Why is it that in the USA...?

[Akai Bushi]

Why is it that in the USA a sensei only has to be yondan, but in other countries he/she has to be godan?

[KendokaJim]

I've only heard that godan and up are sensei...

[joekc6nlx]

Ditto. Godan it is.

[Neil Gendzwill]

In both the US and Canada it is common practice to expect people who are yondan to take on teaching duties and they are sometimes referred to as sensei. I personally think of yondan as instructor-in-training, godan as junior instructor and rokudan+ as full-fledged instructor.

You need to be godan to register a dojo with the CKF in other words to be considered competent enough to run a dojo unassisted. I'm not sure what the AUSKF rule is.

[Knicky]

Is dojo and club considered the same thing in federation terms?

[nodachi]

Is it possible that it is an issue of the quantity of godans vs. yondans in the US vs other countries? Or maybe in dropping the qualifications to yondan, does it allow more teachers, more clubs, and therefore help kendo to grow more? I could be completely off the mark, but just some random thoughts these are.

[Curtis]

The AUSKF has nothing to do with this issue at the dojo level. Dojo belong to the regional federation and the federations are in turn members of the AUSKF. If there is a dan set for being considered a sensei then it is at the regional federation level.

The AUSKF generally uses only 6 dan and above at national events and mostly it is 7 dan as instructors. Actually I cannot remember the last time I saw them use a 6 dan.

[jmarsten]

This was gone over before but as a reminder. Who ever is the leader/sensei at the dojo is. Outside of the dojo in the bigger scheme of things they may well not be recognized as anything but the leader, certainly not a sensei. Depends on the size of the pond. PNKF recognizes the leadership of the club who ever it is never mind their rank. We do not call them sensei if they are less then 4 dan and that is questionable. 5 Dan yes, 4 Dan kinda borderline. If you go up to AUSKF events then as stated 5 Dan are not really considered a sensei. However in the PNKF if the leader of the group is less then 4 Dan they must have a 5 Dan or higher mentor provided by the PNKF. That stays until they are replaced, go away or make 4 Dan. Some other AUSKF members do the same sort of thing.

[nikolaj]

as a title, I guess it's 5dan, as its literaly translated function, I guess it depends.
The leader of our dojo is only 2nd dan right now, this because in countries as mine, there just aren't enough godans to be teaching in every little town...

[joekc6nlx]

In modern times, the word "sensei" has come to mean "master", "teacher", etc., but its original meaning was "one who has gone before", in other words, someone who is older and is teaching younger people in the ryu.

In our dojo, we have a yondan who does not sit on the sensei's side of the dojo before and after class. That is his choice, but our sensei (7th dan, kyoshi) has invited him to sit there. Perhaps this summer, if he makes godan, he'll switch over to the sensei's side of the dojo.

[JHusch]

In modern times, the word "sensei" has come to mean "master", "teacher", etc., but its original meaning was "one who has gone before", in other words, someone who is older and is teaching younger people in the ryu.

In our dojo, we have a yondan who does not sit on the sensei's side of the dojo before and after class. That is his choice, but our sensei (7th dan, kyoshi) has invited him to sit there. Perhaps this summer, if he makes godan, he'll switch over to the sensei's side of the dojo.


Hmmm I thought that Sensei always meant Instructor or master, I am also pretty sure that the word Sempai means "One who has gone before".

[joekc6nlx]

According to Harutane Chiba-sensei, in a quote to Darrell Max Craig in "The Heart of Kendo", sensei's original meaning was "one who was born before". (pg 51)

In a way, it has changed in its meaning, like the English word "moot". We used to use it to describe a point that was debatable, but now it's become a point that is overworked and no longer applicable.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Hmmm I thought that Sensei always meant Instructor or master, I am also pretty sure that the word Sempai means "One who has gone before".
"Instructor" is the common translation, but the translation of the kanji is "one who has gone before". I'm not sure what sempai translates to but something similar is a good guess.

[nikolaj]

If you're gonna translate from Japanese, the word sensei can be used as A LOT of things though...
Generally it's just the teacher or at least someone very experienced.