course would be a very informal occasion. Over the many years, he's my dearest friend first, and he's my Sensei/Dai-Soke second. Nonetheless, respect is always shown on both sides of the table at all times.

Good topic!

[Pajarito21]

I rarely use the term sensei outside of the dojo unless I am explaining who they are to someone else i.e. This is my sensei at my dojo. other than that I will always give respect to them with a sir or mam. The thing that strikes me odd if that in my dojo I find myself the only one that calls my sensei's, sensei. Everybody else says sir or mam.

[evergrey]

Sensei and I are often at least sort of "on" no matter where we are. I sort of slip between the two, though in formal lessons I call him sensei. As my training progresses, I find myself calling him "sensei" outside of normal lessons more frequently.

[Dobie1979]

I think too much is placed on this kind of thing. I think their first name out of class it acceptable.

[DAZ]

In the Dojo Sensei , while communicating on all things Karate outside the Dojo e-mails etc Sensei , non Karate situations and meet and greet i call him by his First Name.

[algernon]

I almost always use Mr./Sir for my karate instructor, and Dr. for my former professors. For me, it is really mostly a matter of habbit.

[JohnASE]

I used to hang out with my ex-girlfriend and her sensei outside the dojo all the time. She ALWAYS called him sensei. It was kinda weird when it came to introducing him though. One time, we went to play beach volleyball with my friends, and she introduced him as her sensei, but he said to call him Eddie! It's hard to describe how awkward that felt, and he wasn't even my sensei. Of course, on top of that, I knew him by his given Japanese first name. I don't even know if Eddie was a nickname or his middle name.

Oh, on a related topic, when greeting him, my ex would not only call him "sensei", but she would bow and say "Oss". That must've looked odd to people in the TGI Friday's parking lot. I think I just shook his hand. What do most of you do outside the dojo?