Who to call "Sensei"?

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[MRQuad]

i am confused who to call sensei.. and how do we know the instructor is a sensei? 'cause i might be mistaken calling someone a sensei and if he's not..

thanks..

P.S.
consider my english..

[Bob Blackburn]

You can never be to polite. If you address the instructor as Sensei, they will correct you if they do not want or shouldn't be addressed that way.

[MRQuad]

ah, ok.. thanks.. so far, i've called someone a sensei and they didn't correct me.. so, i guess they're fine the way i address them..

[odudog]

The Senseis are usually the person in charge of the dojo and the teaching staff. Just ask your fellow students or look at your dojo website to find out who are actually in charge of teaching and those would be the Senseis.

[MRQuad]

thank you very much.. atleast, i know now.. thanks again..

[DonMagee]

I usually don't care what people call me when I'm teaching. I've had a few people call me Sir, sensei, professor, etc. If someone asks I always tell them to call me Don or Hey (as in "Hey! I don't get what you are saying!")

It just makes me feel old to get called sensei or professor (I teach computer courses at a college part time). I've been told that I should really make the people training judo with me call me sensei, but I don't feel it is appropriate as I am not yet a black belt (soon however...mwahahaha). The black belt I am teaching under also does not enforce the sensei rule. We usually call him Jon or "that jerk who just gave me a world of pain".

[mwible]

In my dojo, we adress all blackbelts as Sensei, until told otherwise.

-morgan

[Pauliina Lievonen]

In our dojo whoever is in front of the class, but usually only that one person, is called sensei. Off the mat everyone is called by their first names usually. But the best thing to do is always to ask a local higher grade about what the local custom is, since different dojo have different ways of doing things.

kvaak
Pauliina

[gdandscompserv]

Whomever you want to call sensei.:D

[Tinyboy344]

My preference
Dojo Chief instructor - Sensei - on and off the mat.
Other instructors - sensei on the mat, first name off the mat

[MRQuad]

thanks a lot guys.. i really appreciated it..

[Shane Marcum]

I think it's typically anyone of Shodan or higher that could be construed as an instructor.

[Simone]

Hi!

As you can see the use of "Sensei" differs.....

Where I train, it is connected to rank. Anyone 4th Dan and above is called Sensei.

I've once visited a dojo where everyone who teaches is addressed as Sensei. I was invited to also teach a technique and was also addressed as Sensei. I felt really embarrassed as I was Shodan....

Sometimes when I teach beginners and show them what to improve by taking them for uke some of them say: oh, the master is training with me! then I reply: I'm not (yet) a master, just call me Simone, that's fine.

So: find out what's customary in you dojo. When visiting an other dojo find out what they do. And on courses I'd prefer to be rather too polite. As Bob said, people will correct you if they prefer it otherwise....

Don't worry to much and enjoy training!

Yours,

Simone

[CitoMaramba]

Time to trot this out again:

http://www.aikiweb.com/language/sensei.html

I'll reproduce it in full, since it's quite short:
There is often a misconception among non-Japanese speakers as to the weight that the title "sensei" is actually given in Japan. Basically, anybody who teaches anything is called "sensei", even if you teach bartending or (at an even lower level) English conversation. This would include workers at day-care centers and your kid's soccer coach. It's a term of respect (in that it's an honorific), but it doesn't carry nearly the weight that "doctor" or "professor" would in the west (although doctors and professors are also called "sensei"). Under this system anyone who teaches an Aikido class, even if they are a 5th kyu would be called sensei, and not many people would think twice about it. Of course, not many people would attach much weight to it either :-).

If someone's well respected you might call them "sensei" all the time, even cross-discipline, or you might not, but there's nothing magic about it -- it's just normal politeness, the same way that you might call Tom Hank "Mr. Hanks" and not "Hey, Tommy" if you've just met him.

Best,

Christopher Li
Bridge 1 Software
English/Japanese Japanese/English
Software Localization and Management
ChrisLi@bridge1.com
<http://www.bridge1.com>

Additional note from J. Akiyama:

Unlike the English language, the Japanese language places their titles after the person's name. So, "Smith sensei" is the correct way of using this title, not "Sensei smith."

Additionally, it's not very correct to call oneself "Sensei." Whenever a teacher instroduces him- or herself to someone else in Japan, they'll just use their last name. They might refer to their profession as being a teacher ("What do you do?" "I'm a teacher"), but they wouldn't call refer to themselves as such. So frankly, introducing oneself as "I'm So-and-so sensei" sounds a weird and even a bit presumptuous to my ears...

[Carsten Möllering]

Hi,

well that's interesting: Here in Germany i have never had the experience that someone is addressed as "sensei" when talking to him / her what grade ever. Only when talking to japanese shihan we use this title.
Or we use it when talking about the shihan.

When talking about our european teachers we say "teacher" and when talking directly to them we use their forenames. Even if it's Christian Tissier.

Carsten

[SeiserL]

IMHO, ask your Sempai (seniors). Each school/organization had their own rules of etiquette. My original school only had one Sensei and I was not him. Where I train now, they refer to all Yudansha as Sensei in respect. Go ask. Its a very legitimate question.

[Mato-san]

I'm with Lynn.
Same goes here

[Dazzler]

Time to trot this out again:

http://www.aikiweb.com/language/sensei.html

I'll reproduce it in full, since it's quite short:

Hi Cito

That last bit about presumption fits well with my understanding.

I went to the 50 years of aikido bash and made a point of being friendly with all my partners , exchanging usual pleasantaries such as name, where do you train etc...just being sociable which was nature of the course.

One partner officiously introduced herself as "sensei X" ...I found it ridiculous....I knew she was a Sensei cos her badge told me anyway..In true Royle family tradition 'Sensei my rrrse' sprang to mind.

If I ever start taking myself that seriously please feel free to give me a good kicking.



Sensei D (Doh !!!)

[CitoMaramba]

Hi Darren,
That's correct... And if you catch me calling myself anything like that, you can give me a sound thrashing as well :D

Japanese Honorifics are not meant to be self-applied (as far as I know)
To call oneself <name>-san, or <name>-sensei is regarded as quite pompous.
Respect is earned, not self given.

[gdandscompserv]

I recently received an email from an aikido dojo advertising some event they were having. Something at the 'bottom' of the email caught my eye.
"The only private Dojo offering authentic Aikido instruction in San Bernardino County?"
Since my dojo happens to be in San Bernardino County I replied with;
"Are you sure about that?"

Dojo-cho's response follows;
"Are you sure that's not true? If it isn't, i.e., if there are other privately-owned Dojo in the county being run by an authentic 4th Dan or above from Hombu, Yoshinkan, Tomiki or Ki No Kenkyukai, I would be glad to include their names. It would be great to see some of the people claiming authority to teach Aikido at our regional seminars with people like Saotome Sensei etc. too.

I really don't want us to be exclusive here, but as far as I know, we are. A practice club is not a Dojo - I know, I had one for years as nidan and sandan. There is a Dojo in Palm Springs run by a 2nd Dan who is a former student of mine, so I suppose I should include them...

Do let me know if you know of any others."

People can sure get hung up on titles, rank and stuff can't they.:D

[Mato-san]

Are you Japanese Inocencio Maramba? Would you be offended if I used Mato-san as my nic in this forum? Would my Dojo or my Japanese family/wife be offended if I used this name for my Internet forum name (don't think so/know so). Don't think I would be comfortable calling myself Sensei though (in an Aikido world anyway) until I am the head instuctor at a Dojo in Japan.
I am no specialist on Japanese etiquette, but have some good Ideas after living here for 5 years.

[Mato-san]

I recently received an email from an aikido dojo advertising some event they were having. Something at the 'bottom' of the email caught my eye.
"The only private Dojo offering authentic Aikido instruction in San Bernardino County?"
Since my dojo happens to be in San Bernardino County I replied with;
"Are you sure about that?"

Dojo-cho's response follows;
"Are you sure that's not true? If it isn't, i.e., if there are other privately-owned Dojo in the county being run by an authentic 4th Dan or above from Hombu, Yoshinkan, Tomiki or Ki No Kenkyukai, I would be glad to include their names. It would be great to see some of the people claiming authority to teach Aikido at our regional seminars with people like Saotome Sensei etc. too.

I really don't want us to be exclusive here, but as far as I know, we are. A practice club is not a Dojo - I know, I had one for years as nidan and sandan. There is a Dojo in Palm Springs run by a 2nd Dan who is a former student of mine, so I suppose I should include them...

Do let me know if you know of any others."

People can sure get hung up on titles, rank and stuff can't they.:D
They sure can.... they get so hung up on it that they forget about good Aikido... it is discusting

[phitruong]

People can sure get hung up on titles, rank and stuff can't they.:D

don't forget, that being an asian is an automatic recognition, since we ALL know that asian can open a can of whup-ass and take names.... well, mainly take names and asking important questions like "want egg rolls with that?" or "extra fly rice?" :D

[Nick P.]

...guess I better cancel my business card order which states
"Sensei Nick Pittson". ;)

I think, maybe, we in the west have begun applying the same rules we use for, say, doctors; though I personally find it ludicrous, it seems fine that if you meet someone who introduces themselves as "Doctor Smith" in instead of Mr. or Mrs. Smith, it is quite acceptable.

Why on earth would one care so deeply what titles they have earned, when what others will want is your NAME, not your title.
I for one do not think of my doctor or lawyer friends as Doctor or Esquire (or whatever the title is) so-and-so. In fact, if someone corrects me when I address them with mentioning their title I respect them less, and no longer address them by name. In fact, I try and have as little to do with them from then on.

Rant finished. Back on topic.

Monday, as I led class in the teachers absence, a newer student to our school (shodan in karate) addressed me as sensei on his way out the door. I did not have time to correct him, though I would have liked to, and if the opportunity presents itself I will. On the other hand, its just an honorific that he chose to use, I imagine out of respect and/or etiquette.

Am I flattered? Maybe a little. Was I a little embarrassed in front of the other students? A bit. Would I have been embarrassed if my teacher was within earshot? Yes, very much so.

In many ways, we are all senseis, and at the same time we are always students. Act accordingly.

~edit: I have immense respect for doctors and lawyers, but not because of the title they carry; it is because, like anyone else without a title, I respect the person because of their character.

[CitoMaramba]

Are you Japanese Inocencio Maramba? Would you be offended if I used Mato-san as my nic in this forum? Would my Dojo or my Japanese family/wife be offended if I used this name for my Internet forum name (don't think so/know so). Don't think I would be comfortable calling myself Sensei though (in an Aikido world anyway) until I am the head instuctor at a Dojo in Japan.
I am no specialist on Japanese etiquette, but have some good Ideas after living here for 5 years.

No, I wouldn't be offended at all (I'm notoriously hard to offend :D)

But anyone who starts using Filipino titles (Datu, Rajah, Sultan, etc) improperly would get a raised eyebrow from me (at very least) :cool:

[phitruong]

But anyone who starts using Filipino titles (Datu, Rajah, Sultan, etc) improperly would get a raised eyebrow from me (at very least) :cool:

the Sultan of Aiki. now that is a title that I can live with. :D wondering if I have aiki-harem to go with that.

[Nick P.]

Are you Japanese Inocencio Maramba? Would you be offended if I used Mato-san as my nic in this forum?

Offended? No.
Would I roll my eyes and shudder? Like I had stuck my finger in a socket.

[CitoMaramba]

the Sultan of Aiki. now that is a title that I can live with. :D wondering if I have aiki-harem to go with that.

Well, ya got the skirts... all ya need now are the veils :D

[AnniN]

I usually call whoever is teaching the class Sensei on the mats, although I call my chief instructor always Sensei even off the mats cos it would just feel too weird to call him anything else!:D the assistant instructors I usually call by 1st name or [insert 1st name]-sensei to avoid confusion... Also, in seminars or such I'd call the seminar instructors Sensei and those who I know to be (chief?)instructors but are not teaching [insert 1st name]-sensei. So, if I was paired with a random dan-grade who I've never met before I suppose I'd initially call them just by first name...Saying [insert SURNAME]-sensei somehow feels too stiff and formal so I never do that :p

[Patrick O'Regan]

Their is no such thing as a simple question in Aikido!

We call 4th dan and above sensei on the mat. We would usually call who ever is teaching the class sensei. We address our very senior teachers sensei on and off the mat. Not only as a sign of respect but as a reminder of there responsibly to us!

Our country highly values egalitarianism which can led to a casualness around titles...so it takes a bit of getting used to.

[Charles Hill]

Japanese Honorifics are not meant to be self-applied (as far as I know)
To call oneself <name>-san, or <name>-sensei is regarded as quite pompous.
Respect is earned, not self given.

This is 100% correct. Confusing Sensei with Doctor or Professor comes from a misunderstanding of Japanese culture. The 2 western terms are given from a governing body down. Sensei is given from someone lower to someone above.

Charles

[Rocky Izumi]

There is only one Sensei in a Dojo. Outside the Dojo, you might any number of people "Sensei," but that can be a problem as well. I don't like people calling me Sensei unless I am teaching the class by the request of the Dojo's Sensei. In that instance, I am the Sensei of the Dojo's Shihan-dai (assuming that the Dojo's Shihan-dai is also the Sensei of that Dojo which is not always the case). Thus, by inference, I could then be called Sensei by the students of my student. However, when I visit other Dojos to practice, I will insist that I am not called Sensei until outside the Dojo. Being a Sensei brings certain responsibiliities with it that I do not willingly accept under all circumstances. From an article I wrote many years ago:
***************************************
The ability to call someone "sensei" is sometimes used in Japan as a strategy to attain dependence on someone. I recently posted a small note about a movie in which an elder gentleman kept refusing the title of sifu. This is because the sensei or sifu has
certain responsibilities towards the student. By allowing yourself to be called sensei, you are acknowledging your responsibilities towards that student. So sometimes, Japanese use the term sensei to force others to act in a certain way towards them.

This reminds me of a story of a samurai who was a very good swordsman, but one that knew his limitations. Another samurai who wished to challenge him came over to pick a fight. The first samurai who, guessing from the reputation of the aggressive fighter that it would be a close duel, decided not to agree to the challenge, instead called the fighter "sensei," also guessing that the fighter was rather vain. The fighter could not pass up the chance to be acknowledged as the sensei accepted the title. The original, pacificist samurai then asked if the sensei would accept him as a student. The fighter realized he was trapped and then had to agree such that the duel was avoided.

The moral of the story is: "Be careful who you let call you sensei."
*****************************************
To answer this question, I have to go back to the role of the Sensei in the Dojo. The Sensei is not only the chief instructor, she or he is also the person ultimately responsible for the safety and well-being of all the students as well as of the Dojo. If you ever think about becoming a Sensei, think of this. If a student is injured and no one
volunteers to take the injured person to the hospital, Sensei must do it. Even if someone else does volunteer, Sensei should still go to the hospital with the student and wait.

Perhaps Sensei might send the Dai Sempai with the injured student and go to the hospital after class is over. If the Dojo runs out of money for rent, Sensei must pay for it out of his or her own pocket. If a student has a personal problem, the student will probably come to Sensei for advice. If a student gets into trouble with the law, it is up to Sensei to go and help. If people have interpersonal problems in the Dojo, it is up to Sensei to resolve it. The Sensei is responsible for everything in the Dojo. Even if some
student is assigned to keep the books, if that student makes a mistake or does not fulfill their responsibilities, it is up to the Sensei to make things right. If the Dojo needs maintenance and the students do not take care of it before Sensei asks, it is up to Sensei to get it done, cleaning the toilets, washing the floors, ceiling, and walls or changing the light bulbs. If the students are not taking care of business, then Sensei is responsible for doing it since it is Sensei's fault that the students didn't learn their
responsibilities well enough. The Sensei must teach the students to develop their ethics and common sense (Toku-iku and Joshiki-no-Kanyo) as well as their body and spirit (Tai-iku and Ki-iku).
*********************************

Rock

[Ellis Amdur]

Rocky's response is right on, from start to finish!
Let me add a couple of more pieces. In koryu circles, you are only required to call a person in direct line with you sensei. For example, my teacher is X and his teacher is Y. I would call X and Y sensei. However, Y has another student, Z, senior to X. I am NOT expected to call Z sensei. He or she is an uncle/aunt, not in direct line.
Now, I COULD call them sensei if I want to offer them respect. (Or in covert irony, because they are a pompous ass). But unless my teacher X is totally on board with that, calling his senior (Z), "sensei" puts him in a bad light. My sensei, traditionally, is the direct conduit to knowledge, and calling someone else sensei could indicate that I assume someone else has what he does not. How would I know what my teacher wants (because my teacher won't tell me)? Kan (intuition). This is training - when you pick up the unconscious or unsaid wishes and intentions of another, you are training exactly the kind of things that are essential in swordmanship.
A couple of other nuances:
When I trained at the Aikikai, I called all the teachers "sensei," except Shibata, (then 4th dan), Seki (then 4th dan), Yasuno (then 4th dan) and Miyamoto (then 3rd dan). Although they were seniors to me, they were apprentices - so they were "san." Others called them sensei - I did not, and none of them batted an eye. BTW - Yokota was junior to me in Kuroiwa's dojo before he became a deshi at the Aikikai, and he was "kun" to me - a diminuative, used for a younger friend. However, unless we had maintained a relationship over the years, I would not call him "kun" were I to see him today.
Were I taking class with one of them today, it would be a judgement call. Technically, as our relationship was a "san" relationship, that would continue. BUT - a) if, after thirty years, they did not remember me - very likely - it would be jarring b) if they had not made a point in front of the students to greet me as an "equal," a long-departed friend, it would also be jarring, because to them, an unknown was treated the teacher too familiarly. So in such a case, I would, on the mat, use "sensei."
Were I to meet any such person, and not be taking a class, I would not call them "sensei." And particularly for those of equal or lesser years, I would expect them be presented with the dilemma as to whether they should call me "sensei" as well. (That was one of the most enjoyable and fascinating dances at the various Aiki Expos - sometimes being called "sensei" by someone because they had to - they thought - and they tried to patronize me in the process, and others who were delighted to find someone that in their lights was as real as their own ideals, and they happily called me sensei as I did them). Other teachers, I called "san" because they were junior to me in years, rank, or clearly in skill. (see "arrogance" below).
One final nuance - Terry Dobson was, for many years, associated with Saotome Mitsugi. Terry was kohai (junior) to Saotome by a few years at the Aikikai. He called him sensei for the years they were associated in the States. I used to argue with him about this, because that defined him, in everyone's eyes, as Saotome's student, and that fundamentally changed how Terry was viewed. His choice, his karma, but his mistake, because it undermined his own lifestory.
I have been friends with some shihan and referred to them as "san," in all circles - humility can be taken too far, and arrogance is also part of the martial arts. I was saying to such men - "you are used to all Caucasians being craven and obsequious, calling you sensei by merit not of who you are, but simply that you are Asian and a martial artist and have a high rank. But you and I are equals - at minimum. If you have an objection to that, let me know."
The choice of the word defines who you are, sometimes.

Best

[Buck]

You know I think the word and this discussion on "sensei" is really informative.

A word given too much weight, a word that carries weight, a word that let's everyone know who is in charge, who to come to, who has the knowledge. So many variants of a word or a title.

In the white collar professional world you call those in management above you boss, and if you are a manager you call fewer people boss unless your at the top, everyone calls you boss.

In the world of education, only one persons per class is called teacher. And everyone else who is hired as a teacher.

In the culinary world, where you work in a kitchen everyone is called Chef. Yet, everyone in the kitchen knows whose boss.

Who do I call sensei, anyone one of shodan and above who is designated to teach the class. Or anyone you request that I do. As for Japanese who out rank me, by default until I am corrected.

If the word sensei goes to someone's head I can't stop that, I can't control that. If they become cavalier about it, it tells me allot about that person and maybe I shouldn't learn from that person, and I just concentrate on myself. I look for those who are genuine in their teaching, as I am genuine in my learning.

[Fred Little]

In the culinary world, where you work in a kitchen everyone is called Chef. Yet, everyone in the kitchen knows whose boss.

In some culinary worlds, perhaps.

Where I worked, there was one individual referred to as "chef" by everyone who worked in the kitchen. Among the more printable titles used for other kitchen workers for one another were "dirtbag" or "cabron."

On the other hand, it is true that just about anyone working in the kitchen might be addressed as "chef" by front of the house staff who were looking for favors. But then, they were a) front of the house staff b) looking for favors and c) professional flatterers.

YMMV,

FL

[Buck]

Fred,

So that is how it works :D , and here I thought it was just Chef :eek: , I really have to get out more. :D

I am sure the flattery and favors, which where I work is called..brownnosing and buttkissing to put it politely. Does apply to the Aikido world with addressing someone by sensei am sure.

Ellis also mentioned ego and sensei, I thought about it you also have to add students for reason of their own-which aren't important- who are heroworshiping or role-playing the Japanese culture who call any one sensei because it fits into that role playing or heroworship/Japaneseworship experience. I know this because I was at one time one such student. And being one such student, I knew all those who where just like me at the time, I could spot them a mile away. Birds of a feather flock together.

I am sure it can really be a huge ego booster to anyone to have several or more students running up to you calling you sensei like in that Tampopo movie that parodies the samurai/martial arts culture. Especially, when your not use to it and its not a big deal back at your home dojo, etc.

I guess maybe titles like sensei are over-rated as a result lose the core effect and purpose of denoting respect, i.e. you empty your cup, you just don't verbally diss the guy who is trying to teach you so you get dojo cred. and all the students look to you as the big shot on campus, etc.

A friend who is a school teacher said is was critical to control the classroom and have that presence. Otherwise all the students walk all over you. Yet I think anything or position can be abused by the right people.

I don't know. That is my view.

[judojo]

Dear Senseis, I was amazed by this topics especially when the friend of mine is equal with my Aikido rank as San Dan but of different discipline and Dojo, because Eufracio C. Bala, He belongs to Tapondo Aikido and me of Shodokan Aikido but I respect his standing as a teacher. I love to have knowledge from Nippon Aikidos but this is self worth the study and I love you all. But I apply the International Aikido Reige and Laws. From, Reynaldo L. Albano

[Alex Megann]

I had a funny experience in Waitrose (a local supermarket) a while ago. I guessed that one of the cashiers was Japanese from her appearance and accent, and when she returned my credit card to me I held both hands out, palms up, as if someone had passed me a weapon, and bowed my head slightly. She automatically said something in Japanese in response, which ended in "sensei". It felt very natural at the time, but by the time I got back to the car I started to see the funny side of it.

When I was in Tokyo a few years ago, the stallholders under Shinjuku station were all calling out to potential customers as "sensei"; and when I used to go to a Japanese osteopath I always addressed him the same way. I understand that in the context of Japanese culture it is used as a general expression of respect for someone's experience and seniority.

My feeling is that, in the dojo, there are no fixed rules for whom to call "sensei": from my experience I think I know when it is right to do so. Normally I address whoever is teaching the class as "sensei", even if I would use their first name to their face outside. Outside the dojo it feels natural to hail Japanese teachers as "sensei", but not non-Japanese.

Inconsistent? Perhaps.

Alex

[Josh Reyer]

I had a funny experience in Waitrose (a local supermarket) a while ago. I guessed that one of the cashiers was Japanese from her appearance and accent, and when she returned my credit card to me I held both hands out, palms up, as if someone had passed me a weapon, and bowed my head slightly. She automatically said something in Japanese in response, which ended in "sensei". It felt very natural at the time, but by the time I got back to the car I started to see the funny side of it.

When I was in Tokyo a few years ago, the stallholders under Shinjuku station were all calling out to potential customers as "sensei"; and when I used to go to a Japanese osteopath I always addressed him the same way. I understand that in the context of Japanese culture it is used as a general expression of respect for someone's experience and seniority.

I'm 99.999% sure you misheard something here, most likely something ending in "-mase". It would be highly irregular to call customers "sensei" unless a) you know them, and b) you know they are normally addressed as "sensei", from being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, politician, or writer. Customers in Japan are addressed as "okyakusama", not "sensei". In nine years of living in Japan, in city and country, I've never seen a vendor or salesclerk call a customer "sensei".

[Alex Megann]

I'm 99.999% sure you misheard something here, most likely something ending in "-mase". It would be highly irregular to call customers "sensei" unless a) you know them, and b) you know they are normally addressed as "sensei", from being a teacher, doctor, lawyer, politician, or writer. Customers in Japan are addressed as "okyakusama", not "sensei". In nine years of living in Japan, in city and country, I've never seen a vendor or salesclerk call a customer "sensei".

Hmm. Maybe I did mis-hear in Shinjuku - I was quite tired and jetlagged at the time.

In the case of the lady in the supermarket, though, I was pretty sure what I heard - perhaps she had had experience in the martial arts?

Alex

[dps]

I remember a story about Sam Walton the founder of Walmart. He had a mid level manager approach him one day and told him that she was asked to speak at a wonem's club about her experiience as a woman in businees and they wanted to know what her title was. Since she had no offical title she asked him how she should respond. He told her to call herself whatever she wanted to.

She responded to the women's club and told them her title was "Supreme Commander".

dps

[niall]

I'm sure Josh is right but I can just about imagine an exaggerated flattering use of sensei to imply that the customer looked like an affluent politician or lawyer, say. I have sometimes heard customers being called shacho (company president) in that way.

[Diana Frese]

I've mentioned my little YMCA dojo in a few posts, because some people might like to hear of the experiences there. It was many years ago, when Aikido was not very well known, and the location helped us get students, people would try it out because they were curious what it was, when they saw us on the stairs or passed by the practice room.

My teaching that class, it was strange how it happened. I remember in the women's dressing room at Hombu, one of the young women asked when I got back to my country would I teach Aikido. I looked a bit puzzled as I had become shodan recently then. She said that I must because the education was "mottainai" I think the word was. I think the meaning was, valuable, meaning it must be shared.

My mom later sent me a notice from the local paper in which "Hakido" was mentioned, because she wanted me to come home and it was her way of telling me I could still practice back here. When I went to the Y to inquire I didn't know if it was Hapkido or Aikido the notice was about. The director said he didn't know but that the plan had fallen thru, so I have no idea who they were and which art they would have taught.

The director, in the brand new Y building that had not been here when I left for Japan a year and a half previously, asked "Where did you say you just came back from and can you teach it?"

So that is how I ended up teaching Aikido only a month or two after I returned from Japan. It amazes me even now that it happened that way.

One student wrote in inquiry, calling me sensei, but after going to a few seminars with our group he started calling me Daian, the way all the others in my Y classes did. As a shodan who had been in Japan, I really believed my class was what the name I picked said, "Introduction to Aikido." If I teach again, that's what it is going to be called, because that was the way to start a wonderful experience of sharing what I had learned and students to work on my "homework" with and to learn from them and from others who visited, and to travel when we could.

Right in the middle of the intro six week class my doctor ordered an exam to look for an ovarian cyst,which he suspected and they did find but thank God it wasn't cancerous. In the recovery room, as soon as I began to wake up I asked if I had been operated on, because if not, I was going to be teaching that night. Well, I had so I had to wait. Fortunately the students did too and at the first opportunity I was back, but with permission to only watch from the sidelines in the current stone washed denim shirt and jeans set that was popular at the time.

The students were doing irimi nage and I stood up to extend nage's hand a bit or something..... "Siddown!!!" I heard from the small line of students behind me.

"now THAT'S respect" I said to myself. People showing they really care impressed me so much.

My story aside, I am very much interested in this thread and in what the others have to say. Thank you, it is a big help to me as my husband and I will be getting back into training and hope to have good transportation to visit dojos at least in the local area.

[OwlMatt]

There are some yudansha at my dojo that I call "sensei" all the time. There are others, who are as often students as instructors, whom I call "sensei" when they are teaching and their names when they are not. It's not a dojo rule, but it seems to work.

[guest1234567]

Our teacher likes that we call him by his name Manuel, also do the other nidan. The same is for Cesar the teacher of mine, he does not like that we call him sensei. Some people who don't know them call them sensei. As for Frank Noel we usually call him sensei in the seminar, outside we just say Frank :)

[amoeba]

Well, as Carsten said somewhere earlier in the thread, in my surroundings, we don't normally call anyone sensei. When I talk about my teachers, I call them my teachers, when I talk to them, I call them by their first name. I think they would look at me very strangely if I calles them sensei!
The only exception are japanese teachers. Them we call sensei, both when talking about and to them.

[nuxie]

gosh I never really thought about this. When I am training I do not really talk much. Heck I don't think I really talk at all. So I have never had to address anyone. I sit and watch then I stand up bow to my partner and we get started. When I go to the bigger school I know I do not talk at all. I bow in with my partner and we start. I don't really ask questions because they generally notice I am screwing up and will correct me. Off the mat I stand within view and wait for my turn to talk. Generally they notice I am there and I talk with them. Heck for the longest time I called my uke by the wrong name when talking about him to somone else. HAHA. I have been at this seven months and I still call him the wrong name sometimes. I guess in smaller schools you do not use names as much.

[Dave de Vos]

We call our teachers by their first name. When they talk about their japanese teacher they mostly refer to him by his last name (Shimamoto). When speaking to him, I think they call him sensei.

When I talk to others about my teachers (who don't know my teachers), I refer to them as my teacher(s).

[Alberto_Italiano]

Technically speaking, every dojo has a Sensei, and that can be only one person, the other ones teaching if s/he is not in the dojo at the moment being more correctly instructors but not the Sensei.

However, less technically, there is only one Sensei in the whole of the world and time. Raising this Sensei from its immemorial slumber is why one should train. I don't know how this Sensei behaves once awakened (in my case certainly it hasn't, though I am prodding in that direction on a daily basis), but it may be said that, most likely, won't use any words. Normally, this type of entities speak by hints & cues (this because they use no grammar - their grammar being made of names only and no verbs, articles, or adverbs).

[lbb]

Technically speaking, every dojo has a Sensei, and that can be only one person, the other ones teaching if s/he is not in the dojo at the moment being more correctly instructors but not the Sensei.

How do you figure that? It just means "teacher", it's how Japanese schoolteachers are called. You surely don't think every elementary school can only have one sensei? This is getting a little too "Highlander" for me.

[ninjaqutie]

In my dojo we tend to call everyone by their first name except for our chief instructor; we call him sensei. I rarely refer to him by his first name.... just seems weird.

[Shadowfax]

We really don't use the word sensei much in the dojo. We just call the person teaching by their name although if we are being more formal we may refer to the teacher as sensei when addressing them. But generally they prefer we not use the title. LOL I think they are still getting used to it since the dojo is still fairly young. If we have a seminar of course we always refer to the instructor as sensei when on the mat. And to be honest I don't think I can even talk to Mary Heiny sensei off the mat without addressing her as sensei, when she is visiting us... just seems wrong somehow.

There are only two teachers in my dojo that I refer to, in my heart, as My sensei. You really can't separate the two in terms of one is my sensei and one is a sensei....they complement one another so perfectly it is like two halves of a whole. :)

[Alberto_Italiano]

How do you figure that? It just means "teacher", it's how Japanese schoolteachers are called. You surely don't think every elementary school can only have one sensei? This is getting a little too "Highlander" for me.

I am only speaking as far as commmon sense here goes - the senior instructor, or the owner of the dojo, is customary called Sensei here. Actually it must not figured out - once you attend the dojo it easily spotted the person wh is to be the 'Sensei' in this "common sense" setting.

As for settings that are no longer common sense, I already said who is the Sensei then, for me :-)

[john.burn]

We tend to call anyone teaching sensei but only at the time they're teaching, so if i'm teaching I'll get called sensei, if someone else is teaching then I'm just John even if it's 'my' class and I ask someone to show something - they're referred to as sensei and I'm John again until the class moves on.

Some people call me it all the time, even off the mat which is a little funny and feels very weird to me... One of the guys from the club came over to my house one night to have a chat and just hang out - he bowed to me when I answered the front door and said hi sensei and bowed when he left. Still makes me laugh and he still does it.

It just feels right to refer to a Japanese teacher on and off the mat as sensei, but not a western teacher for whatever reason. Just feels awkward. There have been exceptions mind you - with Bill Smith and Haydn Foster then it always felt right to refer to them as sensei.

[dps]

i am confused who to call sensei.. and how do we know the instructor is a sensei? 'cause i might be mistaken calling someone a sensei and if he's not..

thanks..

P.S.
consider my english..

Call everyone Sensei. Thier reaction will give you insight into their personality.

dps