Sensei - students relations

If you feel the teacher is a real teacher, give up your own ideas and learn.

I started learning Judo in 1969. Over the years, I I have been very fortunate to meet great teachers who guided my way and were role models to me. Their pictures are displayed in my Dojo. I bow to them when I get in and out. I am very thankful for the Sensei who came into my life.

What is a Sensei ? 

 

The Japanese word Sensei literally means "one who was born before". Your sensei was "born before" you in the system you are studying. He is senior to you. This is different from a coach. A Sensei can actually do what he teaches, he or she embodies the art, while a coach can teach you how to do something without necessarily being able to perform it himself.

In traditional Japanese culture, teachers are seen as the only real way to progress. Without their instruction, the student might make serious mistakes and be unable to master his subject. The Sensei’s role is to create situations so that the student learns by experience; he is not expected to explain the intricate details of every thing. Training is a thing of the heart, not of the mind.

Loyalty

The guidance of a Sensei being essential, once you select a teacher and the teacher accepts you, you should accept that this teacher does know what he or she is doing, that what really matters is practice, and that some of the most important lessons cannot be taught via spoken or written words. Most importantly you should be loyal to your Sensei, and your Sensei should be loyal to you.

Mutual trust and loyalty are the “sine qua non” condition for a harmonious and fruitful relationship between Sensei and disciple.

Experience proves, however, that the road can be bumpy.

Some students have an idealized image of a teacher who at times may not fit this image they created of him. When this happens the Sensei may become subjected to a great deal of criticism or abuse.

You should not idealize or identify with your Sensei; because if he or she does anything which, in your eyes, cannot be accepted or justified, the whole relationship comes tumbling down and breaks into a thousand pieces.

On the other hand, when the loyalty pledged by a student to a Sensei becomes blind obedience and belief a fraudulent or unscrupulous instructor can manipulate this for his own ends, financial or otherwise. A proper Sensei never requires or even tolerates blind commitment from any student.

Mutual respect

Although you must believe and be loyal to your Sensei, you should never surrender your right to think for yourself.

You should also remember that your teacher also has rights and may choose not to live his life according to your expectations of how things should be.