A Sensei by Any Other Name

A Sensei by Any Other Name

Martial Arts Teachers and Their Titles

Chris Himmel

 

Martial arts instructors have long had a variety of titles associated with them. Depending on the school, style, and country of origin words like Sensei, Tashi, Shihan, Kyoshi, Hanshi, Sifu, Laoshi, and Sigung could be used in a range of contexts and specific meanings. Then there are other subordinate titles like Sempai and Sihing or Sije. Even the English word “Master” could be interpreted in a couple of ways. Problems arise when talking with someone from outside one’s own school as the way these terms are defined may differ, and the fact that many schools use words from Asian languages without fully understanding the cultural implications of those words leads to misappropriation.

Chinese Terms and Meanings

As a teacher of Chinese martial arts, I am more familiar with the terms in common use for those arts than arts coming from Japan and other Asian countries. As someone who does not speak Mandarin or Cantonese well and certainly did not grow up in Chinese culture, it doesn’t feel right to me to use any of those titles, and the word “Master” doesn’t seem right either. My teacher never asked his students to call him anything other than his first name, and I have done the same. I may be a teacher or an instructor, but the Chinese terms used in many martial arts schools often carry subtext that may not be intended. “Sifu” for instance often heard as the term for “master” or “teacher,” analogous to “Sensei” in arts coming from or through Japan. The written character for this word, however, is a combination of the characters for “teacher” and “father.” This implies a deeper relationship than I have with most of my students. The Chinese terms in general tend to describe specific relationships. “Sifu” being teacher/father would be used by close students or disciples, but not by a non-student or member outside the school. Asking someone to address you by this as a formal title would seem to be inappropriate.

Likewise, “Sihing” is essentially “older brother” and “Sije” is “older sister.” These describe relationships between junior students and those who started studying with the same teacher before them. Asking another student of your teacher who started before you to refer to you as “Sihing” or “Sije” would not be appropriate. “Laoshi” appears to be the exception and is a more generic term for the way we use the word “teacher” in English. Technically, “Shi” is “teacher” and “Lao” is “old,” but contextually this is a term of respect and does not correlate to actual age.

When I first started teaching at the Kempo Dojo where my children still train, the head instructor began referring to me as “Sifu.” I took this as an honor and understood the importance for their school in my having a title, but I never asked or required my direct students to refer to me this way. Had I understood better then, I would have said that “Laoshi” would be more accurate. Now I have a few students who will sometimes call me “Sifu,” but it’s usually in writing and for something important. The fact that they use it of their own volition and not because there is some expectation makes it that much more meaningful. It shows a deeper respect and that we have come to a stronger relationship than that of a more casual teacher/student.

What is a Master?

The word “Master” can be equally problematic. Some schools will designate this as a title and one’s teacher will actually confer the rank upon someone. Others still see this word as relational as in master and apprentice/student. The question of what constitutes mastery is a big one, and then asking someone not in your own school to refer to you as “Master” raises some concerns again. “Sifu” is sometimes translated this way and that brings us to “Sigung” or “Grandmaster.” Again, the primary mode for this word in context seems to be relational. “Grandmaster” in this case is not “the greatest of all masters,” but is really “my master’s master,” or perhaps better, “my teacher’s teacher” just like your grandfather is your father’s (or mother’s) father. In other schools, however, Sigung (Grandmaster) would be anyone who has promoted someone else to Sifu (Master).

Japanese Terms

As far as terms from Japanese arts “Sensei” is by far the most prevalent. So much that it’s really part of the English vernacular at this point. In some schools, this title is used for any teacher, while in others it requires a specific rank. Other dojos sometimes use “Sensei” to indicate a particular black belt rank. As with Chinese terms, the biggest problem with the use of titles tends to be a lack of accurate translations or usage.

Many other common titles like “Shihan,” “Kyoshi,” or “Hanshi” would be used in Japanese to describe a position, but not as a term of address. One perspective on the use of these titles that always resonated with me is, “Once a Sensei, always a Sensei.” This was intended to mean that once a practitioner had become a Sensei, this title would continue to be valid, even when that person was promoted and might change to use a different title.

In the interest of being true to the roots of our various arts, an exploration of the language and terms that are used is important. It gives a deeper understanding of the culture from which the arts stem and helps prevent misappropriation. As we continue to practice Traditional Martial Arts in the modern world, we need to make sure we are taking all the lessons that the arts have to teach. As citizens of a global community, being respectful of the cultures our arts represent is equally important and makes us all better members of society and better representatives and teachers of our respective arts.

 

*Translations and interpretations are the author’s best understanding. Any and all mistakes are his own.