Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

What is the appropriate way to use the term "sensei"? At what point does a person become or start being addressed as "sensei"? I would imagine that opinions vary on the subject, as would various schools and arts, so I'm curious to see what folks might have to say.

in the budo tradition we come from, typically after 4th dan students and peers may use the term sensei to refer to a teacher-- though in Japansese culture in general,
who serves as a teacher may be refered to in this way -- Later, after 6th dan you hear the term shihan or "leader of men" used as well, though the term sensei is still also completely appropraite reguardless of rank--
as with all honorific titles and ranks it is coinsidered rude and arrogant to use such terms to refer to oneself -- a point widely overlooked in the west where such usage has become an ugly form of advertising --

For myself, i am pointedly embarassed at my own (unknowing) misuse of such in the past -- i see that i was just following the examples of my role models, but i did not yet understand how my models were themselves being rude and arrogant

there are also a variety of other honorific titles that have been misused over the years which are missappropriations form other ranking systems-- i think it is best to just avoid them entirely

What??? But I am the Sensei Strange!!!

Let me explain something about myself. I have degrees in Anthropology and Psychology. Like Indiana Jones, I was sure when I moved to Japan I was going to seamlessly blend into the culture, mastering the language in days. Contrary to my fantasies I remained a giant, fat, larger than life, boisterous heavy beer drinker. Much of my fitting in involved dancing on desktops (much to coworkers horror) staging fire shows, pouring Tequila into the city mayor until he ceremoniously vomited over a banquet and levitating cards in classrooms. I have a flair for the dramatic after all.

In 2000 I was writing articles for a few Zen and Budo online magazines. I found no matter how deep and insightful I wrote, no one would remember my name. For my performers ego...it drove me crazy. Then in a flash "Sensei Strange" came to me. Well aware of the Japanese language conventions, I started using it as a pen name. Instantly I became memorable. Interesting thing about art - how you frame it is as important as the art itself.

So I adopted Sensei...not as a mere title. I adopted it as my name!!!! Talk about rude and arrogant! Again, I proved myself to be a white, bearded Godzilla plowing through Japanese conventions.



I ran the name by some of my Japanese friends as a stage name for the magic act I was developing. They all gave it a yes vote. Then slowly over the next few years, being a shameless self promoter of magic I introduced myself as Sensei Strange more and more! It became my real and only name for almost everyone I now know. It is my professional name of sorts.

Then it came time for me to open a dojo. I explained for all my students not to call me sensei. But it was the name they all knew me by! Eventually I stopped fighting it. The title/name became an avatar to aspire to fill. I had to live up to my own legend.

That's my story. Is it arrogant and rude to call your Sensei. yup. Magicians are special though. Martial arts magicians are double special. We can trick you AND trip you. Plus really pretty people like me can do what we like. 😄



When I wrestled with this pickle I found myself in, I threw caution to the wind and decided to continue to pillage Japanese culture - with reverance! Like in calligraphy and Aikido, if you reallly know the rules - you suddenly find you can break them! I know the rules. I choose to break them, and ironically I find it rude and arrogant when I find someone else breaking this convention. haha - ain't life a kicker! Do as I say, not as I do.


I am the Sensei Strange, I have business cards and a website to prove it.

no sweat sensei strange -- your rude and arrogant persona is fine and dandy-- i think you pull it off beautifully

Kind of like how not many people know who the heck Theodore Giesel is, but everybody knows Dr. Seuss! A name he used to write articles for his college paper after he got caught drinking in his dorm with his friends and was forbidden to engage in any extracurricular activities. And he was never a doctor, nor earned a doctorate.

Ah, well. All we care about is good books and good magic and good budo!

Eric Pearson wrote:What??? But I am the Sensei Strange!!!
Contrary to my fantasies I remained a giant, fat, larger than life, boisterous heavy beer drinker.

Maybe you were just trying to blend into the wrong place. Sounds like you'd have sit in at the local sumo stable 🙂. Or not.

Maybe you were just trying to blend into the wrong place. Sounds like you'd have sit in at the local sumo stable 🙂. Or not.

Ah, we haven't heard from you on the forums in a long time, Sensei Sunshine Bear! 😄

Everything in my house keeps breaking. Occupied a lot of my time. It has been fun being a Funshine Bear, but it's probably time I retunred to my lawnmower roots.

Sean Ashby wrote:What is the appropriate way to use the term "sensei"? At what point does a person become or start being addressed as "sensei"? I would imagine that opinions vary on the subject, as would various schools and arts, so I'm curious to see what folks might have to say.

Outside the dojo I refer to myself as the senior student or Instructor. This subject has been a very Slippery slope for some of us Junior ranked Yudansha. In the past when I have visited a club, or a dojo (I traveled a whole lot more before the kiddo) there was always someone at least Sandan level that has taken on the role, and general acceptance from Roku- and up that it was good. I also found that not everyone is fortunate enough to have High Ranking Yudansha close to us to stand on their shoulders for regular classes though. (Near the end of 05 I found that either I took the lead role in our club, or the closest aiki class would be in Round Rock about 60 miles or so away. Over the last few years I discovered that it is easiest to work with the day one student, and during that time let them know that everyone in the dojo is a student including myself and that our dojo works on the Senpai/Kohai relationship. Currently I normally get called by my first name, or Senpai, some still call me Sensei though. As far as self referencing outside the dojo I do try to refrain, but don't correct others when they say it. I found that general acceptance amongst the seniors I have met that are politically minded has definately been easier this way.)
I think that this question is extremely multi-faceted as well as it begs one to actually define "what is a Sensei", do you say sensei before or after the persons name, is it a role that everyone at their senior years in the art will eventually take on?... 😉
To me there is a Vast difference between a teacher and a sensei. A teacher cares about giving you what they have, and makes sure you progress in it, while a sensei take on the greater role of also caring for your whole being. Not only interested in passing the art on to you but interested in helping you better yourself across the board as a whole.
On the verbiage aspect I was led to believe that you said their name first, followed by their title when addressing them, and reverse when speaking of them in conversation.
I personally don't believe that every person that has achieved higher rank is able to tackle this role, as some folks don't posses the ability to communicate their ideas to another individual. They will always find the niche few that understand them, but fail on the basic levels of communicate with the average human. (I don't just say this because I feel I am difficult to work with) I say this because I have observed some teachers that I work well with, can't reach the majority in the class.

Ikei,
Jeff Duncan

Eric Pearson wrote:
I am the Sensei Strange, I have business cards and a website to prove it.

You certainly are Bro!
See what threads I find when I finally get caught up with the broken cars, and paint jobs and can surf the web for more than ten minutes each night...

ran across these links --its more than you ever wanted to know on it :

http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showpo...6&postcount=32

http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showpo...1&postcount=33

http://www.aikiweb.com/language/goldsbury1.html