Equal????

In Japanese Karate there is a very interesting form of relationship.

Anytime people train together, one is Kohai, and one is Sempai. Kohai means junior, and Sempai senior.

The job of the Sempai is to assist their juniors. They are expected to explain things, show things, and in general guide. The Kohai is expected to listen. The Kohai treats the Sempai with a bit of extra courtesy. They will often address their senior with the title of "Sempai". It is a term of respect.

How do you know who are your Sempai? Easy. When you start training, everybody with a higher belt is your Sempai. Everybody who has the same belt as you, but who has held it longer is your Sempai.

I bet this sounds simple enough, but it isn't.

Suppose you join Karate. You are a White Belt. That Yellow Belt over there is your senior, and you treat him as such. Easy? So far, yes. Suppose your sempai has to go away for a while, and misses training. You progress, and pass two tests before the Yellow Belt returns.

He is still Yellow, and you are Orange, higher than him. Who is the Sempai now? To western thinking, the Orange Belt would be. If only it were that simple.

The higher Orange Belt will still treat the Yellow with the respect due a Sempai, but perhaps less overtly. The Yellow, will now rely upon the Orange as his Sempai. He will accept the respect from the higher belt with grace, and also return it.

In effect each is both Kohai and Sempai to the other. It is an intricate dance. Even if they both earn their Green Belts on the same day, they are never exactly equal.

This is all very Japanese, and they can do it without thinking. It can confuse the hell out of westerners.

The Japanese are more confused by truly equal Karate status. Two guys starting on the same day are equal, but it's almost as if they are waiting for this to change. As long as they progress through the belts at the same time, they remain equal, with neither being Kohai or Sempai. As soon as one earns a belt before the other, the relationship's nature changes to senior and junior.

For westerners, it seems to work better not to think of it too much most of the time. If someone senior to you is ever particularly helpful, maybe teaching you a new Kata, you should label them as your Sempai. Address them as Sempai during training.

Some Dojo instructors use it as a sort of rank, designating several high belts as Sempai. This is slightly incorrect. If an instructor says, "Sempai, please help the beginners," they are actually saying, "Person who is senior to me, please help the beginners." This is usually not what is intended, not that it hurts anything.

Some people address every Black Belt as Sensei. This is nice, but not necessary. It is a much bigger word than teacher. Many reserve it to the Dojo's head instructor, or to anybody who teaches regularly, or who was your instructor in the past.

There is also the term Shihan, which translates as master. It is meant to refer to very high Black Belts. Some associations limit the use to the head of the style, or to those of a certain rank, usually 5th or 7th Dan. I address such people as Sensei. The term Sensei holds such respect in Japan, that such use is never unacceptable.

I usually get called Gordon.