I'd like to agree with Jesse Enkamp on this, but there's a problem with that: how do we know to use that word when addressing a particular person in the first place?  There are two ways

1.  We were told to address the instructor as "sensei."

2.  We saw other deshi addressing the instructor as "sensei," and followed along.  But even then, there had to be a point in time when the dojo first opened that there were no other deshi to observe using the term "sensei."  So how did it start?  See #1

Edited October 17, 20241 yr by KorroddyDude

I don't refer to myself as sensei, and, I use 'Kancho' when it comes to any reference needed. Some interpret this as being grandiose, but it's the opposite. This is my position, and others choose whether to call me sensei. 

However, I maintain a student-teacher relationship with all my students, and while I have strong friendships, I don't create friends at the dojo. This is how I was taught, and it's how I find it best to operate (and I do the same as an educator).

I would expect that my students attach an appropriate honorific in all our correspondence, because to me, Karate isn't an activity, it's a way of life. If they don't identify with that, I've no issue. There are many dojo. 

Edited October 18, 20241 yr by RJCKarate

I kept the crux of the formality whenever it was required of it. Away from that, I was just plain old Bob whenever students spoke to me because I just don't like the stuffiness that the dojo pageantry can cause. That's just me. Students tend to relax far much more to learn and train better whenever they don't have to "perform" for the sake of satisfying the formality.

On 10/17/2024 at 5:11 AM, Nidan Melbourne said:

Students who see me outside of class, tend to have difficulty separating me from the dojo and as an instructor. Unless I am friends with the person then they have no issue with addressing me as just Liam. 

I prefer this outside of the training hall.  The previous CI and owner of our school started a "policy" some time back of bowing to the instructor even when seeing them outside of class in public.  I HATE this, and I tell students not to bow to me in public.  Especially when I'm working.  I don't want that kind of attention, and I think it's a foolish practice.

16 hours ago, bushido_man96 said:

I prefer this outside of the training hall.  The previous CI and owner of our school started a "policy" some time back of bowing to the instructor even when seeing them outside of class in public.  I HATE this, and I tell students not to bow to me in public.  Especially when I'm working.  I don't want that kind of attention, and I think it's a foolish practice.

The bowing I've only had a handful of times over the years. It is definitely embarrassing. 

The last time it happened; I was working as a School Crossing Supervisor and happened to be at a school that a number of my students attend. They saw me and were bowing. 

What was awkward I was having a check-up assessment done by my manager at the time. When the kids left and my shift was nearly done, they came up to me and asked about had happened and why. So I had to explain to her that they were my karate students, and they didn't realise that the only time they have to do that is at the dojo. 

It is a little strange to bow to anyone outside of the context and environment of where one trains. Unless the gesture a normal thing to do in the surrounding culture.

Bowing is part of East Asian culture. If one lives and trains there under a native instructor  it wouldn’t be out of place or be strange. Anywhere else it would be quite odd and perhaps slightly cultish to many outsiders. 

I am not a sensei, so I would never call myself one, but I did recently get promoted to black belt on KarateForums.com (highlight and right click to visit the website), so I am considering calling myself Karate Forums Black Belt Ken.

 

 

1 hour ago, KarateKen said:

I am not a sensei, so I would never call myself one, but I did recently get promoted to black belt on KarateForums.com (highlight and right click to visit the website), so I am considering calling myself Karate Forums Black Belt Ken.

 

 

On 10/18/2024 at 12:16 PM, bushido_man96 said:

I prefer this outside of the training hall.  The previous CI and owner of our school started a "policy" some time back of bowing to the instructor even when seeing them outside of class in public.  I HATE this, and I tell students not to bow to me in public.  Especially when I'm working.  I don't want that kind of attention, and I think it's a foolish practice.

There are schools in my area that require this.  And not just bowing to instructors, whether in the dojo or out in public, but bowing to any black belt of higher rank.  No thanks to that.  I like having a life outside of martial arts.

I witnessed a TKD school in my hometown that required the parents and any visitors to bow to all black belts whenever in the dojang, including when just entering/leaving through the front door.

If my child was a student there, and I was watching my child, I’d not bow to anyone anywhere in the dojang. If my money isn’t good enough, then my child will find somewhere else to train.