Sensei

Usually when kids ask what the word "Sensei" means, they are told that it means teacher. It's not inaccurate and it satisfies the question when posed by a child, but when karate students get older, they come to learn a deeper meaning of the term.

The literal translation of sensei is "one who has gone before". It means more than just being a teacher. It acknowledges that the teacher was once a student. Every black belt in the world started as a white belt.

Even still, this is not a complete defentition of the term "sensei". Under the translation given above, I could refer to any student who is of higher rank than me a sensei, but I don't. In fact, if I tried to call a brown belt a sensei, I'd be corrected on it. For that matter, sometimes the kids I help teach call me sensei and I correct them too.

A sensei is a person who has reached the rank of black belt. Black belts have spent a long time in their art. Through study, commitment, discipline and long hours of training, they have passed many tests to achieve the rank that has been granted to them.

Though all students and teachers are respected in the dojo, a sensei has earned an extra level of respect because of their achievements. The title of sensei conveys this respect and recognition.

Martial Arts Home Page
History of Ai-Mute Shotokan
Belt levels
Meaning of the word "Sensei"
Kata
How To Be A Homicidal Schoolgirl