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Sensei

Who is sensei?

A sensei (先生) is a teacher or instructor in martial arts, a term that signifies respect and acknowledgment of their role in guiding students. Derived from the Japanese characters "sen" (before) and "sei" (life or birth), sensei literally translates to "one who comes before." This highlights their position as a mentor who has walked the path of learning and now leads others.

Role in Martial Arts

Sensei are typically responsible for:

  • Teaching fundamental techniques, forms (kata), and principles.
  • Guiding students through day-to-day training.
  • Evaluating and promoting students as they advance in rank.
  • Serving as role models, embodying the discipline, respect, and philosophy of the martial art they teach.

While sensei can instruct practitioners of all skill levels, they primarily focus on developing the foundation of newer students and ensuring their proper progression. The sensei-student relationship is built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared dedication to the art.

Cultural Context

In Japanese society, the term "sensei" extends beyond martial arts and is used for teachers, doctors, and other professionals, emphasizing their esteemed status. In martial arts dojos, students demonstrate respect to their sensei through bows and formal greetings, reflecting the cultural significance of this title.

Related Article: Difference Between Sensei and Shihan in Martial Arts

Bushido meant stoicism, self-discipline, and dignity in one’s personal bearing; it emphasized mastery of the martial arts through long training and practice; it lauded sacrifice in service to duty, without the slightest fear of death; it demanded asceticism and simplicity in daily life, without regard to comforts, appetites, or luxuries. The samurai was “to live as if already dead,” an outlook consonant with Buddhism; he was to regard death with fatalistic indifference, rather than cling to a life that was essentially illusory. Shame or dishonor might require suicide as atonement—and when a samurai killed himself, he did so by carving out his own viscera with a short steel blade. But traditional bushido had not imposed an obligation to abhor retreat or surrender even when a battle had turned hopeless, and the old-time samurai who had done his duty in a losing cause could lay down his arms with honor intact.
Ian W. Toll

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