Japanese martial arts terms are the Japanese titles used to refer to teachers of martial arts such as karate or judo. These terms are used not only in Japan but also by students of martial arts in other countries. In Japan, it is usual to use honorific titles after a persons name, such as san or kun or chan. ... Jump to: navigation, search Two men engaging in competition style Karate. ... Jump to: navigation, search Judo (Japanese: 柔道 Jūdō; literally gentle way) is a martial art, a sport and a philosophy which originated in Japan. ...

The most common title is sensei. Sensei of martial arts usually live and/or work at a dojo, where they teach their skills to their apprentices. Such teachers are also commonly referred to as Shishō (師匠, Shishō?) or Shihan (師範, Shihan?). Both these terms are usually translated as master, and using sensei would be considered derogatory and insulting. In comic fiction or as comic relief in a serious work, such masters would make a comical appeal that their students must call them shishō and not sensei. This is mostly forgotten or ignored by their students. Sensei in Japanese Sensei (先生) is a generic Japanese term for master, teacher or doctor. It can be used to refer to any authority figure, such as schoolteacher, professor, priest, lawyer, or politician. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Students attending a lecture at the Helsinki University of Technology Etymologically derived through Middle English from the Latin second-type conjugation verb stÅ­dÄ“rÄ•, which means to direct ones zeal at; hence a student is one who directs zeal at a subject. ... Shihan (師範) is a Japanese title, often used in budo. ... Shihan (師範) is a Japanese title, often used in budo. ...

Higher ranks

Various styles of Karate, both Okinawan and Japanese, might use various titles for some of the more senior sensei within the style. The following explanations assume that judan (10th degree black belt) is the top rank within a style, and these are loosely defined. Jump to: navigation, search Two men engaging in competition style Karate. ... Jump to: navigation, search It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dan grade. ...

Renshi (, Renshi?) refers to an advanced instructor. This title can be awarded to those of 5th or 6th dan ranking. Renshi means "teacher" or "one who has mastered himself." It is the first formal teaching rank. This title is awarded to an instructor who has achieved the rank of 6th degree rokudan (六段, rokudan?) black belt. Occasionally, but not often, it is awarded to an instructor of 5th degree ranking godan (五段, godan?) who has distinguished himself as an expert teacher.

Kyoshi (, Kyoshi?) refers to a master instructor. It is the second formal teaching rank. This title is awarded to an instructor who has achieved the rank of 7th or 8th degree black belt ({{nihongo{nanadan|七段|}} or hachidan (八段, hachidan?) who has distinguished himself as an expert teacher or expert instructor.

Hanshi (, Hanshi?) refers to the senior instructor of instructors. This title is only awarded to those of 9th or 10th dan ranking, usually by the menkyo-kaiden, and in many styles, there can only be one who holds a hanshi's title. In most traditional budo organizations it is the third and last in a sequence or teaching titles, in this order: Renshi, Kyoshi, Hanshi. This title is given to a senior instructor who has distinguished himself as a teacher of teachers.