As part of my efforts with growing the club I like to write these emails which I also post on our Facebook page.
They are also good for me as it challenges me to think and learn about Aikido.
I have shared some of these posts on a large Facebook Forum called, imaginatively enough: “Aikido”
This forum has around 183,000 members.
One post I made recently received more attend than the others. So far my post has received 578 “likes” it has been shared 81 times and it has reached 24,884 people. For a post about Aikido that’s a pretty big amount.
It was my last post about the stories of O Sensei’s awakenings that led to the development of Aikido.
Something that has caused more issues than anything was some feedback I received about how I signed off the message.
I generally sign off “Sensei Ronnie Smith”.
Here’s some reaction to that:
“It makes me feel irksome when someone calls themselves Sensei this and that”
“”Sensei” is not something you ascribe to yourself. It’s up to others viewpoint of you if you are a sensei to them or not. It most often comes across as highly arrogant, and in truth it means nothing since you can be a teacher/sensei in anything to anyone, its not a ranking title “
This isn’t the first time I’ve had that reaction.
In English the common definition of Sensei is:
“a teacher or instructor usually of Japanese martial arts (such as karate or judo)”
In Japan,however, the word Sensei is applied to more situations than just martial arts. Doctors and professors are addressed as Sensei for example. In Japanese it comes at the end of the name. Therefore Japanese teachers would often be called Ueshiba Sensei, Chiba Sensei, Tohei Sensei etc.
What I have been told it that in the Japanese context it is not used as a title.
Around the world, most Aikido organisations follow with what seems to me a slightly clumsy attempt to combine the Japanese language structure to the English language and therefore it is standard for teachers to be referred to as John Smith Sensei, David Jones Sensei etc.
This breaks an obvious convention of the English language. In English, the surname comes at the end. In Japan, China and Korea, the surname comes first. Though apparently it is common for Japanese people to switch this around when writing in English.
In our club, Sensei has been used in front of the surname. This convention goes back to the early days of Aikido in the UK.
The Japanese teachers encouraged the British teachers to adapt the art to make sense to the British audience. Sensei was put to the start of the name to follow conventions of the English Language.
Even by that time, the word Sensei would already have become part of the English language. The definition is “martial arts teacher”. The Japanese meaning is not exclusive to martial arts teacher as already mentioned.
We have continued with this old tradition, perhaps as our club was part of the Ki Federation for years and was likely not influenced by outside sources.
Most clubs do follow the standard Aikikai conventions and will only use Sensei at the end. To my ears it is unusual as it is not what I am used to but many people are determined that this is the right way.
I see Sensei as a title meaning teacher and very little else. It is a reminder of one’s obligation to the class. A Sensei is there to teach and should always keep that in mind. They should be focused on the development of their students and not any of their own selfish goals.
I encourage my class to use the word and use it for all visiting teachers.
That being said, some are uncomfortable with the use of the word and prefer not to be called that title. This is their personal choice.
Happy to hear your thoughts.
Aikido For Glasgow 