In my country, parents doesn't even encourage or motivate their child to learn something new skill or stuffs. I hate the mentality of my country's people 🙂
Oh our country is so nice until we had groups of idiots last year self proclaiming to be a decendant of an empire which they claim to have rule the world (Sunda Empire) until they ended up getting arrested. Also we are having one majority religion which I wont say the name enjoy oppressing minority like me just because my ancestor aren't born here and this has goes on since colonial rule
In the USA there's this phenomenon of "McDojo" or the watering down of karate dojos. it started during the late 70s and throughout the 80s, where a lot of "karate sensei" with dubious training started opening karate dojos that don't focus on training students properly. instead they focus on making it so that the student doesn't want to quit (the training is easy) so that the "sensei" can continue to collect training fees and earn a living. It seems that a lot of the "sensei" from the got their training in Japan/Okinawa right after WW2 because of the US military presence in the area, but because they fell on hard times (there was an economic crisis in the US during the late 70s), they did what they can to keep their dojo open, and make their money from the students. Right now, karate in the US has a bad reputation because of these McDojos, and the only time the karateka gets respected is if the have a reputation in competing in combat sports outside of Sport Karate or Karate sparring. Some respected names include Lyoto Machida, Stephen Thompson, Michael Page, Andy Hug, to name a few. Competing outside of Karate becomes proof that the dojo you came from is legitimate and isn't a McDojo that just lets you "buy your belt".
I do believe respect is a 2 ways thing. However, as mention by @Karate Dojo waKu, the culture of Senpai and Kohai in the karate culture is deep. The more traditional the dojo is, the worst it is. As a karate student in the 90s, we had to head into the dojo early and stay late to clean the dojo. We believe that the cleanliness of the dojo is the responsibility of everyone, and as a kohai it is our duty to do it for the senpai. Simple analogy is that, would you sit there and see your mom clean the floor when you play with your phone? Or would you rather, you clean the floor and your mom be on the phone... Yes, a teacher must respect the student to earn his/her respect, the same way a student needs to respect their teacher to gain that respect. As a student, you are here to gain more knowledge from your teacher, is it really too much to ask for a student to pay a little respect to the person who is dedicating his life to teach you?
@darkwing dook the thing is, although they do charge students, the amount is very minimal. The school that I attended 20years ago charge $20/month, and in 2020, they are charging $30.. $30 bucks in local currency is less than 10USD. Most of the martial arts instructor has a second job just to make sure they have food on the table. And if you think this is bad, it’s worse in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts community. We even eat at the teacher’s home. In Chinese culture, your teacher is like your dad. Would you sue your dad, if he yell at you all day because there’s flaw in your kata? Or you didn’t do well in school? Sure you might be grumpy about it.. I really wouldn’t jump to scam that quickly.. it’s just part of the culture. If people decide to abandon it, it is their freedom to do so. But I wouldn’t be so quick to judge
@darkwing dook 😂 we do “pay” our parents.. we give them allowance as they did us as a child when we started working.. LOLs And maybe you are right that the old way no longer works. But do I still go back to the dojo whenever I’m in town, you bet I do. Do I still “pay”? Absolutely, even more than before. Does he still yell at me whenever I head back? ALL THE TIME 😆
One of the problems in the U.S. I see when it comes to Karate is the constant comparison to MMA and most people especially those who don't practice Karate think of it as not practical or not a good thing to learn for defense. I actually fought MMA and then later started my Karate journey. I know first hand this is not true, Karate is great for defense but it is practiced and approached in a different way than a Fighter trains for a fight in MMA. I get asked all of the time " Why would you stop MMA to start Karate? Isn't MMA better?" I just chuckle knowing they will not understand my explanation, it takes doing and learning to fully understand what Karate offers I believe. So instead of debating I invite them to give it a try or to train with me. No one ever does though.
I trained mma for 4 years, it all depends on what you want to learn. But for selfdefense, karate is not the best way to defend yourself unless you are a (legit) blackbelt. Try sparring a mma practitioner with 6 months experience against a karateka with 6 months under his obi and see what will happen. Don’t get me wrong, I love karate, training for almost all my life. But for selfdefense there are quicker, more easy and effective ways to learn. But hey, who cares about fast and quick. We are here for the ‘do’ part, right? At least I am!
@@praetorian3959 I agree with your statement but that is not a self defense senario and people get that confused all the time. That is an agreed fight. You would be training to fight another fight. Think of self defense as a completely untrained person attacked by another untrained person. It might not as effective as MMA but not all people want that level of skill. For somekne never encountered violence or never even seen how to throw a punch Karate is a good baseline for being randomly accosted. But I do get what you are saying MMA is on another level, but for some if not most that level is more than they want to involve themself. Karate is great for those uncomfortable with violence and MMA is great for those who are comfortable with it in my opinion. Thanks for the comment too. I enjoy a good conversation.
I grew up playing Taiko. I went to the first Taiko Dojo in the western hemisphere. While I am thankful for my education there, and cherish the experience, my Sensei was famously this kind of teacher. The abuse was excessive. My father, a psychologist, worked for Child Protective Services would eventually plead with me to leave the school(after 20 years), sighting that not only was the atmosphere narcissistic and abusive, but was taking on certain cult-like characteristics. My O'jiichan, himself an Aikijujutsu no Shihan and a deeply Buddhist man, found his ego to be a source of ire. Having grown up in his dojo aswell, the lectures I sat through about why it is not okay to think so highly of ones self and the importance of "always consider yourself a student, one must always have a teacher". I think when a person no longer has anyone to question him, it is a symptom of that same kind of Narcissism. My Sensei didn't realize he was hurting people. He certainly didn't set out to, but there was no contemporary for him to judge himself by, so couldn't see the forrest through the trees.
You're really good, and helpful! I've shared several of your vids on our discussion page! Thank you for your help. I feel like the rift in the martial arts world is inevitable, bc these gross and manufactured hierarchies are nothing but really, really dense egos and overcompensation. The training is meaningless if it isn't misogi. It is meaningless if it sows division and doesn't promote reconciliation and diplomacy and progress. Unfortunately, it is overall destructive and counter-productive. The arbitrary ranks and such do not promote authenticity in people. For example, I'd much rather have an authentic person who swears and throws fits than an outwardly well-mannered "sensei" who is corrupt to the core on the inside. Authenticity is key, and ranks and hierarchies obscure that.
I agree with you. It’s why I basically quit doing martial arts because no matter what place I went to, there was always this culture of ego there. I got sick of it, but that’s the world of martial arts for ya. Most people go into because they feel insecure and want to be a badass so they can go and bully others like how they were bullied. Most people get into martial arts because they are looking for conflict.
@@secretagent4610 surely ego can and does come into every area of human life, it's what causes conflicts. Isn't this what Zen Buddhism is all about and traditional Japanese martial arts, in some way learning to let go of the ego and learning things like humility. Don't they have a saying in old Japan, when the nail sticks up knock it down. I think respect for elders could be a good thing and it came to Japan from Confucias in China, originally. There does appear to be a general lack of respect in our society here in the UK now and it's not good
@@fredatlas4396 I think respecting elders is a good thing, but not because they are simply elders. I respect people because they exist and stop respecting them once they stop respecting me or don’t have respect for me in the first place. Now yes, if someone is being disrespectful, I think it’s good to “knock the nail down”, but does that also include elders too, or do they get a pass for simply being elders? No one should be above anyone. Yes, in earned rank, but not as a human being. There also is a massive general lack of respect here in the states which I think is where the UK got it from thanks to popular modern American culture, the msm and Hollywood. I’m sorry my country has influenced the UK (and other places) like that. There are still intelligent and respectable people here, but it seems to me that they are not the majority, sadly.
I get some of the reasoning behind the hierarchy/rank system, but even when it's not abused I feel that some people adhere to it too strictly. An illustration: I trained in martial arts before I came to Japan, and had achieved my 1st don black belt in Song Moo Kwon (sort of a branch of Tae Kwon Do) as well as having done some training in other styles (a fair bit of Muay Thai, a little Aikido). I moved to Japan and trained in Renshinkan. After moving, I went to a nearby dojo for a while. They started me at white belt, which was fine- it was a style I'd never tried specifically, even if there was a lot of cross-over with previous training. It was kind of fun sometimes to be far underestimated by people who looked at my belt and didn't know about my prior training- not necessarily in competition, but even in class while doing kicking drills on pads and knocking the pad out of people's hands because they weren't expecting the power of my kicks. There were times in class that we'd be working on techniques, for instance a hip throw, and a yellow belt wasn't quite getting it. I gave some tips, he started doing it far better, and I got scolded for it by the sensei because I, a white belt, shouldn't be correcting someone of higher rank. Personally, I feel that if it improves our technique, it shouldn't matter which way the hierarchy points, even a black belt can learn from a beginner.
agreed, if everyone is there to improve we shouldn't let arbitrary rules get in the way of it. If you are giving a well-intended suggestion and meant no disrespect, it should be fine. Unless doing so would get you kicked out and you really want to stay there. I don't know what the rules are in Japan. I'm American, I tend to think that most people do martial arts as a hobby, so it's not necessary to be so hierarchal about it.
Thanks to god that my Karate dojo isn’t like that even more my sensei judged my skills just from my technique and not belt they told me that i should catch up on higher belts faster because my technique was simply better than yellow and red belt right now I’m at green belt but I don’t really care about belts it only goes to show how long you’ve been practicing and a individuals skills should be judged from watching him/her perform and not from higher ranking belts.
Something I treasure about my Taekwondo school (U.S., Chicago area): We focus strongly on the obligations that the senior has toward the junior. These include respect, a positive attitude, and availability to instruct/assist.
I have had experience with this myself in my Tae Kwon Do school. One of my fellow teachers was only one black belt rank above me, but overall was a poorer teacher than I was since I learned a lot more teaching skills than they did. They thought that they still had better experience and skills than me only because they had simple been doing it for a year or two longer than I have. Amount of time studying doesn’t always translate to more experience or skill. Some people just do the bare minimum to get to the next belt and say that they are a high ranking martial artist. It drives me nuts and makes me wish sometimes that we could practice martial arts without a belt system to begin with. I have seen beginner and intermediate belts who are so much better than some black belts. Anyway that’s my thoughts.
I just began my martial arts journey at the beginning of lockdown at age 52. I feel so fortunate to have found this Sensei who values development of the mind and body together, who teaches senpai to help kohai to everybody’s benefit, and who exhibits humility and respect while also being highly skilled and passionate. The fact that he’s a decade younger than me, and that my classmates range from 18 to over 60, is a non-issue.
In Russia belts matter so little that in my current Goju-ryu school I didn't even want to attend for exams all that much until my sensei convinced me that it's necessary to put myself up for a test. And again in that context belts still don't matter. We treat eachother equally and are mostly never squimish about correcting eachothers mistakes regardless of the belt colours.
As someone who studied martial arts in Japan, I noticed this issue is more accute in the university and high school clubs. The culture and history of these clubs perpetuate these tensions imo as budo is seen more as a communal activity in Japan vs the West where it is viewed as personal.
In my art, Budoshin Ju-Jitsu, the higher belts have a role of teaching the lower ranks and assisting the Sensei with the dojo. Respect does need to be earned, and it goes both ways. Having a positive attitude is also a must.
Having trained Karate in both Canada and Japan extensively I have to say it’s very refreshing to see a Japanese karateka point out this major issue. It’s often overlooked because as they say, Karate begins and ends with respect. Unfortunately, sometimes the hierarchical culture has been bastardized even worse in the west.
Tbh, man I love your channel. Hadn’t subscribed yet, but I am now. Your videos always have a pure and honest view of things. Pre-COVID, I visited Japan often and had plans on moving there. I love Japan. One of the things I love about Japan is that I am seen more as a “foreigner” than a “black man.” I think this is because Japanese see things from a homogeneous perspective more than an individual one. So I can see the pros and cons of both. I think if respected and practiced properly, both can be very beneficial.
The karate school I came from/association in the US is very title/ rank heavy. I never liked the focus on titles it just didn't make sense to me I always felt the focus should be on training and bettering each other! Maybe that's why our association went from five schools to two recently. 😕
From my experience here in Brasil, I have seen people that try to emulate a version of the Japanese hierarchy in theirs head. This often has led to very strong harassment. Usually the mindset is that the weak will become strong, or leave.
Well said, Yusuke! You are such a conscious, intelligent, sensate and lovely person! Someone that I would certainly love to call a friend. It’s always sad to hear about harassments of any type, my heart is with her and with all his other eventual victims. 😔
Aren´t you a little bit fast with judgement (and your feelings...)? Or is "accusation = sentence" arrived now in Budo as too...? Is "in dubio pro reo" too "old-fashioned", evan for us warriors...:-(-...?.?? Or, what has happened to: "makoto-no michi o mamuro beshi!"...?
My dad grew up in Hawaii, my mom texas, so I was raised to respect those older. In martial arts I believe you learn from lower students as well as senior students. We all learn from each other. The goal is to learn n help each other get better at what we do. No matter rank or system. Just train and learn
had no idea you were from Jersey like me. We're Jersey karateka and my first style was Shotokan under Katsuya Kisaka when I was nine, though I moved on. I like the fact that you picked up on the fact that NJ is diverse and the people there want to look at you as an individual, and that therefore it's less racist. Having moved around I'll say it's not as good in some other places in the U.S.
In my dojo in Australia, my sensei' encourages us to do better. We are not bullied or cajoled into making improvements. We are expected to show respect to the sensei', senpai' and fellow karateka, and as we are given respect everyone reciprocates in kind. It's a natural process with the pressure to improve coming from within each student. Our sensei' favourite saying is, "A black belt is a white belt who didn't give up" :)
You are totally correct! I train in Toronto, Canada, I started about 15 years ago at 37 years old and was taught by higher belts who were 15-16 years old. I totally respected that they obviously knew way more than me. There is no such thing as age over knowledge at the dojo and I believe that to be true in life. You can always learn from the experiences of others no matter how old they are.
When I trained Karate in Germany some 20 years ago, I was very excited to meet the Japanese grand masters who ran the organization. Turned out these guys were total a**holes, "correcting" the pretty girl's stances while ignoring everyone else, drinking way too much and hitting on the waitress etc. I quit Karate right then.
Yeah, I've seen that quite a lot: the Karate instructor constantly "correcting" the pretty girl's stance and techniques. So predictable - and so depressing. I lose all respect for those instructors.
Thank you Nagano-san for highlighting this. It's not just in Japan. It's a problem globally. Bullying, harrarassment, and abuse is rife in clubs. We've seen our national Sporting body take strict measures on this with Vetting coaches and teachers across many places (not just sports, but also in education). This is a step in the right direction. I'm glad a top athlete will speak out against bullies. Hope these will improve globally and especially in the Karate world we love and enjoy. Love and respect from Ireland. Oss
It's so sad to see something like this, our sensei hasn't shown any sort of ill manners even when our Karate class gets rowdy because of the lower rank students and he also encourages us colored belt students to do our best.
I agree with you 100%. I believe there should be respect for each other and younger people should respect their elders, but respect also needs to come from both directions
Thank you for having the courage to shed light on aspects of your culture and society that might not be so easy to admit to or talk about. My impression of Japanese society has always been that it is a very strict and sometimes insular society we’re outsiders are not necessarily greeted with arms quite as open as they would see elsewhere around the world. Please correct me if I’m wrong. At the karate school I train here in the United States, in any given class, there is a vast mixture of races, ages and genders all at once. Today it was me, a 45 year old white male, with two 60+ year old white females, four white kids aged 7-10 years old, and 4 kids aged 8 who are all from Uzbekistan. With a white female 4th Dan Sensei who is about 52 years old.
I am a martial arts student( in Karate and Bando), a European kickboxer champion in ISKA and WKA with leg kick (I used to fight under Karl Mottet and I think there are 3 fights of me on you tube, that was in the 80's I don't say that to advertise myself but just so you know who I am considering this topic) , a boxer and self defense practitioner by being a bodyguard and a bouncer practicing for now 40 years and one thing I learn is that you get respect from your students by your knowledge and how to explain the what, when and why and this took me that long to have the experience. So yes a more older instructor will have more knowledge then a young one because it takes decade to get that knowledge and I can see that in my own experience. All my instructors where old guys when I was studying and respect them just like they respect me as a student and yes I had a Japanese sensei (Miazaki, hope I pronounce is name right) and he never look at me down and always help with any questions I had. So that must be a 1 in a thousand bad experience just like you have bad sensei in the USA and the world who have an ego, So my solution is find a teacher who can answer your questions with respect as long as you respect him too. Respect is what is going away in those days.
Thank you that was a very honest and very interesting reflection. I feel that karate like other Japanese martial arts also has transferred the culture of your identification and identity can only be sometimes recognised in the context of ‘the group’. This type of culture (not only unusual to just Japan) can result in ‘we don’t recognise your grade, style etc’. However Karate seems that it has always been factionalised, although not perfect it is part of its culture. The other interesting point is based on what I know of Japanese history is that the ‘nails that stick their head up’ so to speak, Mishima, Musashi and their like, these individuals have effected in some cases the greatest change. That is just my own opinion, thank you again for the upload. Osu 🥋
I am from Saudi Arabia, my sensei went to trained at Kagawa Masao's for a few years. I know my sensei for many years and I have high respect for him but he was enforcing the Japanese hierarchy in his Dojo way too much! Although I didnt mind it (I was trained in the right way and I was a member for JKA/JKF) but the hierarchy kept driving MANY students away and he kept losing his business many times!!! I started with him since I was 15 but in my 30's I just couldn't take it anymore as I got more busy with life etc.
@@KarateDojowaKu sensei idea was to follow the tradition but I was arguing that the traditional practice should be more practical but sadly his pride won't let him listen to one of his students.
I understand your point. Some of Japanese Karate dojos are very old fashioned. But I was training in Karate dojos where stronger guys are in higher ranks. Judo clubs are also same.
I totally agree! Some people (senpais and senseis too, unfortunatelly) sometimes confuses respect to the teachers, and rigorousness with submission and humilliation. Respect must be both ways!!! I heard about that incident and I think is wonderfull what this athlete had achieved, specially being a woman, against not only a very well known sensei, but all the cultural status-quo involved!!! Good for her!
to be honest, this aspect of Karate Culture is what's holding me back from coming back to the club that I was originally a part of. I didn't hate the people but I hated the culture and the lack of freedom to explore where I want my Karate journey to go (I left when I received my 2nd dan). I love the freedoms that I have as a freelancer so to speak and I'm freer to interact and exchange knowledge with other martial artists who I consider friends. Very insightful video for sure Yusuke-san!
I'm half Nihonjin myself and lived in NJ majority of my life. I moved to Japan 6 years ago (4 years Kyoto, now Aomori) due to work reasons. Karate is my first martial arts love. Now a days I do JKD, Bujinkan, Brazilian jujutsu and Pekiti Tirsia Kali. The hierarchy and harassment is not unique to karate alone. I've seen teachers in the Bujinkan in America that go overboard with hierarchy and recently higher ranking instructors in the kali community that are giving unwanted attention to female students. I'm at the point that I don't fly the flag of any organization anymore. Taking a non-stylistic approach & being accepted to train at different places gives me the freedom to continue my musha shugyo (best way to describe it). Then again I don't teach at a dojo. I'm just being carefree (despite a few shihans busting my balls for not teaching).
I find here in Western Canada that it differs from school to school, and even city to city. I've trained with schools that the instructors are awesome, student first and others where the instructors try to present them selves as superiors being which only a few can achieve. Even some of the organizations seem to have their oddities. Had the CSKA tell us that we trained our members to hard and the another that regulates how many high ranking black belts they give out. There is no one problem but one I see a lot are the instructors who claim to have trained in Japan and want that same hierarchy with students that don't even understand the structure of it.
i absolutely agree with you about the love of karate and all the beautiful values it gives as a way of life. I have a similar issue that you raised here with many karate teachings. Age can be a factor, and the division of not being able to ask questions leads to no learning. we have Kyu and dan grades in my school and the knowledge at each level is respectful. I respect and value every one of my students and i learn as much from them as they learn from me. I still have so much to learn
Yes, I live in the US, and in many fields (not just martial arts) this same thing happens. In talking to people from different countries, this seems to be a problem universally around the world.
Just found it, very unfortunate situation. My shotokan school is part of this organization. Luckily my Sensei doesn’t take the hierarchy too seriously within the dojo. But I have witnessed similar behaviour in a previous martial arts school I was part of.
@@KarateDojowaKu the relation with our teacher is more of a big brother type relationship and the fact that he trains with us and just as hard is what earns him our respect. When we are with our local affiliate federations technical director we follow protocol more strictly. He is from the same generation as MK. I don’t know if you know of him, Yutaka Katsumata Sensei?
I've experienced first hand - some elder Doctor's who are senior in me on age only wanted to pass some of their tedious work when I was on my observation on a new clinic in Tokyo. I had to really affirm my position and verbally tell them (through a translator) that my expertise and my role is purely on Clinical Governance and Triage Improvement; not frontline intervention. I am not going to into too much detail but I had many of the "I told you so" moments in the weeks precipitating that and despite that, it was difficult to try to address the Sensei/Junior relationship.
I'm from Germany and have been training Shotokan Ryu for about 30 years. When the karate world opened up with the WorldWideWeb, I finally discovered the endless possibilities that karate as a whole has in itself. The Shotokan Sensei I got to know don't look into this spiritual wholeness and hardly develop, if at all, in their karate. They stay very much in their view of things and don't recognize this wonderful diversity. And after a so long time I start to become bored by their way of teaching. OSU 🙏🥋⛩
I cannot believe it, completely by accident I was looking at footage from "M.K." last evening and now I find this video. I am very disappointed he seemed like a good and likeable person...
Dear Mr. Nagano, Your video reminds me on a special situation, I will always remember (as the best excample, I´ve experienced ever): It´s been one seminar in the ninetees, with Hirokazu Kanazawa. He already was around 70 I think. And still he did many things and amazing techniques, I never saw before. He for instance took the hardest punches by ouer strongest fighters, and was evan laughing. But what impressed me most of all...? He arrived about 2 hours before first lesson started, stood in front of the door, and welcomed each and everyone equally, from the first-time student to the 5´th or 6´th dan. This ammount of humbleness and kindness, "allthough" he was the "BOSS" (of SKI),- this impressed me most of all and made my own respect evan deeper. Osu...;-)-...!
In my opinion Age isn't important. Because I believed that the Young "Senpai" can learn the old "Kohai" writing novel skills and old "Kohai" can learn Young "Senpai" Karate (Shorin ryu, Shotokan or Goju ryu. whatever) Basically teaching is just teaching. The words "Senpai" "teacher" "Sensei" is just a words for the one who teach you and "Student" "Kohai" is a words for the one who learn from "Senpai" "Sensei" "Teacher".
Hi Sensei....I am really enjoying your RUclips videos. The fact that you are Japanese and speak very good English makes it great to follow. Continue the great work of promoting karate.
I appreciate your insights in DOJO behavior ,over many years in many DOJO I have only known of one situation where a someone who considered himself a "MASTER" turned out to be a master creep and was dealt with by the local police and did about 10 years in the lockup. Hopefully he learned hw was a master of nothing
I started training martial arts since I was 10 and my first art was Kyokushin and one thing I’ve noticed is in traditional arts, a lot of the country’s traditions and etiquettes play a big part in the training. In Karate we bow, commands and techniques are in Japanese and the senpai and kohai relationships are established. In Chinese martial arts we see that as well for example offering tea to the Sifu (Chinese equivalent to Sensei) as being accepted as a student. I eventually moved on to train Muay Thai and Krav Maga which are more laid back when it comes to coach/student interactions. I currently teach Krav Maga and my students call me by my name instead of a title.
I had two TKD instructors during my studies and both are very well-known. Both were great teachers, had great senses of humor and were very hands on regarding our learning. They were like my second fathers and were just awesome human beings. One was a four-time National Champion in his country and the other was an eight-time world champions. I miss my time with them.
I started my Karate journey when I was about 20. The following year, 1967, I was drafted into the Army and went to Vietnam. When I got out of the Army, I started Karate again-stopping again after I graduated from college. Years later, my friend who had started a Dojo with me suggested that I finally test for Shodan. Which I did. At my first Black Belt Council Meeting, I commented that increasing the organization dues might hurt independent Dojo’s. A Senior Yodan yelled at me. Later another Yodan said that the rude Yodan didn’t know what it was like to keep an independent Dojo running. I really appreciated his support as my Dojo had about 50 students at that time, but only running about break even in income.
The good thing about any rude people and your enemies is that they often say real criticism. In their desire to insult you, they can say a very important remark that would never occur to you or to those who communicate with you politely.
Thank you for your balanced view of Shotokan Karate Sensei. I call my Sensei back in Israel, Sensei at all times. He is about 25 years older than me and I couldn't imagine calling him otherwise, tough we're also friends outside the Dojo and speak often about non Karate-related issues. I also have a Sensei which is about 20 years younger than me :) Frankly, I didn't know how to address you exactly when I've just started taking your lessons, But no doubt- You are my Sensei, and a very good one :)
So a bit of back story. I grew up in Los Angeles in the San Fernando valley. I went to Ken Nagayama Martial Arts. They teach motobu ryu and judo and a few other traditional martial arts. I made it all the way up to blue belt which is the first advanced rank in the dojo at the time (criteria may have changed from 2001). I stopped karate to compete in other sports like football and basketball and track. After graduating high school before going to college I rejoined the dojo to participate in their kendo classes. Afterwards I left to go to college in San Antonio Texas to play football and get a degree in biology. After graduating bounced around from a few places learning Muay Thai and BJJ but never settled at one until last year. I joined Alamo Karate academy they teach shito ryu, kobudo and incorporate BJJ skills in the lessons as well. Right now I’m at a green belt rank. I can honestly say the greatest things I’ve taken and learned from both of these dojo’s is that it is family oriented and harassment is not tolerated. Doesn’t matter belt rank or age or anything because we all come to train together and build each other up together which creates respect and family in the dojo. 🙏🏽
Sensei I really like your channel and I am very grateful to you for sharing this knowledge! Answering your question, here in Brazil inside the university I went through bullying with a senpai and as I have severe anxiety disorder and depression it was a very annoying situation, he only treated a guy on the team well and the sensei was silent. After that, my hometown sensei who trained me when I was a teenager made fun of me along with his athlete (who was my friend) because I had gained weight, I was extremely traumatized. It was very difficult. Now I found a great sensei and a great team, I would like to be an athlete one day. I always want to improve as much as I can in karate. At the time I went through this harassment with this senpai, I also started to dislike the karate hierarchy. Today I am fine. Thank you very much for the video.
I know it happens but I haven't run into it much myself. Everywhere I've been, especially in my dojo there is a great mutual respect between the students and teachers.
I started Shotokan a month ago at the age of 70. I am a South African. Both Senpai and Sensei respect me for my age. The Japanese tradition I do respect. We exercise ducipline whi h I obviously grew up with. Thanks for you enlightening videos. I watch them all.
I just leave any school that doesn't treat me with respect, as someone else in the comments stated respect is a two way thing, There are certainly some martial arts places here that take the whole respect your elders/teachers to a ridiculous degree but if they do I have no reason to train with them
Here in South Africa the culture is to respect the older person. In saying that people assume that the older person is more experienced at whatever they are doing. 2 quick experiences that I had! A few years ago I worked as a sound engineer at a market and even though I was new to the job and market, the public would ask me questions related to the market instead of my younger colleague who had years more experience. The other was at a karate seminar (Gash kyu?) just after I became a Shodan, I was injured so didn't participate, instead walked around helping the sensei's with different tasks. All those who didn't know me called me sensei, even though at the time I wasn't, mainly because I am older than them.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. Power harassment is something that can happen within any hierarchy if it becomes corrupt, so the incident you mentioned involving M.K. can happen here in the U.S., too. I'm sad to hear this because as a Shotokan practitioner, I think M.K. is quite amazing and many of his videos helped me in my own training. I understand the alleged power harassment is pending an investigation by an ethics committee, but my heart goes out to A.U. for being courageous enough to speak out. I'm sure many people share your opinion within Japan, especially the younger generation. Karate is relatively young, and the practitioners are what create the culture, so I believe bottom up change is possible thanks to people with your mindset. Hierarchies are not inherently bad (we need them to function), but everyone participating within that hierarchy needs to be accountable for their own behavior, and as a baseline, we should treat each other with dignity. I feel like the solution exists in the dojo kun: "Seek perfection of character. Be faithful. Endeavor. Respect others. Refrain from violent behavior." Sorry for the long post, but your question is very deep. I'm not sure if "good/bad aspects" are the best words since cultures can be looked at as a set of several parameters with sliding scales, and maybe toxicity manifests when any of those individual parameters becomes imbalanced.
I was born in 1994 in South Korea and still living here, I get to learn TKD in 2002, and yeah at that time we followed the hierarchy like sunbae(senior), hoobae(minor), s-seung(the teacher? maybe) and till now we still have that kind of individual calling systems(?) but way more friendly now, and I think it's because of the systems we live in such as many parents both go to work and no time to pick up their child on time TKD dojang take care of these kids after their TKD class more of recreation styles like dancing TKD or acrobatic moves. growing up along with the other sunbae's and hoobae's in that kind of situation helps break the ice so it turned out to be very energetic and playful
Yes I am from Cameroon. Our former president of karate federation was suspended for 8 years and for life in Africa/world for sexual harassment. It's very sad and disappointing abusing position of authorities to young female athletes.
I'm Asian and your artistic in the way you talk. I'm glad too see it. I'm older than you and I'd totally understand what your saying. As an elder or teacher in Asian culture your suppose to be a remodel and students will respect you for that when you help them to achieve their goal. It's not only apply to Martial art. Modern day now, getting too much into student personal life or trying to get them to see you like a parent figure is crossing the line. Know your boundary.
True. I have trained in WSK, Wingchung and TKD in UK, Canada and Nigeria respectively and yes I have seen terrible and great sensei's. I think it's the individual that matters. truth is some people are just terrible and others are good natured. It's part of nature
I am American and I am a shotokan instructor here in the U.S. I grew up in Japan in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. I think it is hard for Americans to understand the Japanese culture. Here in America, it is amazing how much we can be individuals but it is sad that we lack honor and respect for each other in so many ways! BTW, I love your channel! You do such an amazing job bridging the cultures and clarifying Japanese martial arts for us! Thank you!!!
I am lucky to be in a club where the Sensei is approachable, I am a San Dan and the philosophy of the Dojo is respect and assisting everyone to progress in their karate journey. We are an Australian Dojo which might be why.
Its actually sad to hear this news. I always stay tune to the Premier Leagues and World Championship most especially if the athlete is from Japan. Im also fascinated with Athletes from T. University most especially that I am a fan of D.W. Never thought that one day I'd be hearing this kind of news considering that Sensei M.K. has this strict way of teaching, I always thought that they got used to it (in fact I have seen a video where he uses a Kendo Stick to hit his students) With regards to the main issue you have presented, I just would like to share the culture in the Philippines. We have this culture of listening to our elders, but sometimes our elders would abuse their status as being the "Wise One", to the point that they would not let us speak out. Well, whether we like or not, culture is what gives us our identity. Sending my salute to you sir from the Philippines.
My karate sensai is a 55 year old at 9th Dan in shito ryo style. But still he always says "you learn a lot of new things from others. Even a white belt could teach you a lot of amazing things if you keep your mind open for it". He never mistreats his students or look down on us. Just gem of a person he is! 😊
In Finland this kind of a hierarchy doesn't exist, but to some extend it does at least in my dojo. The sensei who runs the place was trained in a traditional Japanese way but every time he tells stories of those times, he also reminds us that even though that is his upbringing, he's not running his dojo the same way. The only thing he's strict about is how you behave inside the dojo. During our first class he told us when he steps in that door, he's sensei regardless of if it's his students or his family, outside the dojo that hierarchy does not exist. And that's pretty much just him, all the other traines are a bit more laid back about it.
The Age thing runs both ways and you will likely appreciate it more as you get older (maybe you wont). Traditions and also respect for senior ages grew as I got older, and I must admit I hate how quick we are to declare older folk useless or some how "faulty", in the West. I have been guilty of this when I was a teenager but at the same time I very much understand your POV on Age and Status. Skill or knowledge for sure should count, I.e. Merit of ability and/or experience. This is the thing though, Experience wins (assuming everything else is equal). I actually learned this in Football/Soccer. I can tell when someone started playing under 6/7 years old, even if they have had a gap/break in their playing. There is a fluidity and a natural movement that is acquired, as well as other "Qualities" like natural ball shielding with body position, and also the realisation that you actually usually have far more time than is perceived. Martial Artists develop qualities too, be it ability to take a hit, block, react, counter all with fluidity. People who have started young and had a lot of pressure testing/sparring/tag fighting have an economy of motion,a quickness of reaction that is on a muscle memory level. Muscle memory reaction is almost instant and several times faster than visual reaction. This concept holds for anything Physical, whether A throw or roll I was learning in Judo or a Skill I practiced with a football. If you train the move over and over, and learn how to do it correctly, but also incorrectly, and also what happens when it goes wrong, your body will remember what to do (assuming you are training other techniques in the same way) and will fluidly do the best thing next, this is beyond conscious thought, this is thinking and doing at the same time. Experience is teh best path to such "Qualities" or understanding, I suspect you already are aware of this, possibly in different terms or analogies but I have seen you do sparring , your fluidity is very high :D
As a foreigner who studies karate in Japan I think it depends on what was said. As a English teacher I have said things to push my students, cause I hate to the them waste their potential. But AU is a champion and a instructor in her own right so this will be interesting to see how it comes out
It's always right to defend yourself, be it in the streets or in the dojo. That doesn't always mean physical abuse, but also mental and verbal. When someone goes over a boundary, you need to make it clear that they shall never cross that threshold again. If they insist on continuing, they are only going to try and control you. They become as meaningless as stagnant water, absorbing pollutants and only leads to you getting sick or worse.
I'm very impressed with your content and your channel. Really fun. I'm nidan but have been unable to train for several years because of an injury. I miss karate-do... I am undergoing surgery in a few months - and I hope to be returning to the dojo if the surgery is successful. I hope to be transferred to Japan for work. If my surgery is successful, I would appreciate the opportunity and honor to train with you at your dojo.
This abuse of Senpai/Kohai relationship is rampant in Thailand, especially in more traditional schools and universities. Lots of verbal abuse and peer pressure. Outliers are at risk of alienation. Fortunately, it is easing up with various movements for liberalization by the students, and it is seeping from the education environment into society as a whole.
The one problem I see with any Martial Arts in any part of the world is too many schools with so many students in the modern world that they reach a point of going nowhere with whatever experience they have learned. It takes certain people, very few, to be fully dedicated to martial arts.
Well I live in Tokyo in practice Karate there. I’ve been doing Karate since childhood back home in Europe. My school here is great and the teachers are just fantastic and also they are good practitioner themselves which is important to me. Back home I had issues with senseis who had a sense of entitlement due to their status while not practicing much themselves. They grade just gave them the legitimacy in their eye. Of course all schools are not like that sometimes you just get unlucky depending where you live
Watching many months later, not sure if anyone's still reading comments but I can totally relate to what you're saying. I too was born and raised under Western influence almost my entire life but coming back to live in Asia as an adult gave me reverse culture shock in many ways. Here in Thailand hierarchy is huge too based on age and often social status. There is now a big generational conflict among old and young people on political and social ideologies. The world has evolved so much that I guess certain generations are being left behind unfortunately. Being in the middle as A Genx just trying to make the best of both worlds. The hierachy in the dojo culture being discussed here very much reflects on 1000s of years of traditional social hierarchy so unfortunately that won't change anytime soon.
I'm originally from Hawaii living in Japan (Kanagawa), Hawaii has a very senpai and kohai cultural relationship but they don't take it so far as to disrespect. I train Shotokan JKA here in Kanagawa but I don't see the disrespect between the 2 with my sensei. Respect goes both ways and the students really love my sensei because of this.
I absolutely love and adore Japanese culture and people but I do know just as with all things there are some issues and almost nothing is perfect, thank you for bringing out one of those things in this video.
I very much share this sentiment, Nagano Sensei! I've seen both problems. Instructors in North America who face decided that they're Japanese and expect proverbial kowtowing and entitled treatment, while speaking to people as if they're worthless. Also, students at least in the US who refuse to do what they're asked in class just so that the lesson can be taught and so that class isn't interrupted. I gravitated toward heavy contact styles like Kyokushin and judo because I don't see nearly as much attitude there. I think there's a knowledge that no matter how senior or titled someone is, a white belt could get lucky and ippon them any day in practice. And less experienced students usually seem to respect those more senior for their abilities rather than just because of rank or prestige.
Oh of course! In the U.S. as well. Happenes more often than I'd like to admit but people in the U.S. try to use their money to suppress it. It works sometimes but sometimes it doesn't and it get out. Especially in Government.
This happens in all sports all over the world. I've heard stories about sexual harassment in BJJ, in TKD, in karate, etc here in the western world. I started my martial arts experience on my college campus so the whole hierarchy structure wasn't much of a thing, and was much more relaxed and chill. But as a karateka, and martial artists, this is a big issue and personally I never faced this problem before, fortunately, but to me though respect is a two way street, and lets all just have fun and train.
One thing I hate about martial arts in the U.S. (among many things) and one could argue is a global thing, is the ego that comes along with high rank. I had a brief online "conversation" with Jesse Enkamp about it. During Funakoshi's lifetime he only promoted up to 5th Dan. After his passing the JKA started promoting above that I guess in order to be on par with the Kodokan maybe. I asked him if he thought that if karate had never gone above 5th Dan if there'd be less ego and he believed yes and I agreed. In most systems material only goes up to 3rd or 4th Dan, everything above is basically honorary and in some cases $$$. Tsutomu Oshima, one of the last if not the last person to have trained with Funakoshi, to this day has never accepted a rank above 5th Dan which is what Funakoshi awarded him. I think it be better had we never gone crazy with the Dan system. But that's something that will never change. Too many westerners wanted to be called "grandmaster". The moment you said her initials were "A.U." I know who you were talking about. Didn't know who her harasser was or even about the allegations until I Googled it right now. Not that it matters, but she is not a shotokan stylist. The club that she trains at where her accuser coaches is I believe a predominantly shotokan club judging from videos.
This kind of problem still happens in my country (Philippines). But thankfully, people, especially the youth, are not following the hierarchy anymore. We go "respect begets respect". Basically, we don't just give you respect just because you are older. We give you respect if you deserve it. Just yesterday, I sent a message to my former teacher from high school how he was such a terrible teacher. I gave him harsh constructive criticisms and compared him to my other teacher who was way better than him in all aspects. He blocked me instead of confronting me. Did not even say anything like I should be respectful of elders. It does not work that way here in the Philippines, thankfully.
My sensei is from Sapporo been in the US since the mid 1960's and an American university professor from 1969 to 2019, very much accustomed to US culture. But he demands a high level of respect, and an adherence to traditions. For me, it was like having a second dad these 40 years that I have known him (I was never that close to my first dad). Kohai MUST respect Sempai, and Sempai MUST earn that respect EVERY TIME they interact with Kohai. I have guys that started long after I did that now rank well above me. Our relationship is casual as it would be with any friend BUT in class: they respect me because I trained them and have been in our dojo for 40 years, but demand a different relationship with me in the dojo, one of respect and obediance. I gladly give it because they have earned it and I know they are trying to make me a better martial artist. I get respect in my own dojo from my own students for the same reason. They have faith that I am trying to make them better martial artists and better people.
What kind of problems do you have in your country?
In my country, parents doesn't even encourage or motivate their child to learn something new skill or stuffs. I hate the mentality of my country's people 🙂
@@zareen3233 which country you live ?
Oh our country is so nice until we had groups of idiots last year self proclaiming to be a decendant of an empire which they claim to have rule the world (Sunda Empire) until they ended up getting arrested.
Also we are having one majority religion which I wont say the name enjoy oppressing minority like me just because my ancestor aren't born here and this has goes on since colonial rule
In the USA there's this phenomenon of "McDojo" or the watering down of karate dojos. it started during the late 70s and throughout the 80s, where a lot of "karate sensei" with dubious training started opening karate dojos that don't focus on training students properly. instead they focus on making it so that the student doesn't want to quit (the training is easy) so that the "sensei" can continue to collect training fees and earn a living. It seems that a lot of the "sensei" from the got their training in Japan/Okinawa right after WW2 because of the US military presence in the area, but because they fell on hard times (there was an economic crisis in the US during the late 70s), they did what they can to keep their dojo open, and make their money from the students.
Right now, karate in the US has a bad reputation because of these McDojos, and the only time the karateka gets respected is if the have a reputation in competing in combat sports outside of Sport Karate or Karate sparring. Some respected names include Lyoto Machida, Stephen Thompson, Michael Page, Andy Hug, to name a few. Competing outside of Karate becomes proof that the dojo you came from is legitimate and isn't a McDojo that just lets you "buy your belt".
@@zareen3233 Wait wat? So the parents in your country don't want their children to develop?
Respect is a two way thing. A teacher must respect the student to earn respect. If you demand respect, it's insincere.
I cannot agree more
I do believe respect is a 2 ways thing. However, as mention by @Karate Dojo waKu, the culture of Senpai and Kohai in the karate culture is deep. The more traditional the dojo is, the worst it is. As a karate student in the 90s, we had to head into the dojo early and stay late to clean the dojo. We believe that the cleanliness of the dojo is the responsibility of everyone, and as a kohai it is our duty to do it for the senpai. Simple analogy is that, would you sit there and see your mom clean the floor when you play with your phone? Or would you rather, you clean the floor and your mom be on the phone... Yes, a teacher must respect the student to earn his/her respect, the same way a student needs to respect their teacher to gain that respect. As a student, you are here to gain more knowledge from your teacher, is it really too much to ask for a student to pay a little respect to the person who is dedicating his life to teach you?
@darkwing dook the thing is, although they do charge students, the amount is very minimal. The school that I attended 20years ago charge $20/month, and in 2020, they are charging $30.. $30 bucks in local currency is less than 10USD. Most of the martial arts instructor has a second job just to make sure they have food on the table. And if you think this is bad, it’s worse in Traditional Chinese Martial Arts community. We even eat at the teacher’s home. In Chinese culture, your teacher is like your dad. Would you sue your dad, if he yell at you all day because there’s flaw in your kata? Or you didn’t do well in school? Sure you might be grumpy about it.. I really wouldn’t jump to scam that quickly.. it’s just part of the culture. If people decide to abandon it, it is their freedom to do so. But I wouldn’t be so quick to judge
@darkwing dook 😂 we do “pay” our parents.. we give them allowance as they did us as a child when we started working.. LOLs
And maybe you are right that the old way no longer works.
But do I still go back to the dojo whenever I’m in town, you bet I do. Do I still “pay”? Absolutely, even more than before. Does he still yell at me whenever I head back? ALL THE TIME 😆
It is not entirely wrong to demand respect. But it is wrong not to give it yourselves in the same way without the student earning it first.
One of the problems in the U.S. I see when it comes to Karate is the constant comparison to MMA and most people especially those who don't practice Karate think of it as not practical or not a good thing to learn for defense. I actually fought MMA and then later started my Karate journey. I know first hand this is not true, Karate is great for defense but it is practiced and approached in a different way than a Fighter trains for a fight in MMA. I get asked all of the time " Why would you stop MMA to start Karate? Isn't MMA better?" I just chuckle knowing they will not understand my explanation, it takes doing and learning to fully understand what Karate offers I believe. So instead of debating I invite them to give it a try or to train with me. No one ever does though.
By your statedment, I think Brazil should be renamed of United States of SouthAmerica. We face the exact same problems.
I trained mma for 4 years, it all depends on what you want to learn. But for selfdefense, karate is not the best way to defend yourself unless you are a (legit) blackbelt. Try sparring a mma practitioner with 6 months experience against a karateka with 6 months under his obi and see what will happen.
Don’t get me wrong, I love karate, training for almost all my life. But for selfdefense there are quicker, more easy and effective ways to learn. But hey, who cares about fast and quick. We are here for the ‘do’ part, right? At least I am!
@@praetorian3959 I agree with your statement but that is not a self defense senario and people get that confused all the time. That is an agreed fight. You would be training to fight another fight. Think of self defense as a completely untrained person attacked by another untrained person. It might not as effective as MMA but not all people want that level of skill. For somekne never encountered violence or never even seen how to throw a punch Karate is a good baseline for being randomly accosted. But I do get what you are saying MMA is on another level, but for some if not most that level is more than they want to involve themself. Karate is great for those uncomfortable with violence and MMA is great for those who are comfortable with it in my opinion. Thanks for the comment too. I enjoy a good conversation.
@@brycekeeney4995 agreed!
@@timgriffith9333 finally someone get it
I have seen that kind of respect of title to the extreme in the US.
You should check fightquest on kajukenbo. You'll meet the "great grandmaster" Gaylord as how he called himself
I see...
@@FaridYM I remember that
I grew up playing Taiko. I went to the first Taiko Dojo in the western hemisphere. While I am thankful for my education there, and cherish the experience, my Sensei was famously this kind of teacher. The abuse was excessive.
My father, a psychologist, worked for Child Protective Services would eventually plead with me to leave the school(after 20 years), sighting that not only was the atmosphere narcissistic and abusive, but was taking on certain cult-like characteristics.
My O'jiichan, himself an Aikijujutsu no Shihan and a deeply Buddhist man, found his ego to be a source of ire. Having grown up in his dojo aswell, the lectures I sat through about why it is not okay to think so highly of ones self and the importance of "always consider yourself a student, one must always have a teacher".
I think when a person no longer has anyone to question him, it is a symptom of that same kind of Narcissism. My Sensei didn't realize he was hurting people. He certainly didn't set out to, but there was no contemporary for him to judge himself by, so couldn't see the forrest through the trees.
@@pulynanyalikibitz1301 Your dad took 20 years to pull you out of an oppressive atmosphere? Did I read that right?
You're really good, and helpful! I've shared several of your vids on our discussion page! Thank you for your help. I feel like the rift in the martial arts world is inevitable, bc these gross and manufactured hierarchies are nothing but really, really dense egos and overcompensation. The training is meaningless if it isn't misogi. It is meaningless if it sows division and doesn't promote reconciliation and diplomacy and progress. Unfortunately, it is overall destructive and counter-productive. The arbitrary ranks and such do not promote authenticity in people. For example, I'd much rather have an authentic person who swears and throws fits than an outwardly well-mannered "sensei" who is corrupt to the core on the inside. Authenticity is key, and ranks and hierarchies obscure that.
I agree! It's all about what that individual is as a human being.
I agree with you. It’s why I basically quit doing martial arts because no matter what place I went to, there was always this culture of ego there. I got sick of it, but that’s the world of martial arts for ya. Most people go into because they feel insecure and want to be a badass so they can go and bully others like how they were bullied. Most people get into martial arts because they are looking for conflict.
@@secretagent4610 surely ego can and does come into every area of human life, it's what causes conflicts. Isn't this what Zen Buddhism is all about and traditional Japanese martial arts, in some way learning to let go of the ego and learning things like humility. Don't they have a saying in old Japan, when the nail sticks up knock it down. I think respect for elders could be a good thing and it came to Japan from Confucias in China, originally. There does appear to be a general lack of respect in our society here in the UK now and it's not good
@@fredatlas4396 I think respecting elders is a good thing, but not because they are simply elders. I respect people because they exist and stop respecting them once they stop respecting me or don’t have respect for me in the first place. Now yes, if someone is being disrespectful, I think it’s good to “knock the nail down”, but does that also include elders too, or do they get a pass for simply being elders? No one should be above anyone. Yes, in earned rank, but not as a human being.
There also is a massive general lack of respect here in the states which I think is where the UK got it from thanks to popular modern American culture, the msm and Hollywood. I’m sorry my country has influenced the UK (and other places) like that. There are still intelligent and respectable people here, but it seems to me that they are not the majority, sadly.
I get some of the reasoning behind the hierarchy/rank system, but even when it's not abused I feel that some people adhere to it too strictly. An illustration: I trained in martial arts before I came to Japan, and had achieved my 1st don black belt in Song Moo Kwon (sort of a branch of Tae Kwon Do) as well as having done some training in other styles (a fair bit of Muay Thai, a little Aikido). I moved to Japan and trained in Renshinkan. After moving, I went to a nearby dojo for a while. They started me at white belt, which was fine- it was a style I'd never tried specifically, even if there was a lot of cross-over with previous training. It was kind of fun sometimes to be far underestimated by people who looked at my belt and didn't know about my prior training- not necessarily in competition, but even in class while doing kicking drills on pads and knocking the pad out of people's hands because they weren't expecting the power of my kicks. There were times in class that we'd be working on techniques, for instance a hip throw, and a yellow belt wasn't quite getting it. I gave some tips, he started doing it far better, and I got scolded for it by the sensei because I, a white belt, shouldn't be correcting someone of higher rank. Personally, I feel that if it improves our technique, it shouldn't matter which way the hierarchy points, even a black belt can learn from a beginner.
agreed, if everyone is there to improve we shouldn't let arbitrary rules get in the way of it. If you are giving a well-intended suggestion and meant no disrespect, it should be fine. Unless doing so would get you kicked out and you really want to stay there. I don't know what the rules are in Japan. I'm American, I tend to think that most people do martial arts as a hobby, so it's not necessary to be so hierarchal about it.
Thanks to god that my Karate dojo isn’t like that even more my sensei judged my skills just from my technique and not belt they told me that i should catch up on higher belts faster because my technique was simply better than yellow and red belt right now I’m at green belt but I don’t really care about belts it only goes to show how long you’ve been practicing and a individuals skills should be judged from watching him/her perform and not from higher ranking belts.
Something I treasure about my Taekwondo school (U.S., Chicago area): We focus strongly on the obligations that the senior has toward the junior. These include respect, a positive attitude, and availability to instruct/assist.
Wow! That's awesome
I have had experience with this myself in my Tae Kwon Do school. One of my fellow teachers was only one black belt rank above me, but overall was a poorer teacher than I was since I learned a lot more teaching skills than they did. They thought that they still had better experience and skills than me only because they had simple been doing it for a year or two longer than I have.
Amount of time studying doesn’t always translate to more experience or skill. Some people just do the bare minimum to get to the next belt and say that they are a high ranking martial artist. It drives me nuts and makes me wish sometimes that we could practice martial arts without a belt system to begin with.
I have seen beginner and intermediate belts who are so much better than some black belts.
Anyway that’s my thoughts.
Just set up a friendly competition with that guy, if you beat him, that should settle the issue.
That's the problem of structuring something as a system. The core meaning fades away as time goes on...Let's stick to the core!
I just began my martial arts journey at the beginning of lockdown at age 52. I feel so fortunate to have found this Sensei who values development of the mind and body together, who teaches senpai to help kohai to everybody’s benefit, and who exhibits humility and respect while also being highly skilled and passionate. The fact that he’s a decade younger than me, and that my classmates range from 18 to over 60, is a non-issue.
In Russia belts matter so little that in my current Goju-ryu school I didn't even want to attend for exams all that much until my sensei convinced me that it's necessary to put myself up for a test. And again in that context belts still don't matter. We treat eachother equally and are mostly never squimish about correcting eachothers mistakes regardless of the belt colours.
As someone who studied martial arts in Japan, I noticed this issue is more accute in the university and high school clubs. The culture and history of these clubs perpetuate these tensions imo as budo is seen more as a communal activity in Japan vs the West where it is viewed as personal.
YES it's intense in some schools...
Done the same and I agree
In my art, Budoshin Ju-Jitsu, the higher belts have a role of teaching the lower ranks and assisting the Sensei with the dojo. Respect does need to be earned, and it goes both ways. Having a positive attitude is also a must.
I agree!
Having trained Karate in both Canada and Japan extensively I have to say it’s very refreshing to see a Japanese karateka point out this major issue. It’s often overlooked because as they say, Karate begins and ends with respect.
Unfortunately, sometimes the hierarchical culture has been bastardized even worse in the west.
Tbh, man I love your channel. Hadn’t subscribed yet, but I am now. Your videos always have a pure and honest view of things. Pre-COVID, I visited Japan often and had plans on moving there. I love Japan. One of the things I love about Japan is that I am seen more as a “foreigner” than a “black man.” I think this is because Japanese see things from a homogeneous perspective more than an individual one. So I can see the pros and cons of both. I think if respected and practiced properly, both can be very beneficial.
“With great power, comes great responsibility”
Too many people seem to forget that second part.
The karate school I came from/association in the US is very title/ rank heavy. I never liked the focus on titles it just didn't make sense to me I always felt the focus should be on training and bettering each other! Maybe that's why our association went from five schools to two recently. 😕
That result is understandable
@@southtxguitarist8926 I think the ability to question is super high in your country
From my experience here in Brasil, I have seen people that try to emulate a version of the Japanese hierarchy in theirs head. This often has led to very strong harassment. Usually the mindset is that the weak will become strong, or leave.
Well said, Yusuke! You are such a conscious, intelligent, sensate and lovely person! Someone that I would certainly love to call a friend.
It’s always sad to hear about harassments of any type, my heart is with her and with all his other eventual victims.
😔
Haha thanks so much Matheus!
Aren´t you a little bit fast with judgement (and your feelings...)? Or is "accusation = sentence" arrived now in Budo as too...? Is "in dubio pro reo" too "old-fashioned", evan for us warriors...:-(-...?.?? Or, what has happened to: "makoto-no michi o mamuro beshi!"...?
My dad grew up in Hawaii, my mom texas, so I was raised to respect those older. In martial arts I believe you learn from lower students as well as senior students. We all learn from each other. The goal is to learn n help each other get better at what we do. No matter rank or system. Just train and learn
Here in the USA, I’ve seen the titles misused, misunderstood, & abused.
Right...
had no idea you were from Jersey like me. We're Jersey karateka and my first style was Shotokan under Katsuya Kisaka when I was nine, though I moved on. I like the fact that you picked up on the fact that NJ is diverse and the people there want to look at you as an individual, and that therefore it's less racist. Having moved around I'll say it's not as good in some other places in the U.S.
Oh I'm glad I was able to live there then....Thanks so much for sharing your story
In my dojo in Australia, my sensei' encourages us to do better.
We are not bullied or cajoled into making improvements.
We are expected to show respect to the sensei', senpai' and fellow karateka, and as we are given respect everyone reciprocates in kind.
It's a natural process with the pressure to improve coming from within each student.
Our sensei' favourite saying is, "A black belt is a white belt who didn't give up" :)
You are totally correct! I train in Toronto, Canada, I started about 15 years ago at 37 years old and was taught by higher belts who were 15-16 years old. I totally respected that they obviously knew way more than me. There is no such thing as age over knowledge at the dojo and I believe that to be true in life. You can always learn from the experiences of others no matter how old they are.
Really liked the introduction where you talked some more about yourself, Sensei :)
It's nice to know you a bit more :)
Thank you for this video I believe this kind of things happen in all styles but thank God it’s not the norm. Much respect 🇦🇺🙏🥋
I'm a fan of your page because of the humility you display aside from your technical experience. Very much appreciate you for that!
When I trained Karate in Germany some 20 years ago, I was very excited to meet the Japanese grand masters who ran the organization. Turned out these guys were total a**holes, "correcting" the pretty girl's stances while ignoring everyone else, drinking way too much and hitting on the waitress etc. I quit Karate right then.
Who were the “grand masters”?
@@Unpluggedx89 One Akio Nagai Shihan, chief instructor S.K.I.D. and his cronies, whose names I don't remember.
@@viggotannhauser7251 woah he has instruction videos all over youtube
Yeah, I've seen that quite a lot: the Karate instructor constantly "correcting" the pretty girl's stance and techniques. So predictable - and so depressing. I lose all respect for those instructors.
Well maybe that pretty girl needed correction with her stances and everyone else already had it down. Stop judging.
Thank you Nagano-san for highlighting this.
It's not just in Japan. It's a problem globally. Bullying, harrarassment, and abuse is rife in clubs.
We've seen our national Sporting body take strict measures on this with Vetting coaches and teachers across many places (not just sports, but also in education). This is a step in the right direction.
I'm glad a top athlete will speak out against bullies. Hope these will improve globally and especially in the Karate world we love and enjoy.
Love and respect from Ireland.
Oss
It's so sad to see something like this, our sensei hasn't shown any sort of ill manners even when our Karate class gets rowdy because of the lower rank students and he also encourages us colored belt students to do our best.
what a great human being
I agree with you 100%. I believe there should be respect for each other and younger people should respect their elders, but respect also needs to come from both directions
Thanks!
Boom!!
I was always taught that when you get your Shodan you are a sensi, but, this just means you are now a true student and not more or less than anyone.
Thank you for having the courage to shed light on aspects of your culture and society that might not be so easy to admit to or talk about. My impression of Japanese society has always been that it is a very strict and sometimes insular society we’re outsiders are not necessarily greeted with arms quite as open as they would see elsewhere around the world. Please correct me if I’m wrong. At the karate school I train here in the United States, in any given class, there is a vast mixture of races, ages and genders all at once. Today it was me, a 45 year old white male, with two 60+ year old white females, four white kids aged 7-10 years old, and 4 kids aged 8 who are all from Uzbekistan. With a white female 4th Dan Sensei who is about 52 years old.
I am a martial arts student( in Karate and Bando), a European kickboxer champion in ISKA and WKA with leg kick (I used to fight under Karl Mottet and I think there are 3 fights of me on you tube, that was in the 80's I don't say that to advertise myself but just so you know who I am considering this topic) , a boxer and self defense practitioner by being a bodyguard and a bouncer practicing for now 40 years and one thing I learn is that you get respect from your students by your knowledge and how to explain the what, when and why and this took me that long to have the experience. So yes a more older instructor will have more knowledge then a young one because it takes decade to get that knowledge and I can see that in my own experience. All my instructors where old guys when I was studying and respect them just like they respect me as a student and yes I had a Japanese sensei (Miazaki, hope I pronounce is name right) and he never look at me down and always help with any questions I had. So that must be a 1 in a thousand bad experience just like you have bad sensei in the USA and the world who have an ego, So my solution is find a teacher who can answer your questions with respect as long as you respect him too. Respect is what is going away in those days.
Thank you that was a very honest and very interesting reflection. I feel that karate like other Japanese martial arts also has transferred the culture of your identification and identity can only be sometimes recognised in the context of ‘the group’. This type of culture (not only unusual to just Japan) can result in ‘we don’t recognise your grade, style etc’. However Karate seems that it has always been factionalised, although not perfect it is part of its culture. The other interesting point is based on what I know of Japanese history is that the ‘nails that stick their head up’ so to speak, Mishima, Musashi and their like, these individuals have effected in some cases the greatest change. That is just my own opinion, thank you again for the upload. Osu 🥋
Historically, Japanese value the harmony of the society. But I think we have to become more flexible to various changes in the world.
Thank you Yusuke. You awesome, and so is this channel
I am from Saudi Arabia, my sensei went to trained at Kagawa Masao's for a few years. I know my sensei for many years and I have high respect for him but he was enforcing the Japanese hierarchy in his Dojo way too much! Although I didnt mind it (I was trained in the right way and I was a member for JKA/JKF) but the hierarchy kept driving MANY students away and he kept losing his business many times!!! I started with him since I was 15 but in my 30's I just couldn't take it anymore as I got more busy with life etc.
It's very unfortunate to see those things happen...
@@KarateDojowaKu sensei idea was to follow the tradition but I was arguing that the traditional practice should be more practical but sadly his pride won't let him listen to one of his students.
I understand your point. Some of Japanese Karate dojos are very old fashioned. But I was training in Karate dojos where stronger guys are in higher ranks. Judo clubs are also same.
I totally agree! Some people (senpais and senseis too, unfortunatelly) sometimes confuses respect to the teachers, and rigorousness with submission and humilliation. Respect must be both ways!!!
I heard about that incident and I think is wonderfull what this athlete had achieved, specially being a woman, against not only a very well known sensei, but all the cultural status-quo involved!!! Good for her!
Out of topic; love the new setup!! The lightning is so much better!
to be honest, this aspect of Karate Culture is what's holding me back from coming back to the club that I was originally a part of. I didn't hate the people but I hated the culture and the lack of freedom to explore where I want my Karate journey to go (I left when I received my 2nd dan). I love the freedoms that I have as a freelancer so to speak and I'm freer to interact and exchange knowledge with other martial artists who I consider friends.
Very insightful video for sure Yusuke-san!
Very sensible perspective coach :)
I'm half Nihonjin myself and lived in NJ majority of my life. I moved to Japan 6 years ago (4 years Kyoto, now Aomori) due to work reasons. Karate is my first martial arts love. Now a days I do JKD, Bujinkan, Brazilian jujutsu and Pekiti Tirsia Kali. The hierarchy and harassment is not unique to karate alone. I've seen teachers in the Bujinkan in America that go overboard with hierarchy and recently higher ranking instructors in the kali community that are giving unwanted attention to female students. I'm at the point that I don't fly the flag of any organization anymore. Taking a non-stylistic approach & being accepted to train at different places gives me the freedom to continue my musha shugyo (best way to describe it). Then again I don't teach at a dojo. I'm just being carefree (despite a few shihans busting my balls for not teaching).
I find here in Western Canada that it differs from school to school, and even city to city. I've trained with schools that the instructors are awesome, student first and others where the instructors try to present them selves as superiors being which only a few can achieve. Even some of the organizations seem to have their oddities. Had the CSKA tell us that we trained our members to hard and the another that regulates how many high ranking black belts they give out. There is no one problem but one I see a lot are the instructors who claim to have trained in Japan and want that same hierarchy with students that don't even understand the structure of it.
The corruption surrounding the federations ( in all sports imo) :(
I guess so..
i absolutely agree with you about the love of karate and all the beautiful values it gives as a way of life. I have a similar issue that you raised here with many karate teachings. Age can be a factor, and the division of not being able to ask questions leads to no learning. we have Kyu and dan grades in my school and the knowledge at each level is respectful. I respect and value every one of my students and i learn as much from them as they learn from me. I still have so much to learn
So cool you lived in new Jersey! Represent!
Yeah! Bergen!
Yes, I live in the US, and in many fields (not just martial arts) this same thing happens. In talking to people from different countries, this seems to be a problem universally around the world.
Just found it, very unfortunate situation. My shotokan school is part of this organization. Luckily my Sensei doesn’t take the hierarchy too seriously within the dojo. But I have witnessed similar behaviour in a previous martial arts school I was part of.
I see...great teacher you have!
@@KarateDojowaKu the relation with our teacher is more of a big brother type relationship and the fact that he trains with us and just as hard is what earns him our respect. When we are with our local affiliate federations technical director we follow protocol more strictly. He is from the same generation as MK. I don’t know if you know of him, Yutaka Katsumata Sensei?
I've experienced first hand - some elder Doctor's who are senior in me on age only wanted to pass some of their tedious work when I was on my observation on a new clinic in Tokyo. I had to really affirm my position and verbally tell them (through a translator) that my expertise and my role is purely on Clinical Governance and Triage Improvement; not frontline intervention.
I am not going to into too much detail but I had many of the "I told you so" moments in the weeks precipitating that and despite that, it was difficult to try to address the Sensei/Junior relationship.
Oh yeah...those things happen in Japan so often that people don't understand the negative side of it
I'm from Germany and have been training Shotokan Ryu for about 30 years. When the karate world opened up with the WorldWideWeb, I finally discovered the endless possibilities that karate as a whole has in itself. The Shotokan Sensei I got to know don't look into this spiritual wholeness and hardly develop, if at all, in their karate. They stay very much in their view of things and don't recognize this wonderful diversity. And after a so long time I start to become bored by their way of teaching. OSU 🙏🥋⛩
You always need to put your heart and soul into what you teach!
I'm from Puerto Rico. Yes, some senseis will demand some form of submission here too. We have all kinds here.
I cannot believe it, completely by accident I was looking at footage from "M.K." last evening and now I find this video. I am very disappointed he seemed like a good and likeable person...
I was extremely surprised too...
Dear Mr. Nagano, Your video reminds me on a special situation, I will always remember (as the best excample, I´ve experienced ever): It´s been one seminar in the ninetees, with Hirokazu Kanazawa. He already was around 70 I think. And still he did many things and amazing techniques, I never saw before. He for instance took the hardest punches by ouer strongest fighters, and was evan laughing. But what impressed me most of all...? He arrived about 2 hours before first lesson started, stood in front of the door, and welcomed each and everyone equally, from the first-time student to the 5´th or 6´th dan. This ammount of humbleness and kindness, "allthough" he was the "BOSS" (of SKI),- this impressed me most of all and made my own respect evan deeper. Osu...;-)-...!
In my opinion Age isn't important. Because I believed that the Young "Senpai" can learn the old "Kohai" writing novel skills and old "Kohai" can learn Young "Senpai" Karate (Shorin ryu, Shotokan or Goju ryu. whatever)
Basically teaching is just teaching. The words "Senpai" "teacher" "Sensei" is just a words for the one who teach you and "Student" "Kohai" is a words for the one who learn from "Senpai" "Sensei" "Teacher".
exactly!
Hi Sensei....I am really enjoying your RUclips videos. The fact that you are Japanese and speak very good English makes it great to follow. Continue the great work of promoting karate.
I appreciate your insights in DOJO behavior ,over many years in many DOJO I have only known of one situation where a someone who considered himself a "MASTER" turned out to be a master creep and was dealt with by the local police and did about 10 years in the lockup. Hopefully he learned hw was a master of nothing
Oh wow. That's very extreme...
I started training martial arts since I was 10 and my first art was Kyokushin and one thing I’ve noticed is in traditional arts, a lot of the country’s traditions and etiquettes play a big part in the training. In Karate we bow, commands and techniques are in Japanese and the senpai and kohai relationships are established. In Chinese martial arts we see that as well for example offering tea to the Sifu (Chinese equivalent to Sensei) as being accepted as a student. I eventually moved on to train Muay Thai and Krav Maga which are more laid back when it comes to coach/student interactions. I currently teach Krav Maga and my students call me by my name instead of a title.
I was trained in America. My sensei was not to be questioned in any sense period. He could yell bloody murder at me and I just had to agree.
It seems like you're out of there now. I'm glad.
Did his name happen to be John Kreese? 🐍
I had two TKD instructors during my studies and both are very well-known. Both were great teachers, had great senses of humor and were very hands on regarding our learning. They were like my second fathers and were just awesome human beings. One was a four-time National Champion in his country and the other was an eight-time world champions. I miss my time with them.
I started my Karate journey when I was about 20. The following year, 1967, I was drafted into the Army and went to Vietnam. When I got out of the Army, I started Karate again-stopping again after I graduated from college. Years later, my friend who had started a Dojo with me suggested that I finally test for Shodan. Which I did. At my first Black Belt Council Meeting, I commented that increasing the organization dues might hurt independent Dojo’s. A Senior Yodan yelled at me. Later another Yodan said that the rude Yodan didn’t know what it was like to keep an independent Dojo running. I really appreciated his support as my Dojo had about 50 students at that time, but only running about break even in income.
Very well said . Karate is about respect . Respect for your art , yourself, your teachers, your opponents . Respect at all times .
The good thing about any rude people and your enemies is that they often say real criticism. In their desire to insult you, they can say a very important remark that would never occur to you or to those who communicate with you politely.
Thank you for your balanced view of Shotokan Karate Sensei. I call my Sensei back in Israel, Sensei at all times. He is about 25 years older than me and I couldn't imagine calling him otherwise, tough we're also friends outside the Dojo and speak often about non Karate-related issues.
I also have a Sensei which is about 20 years younger than me :)
Frankly, I didn't know how to address you exactly when I've just started taking your lessons, But no doubt- You are my Sensei, and a very good one :)
Hi Eitan! Thanks so much for your comment! I'm glad that we're in a great relationship, and call me Yusuke outside of the dojo :)
So a bit of back story. I grew up in Los Angeles in the San Fernando valley. I went to Ken Nagayama Martial Arts. They teach motobu ryu and judo and a few other traditional martial arts. I made it all the way up to blue belt which is the first advanced rank in the dojo at the time (criteria may have changed from 2001). I stopped karate to compete in other sports like football and basketball and track. After graduating high school before going to college I rejoined the dojo to participate in their kendo classes. Afterwards I left to go to college in San Antonio Texas to play football and get a degree in biology. After graduating bounced around from a few places learning Muay Thai and BJJ but never settled at one until last year. I joined Alamo Karate academy they teach shito ryu, kobudo and incorporate BJJ skills in the lessons as well. Right now I’m at a green belt rank. I can honestly say the greatest things I’ve taken and learned from both of these dojo’s is that it is family oriented and harassment is not tolerated. Doesn’t matter belt rank or age or anything because we all come to train together and build each other up together which creates respect and family in the dojo. 🙏🏽
It must be a great environment from the fact that you've been going back numerous times!
Sensei I really like your channel and I am very grateful to you for sharing this knowledge!
Answering your question, here in Brazil inside the university I went through bullying with a senpai and as I have severe anxiety disorder and depression it was a very annoying situation, he only treated a guy on the team well and the sensei was silent.
After that, my hometown sensei who trained me when I was a teenager made fun of me along with his athlete (who was my friend) because I had gained weight, I was extremely traumatized. It was very difficult. Now I found a great sensei and a great team, I would like to be an athlete one day.
I always want to improve as much as I can in karate.
At the time I went through this harassment with this senpai, I also started to dislike the karate hierarchy. Today I am fine. Thank you very much for the video.
I know it happens but I haven't run into it much myself. Everywhere I've been, especially in my dojo there is a great mutual respect between the students and teachers.
I started Shotokan a month ago at the age of 70. I am a South African. Both Senpai and Sensei respect me for my age. The Japanese tradition I do respect. We exercise ducipline whi h I obviously grew up with. Thanks for you enlightening videos. I watch them all.
So important this video!! Thank you Yusuke sensei!!
I just leave any school that doesn't treat me with respect, as someone else in the comments stated respect is a two way thing,
There are certainly some martial arts places here that take the whole respect your elders/teachers to a ridiculous degree but if they do I have no reason to train with them
Here in South Africa the culture is to respect the older person. In saying that people assume that the older person is more experienced at whatever they are doing. 2 quick experiences that I had! A few years ago I worked as a sound engineer at a market and even though I was new to the job and market, the public would ask me questions related to the market instead of my younger colleague who had years more experience. The other was at a karate seminar (Gash kyu?) just after I became a Shodan, I was injured so didn't participate, instead walked around helping the sensei's with different tasks. All those who didn't know me called me sensei, even though at the time I wasn't, mainly because I am older than them.
Seriously, i respect you for commentinng in this.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. Power harassment is something that can happen within any hierarchy if it becomes corrupt, so the incident you mentioned involving M.K. can happen here in the U.S., too. I'm sad to hear this because as a Shotokan practitioner, I think M.K. is quite amazing and many of his videos helped me in my own training. I understand the alleged power harassment is pending an investigation by an ethics committee, but my heart goes out to A.U. for being courageous enough to speak out. I'm sure many people share your opinion within Japan, especially the younger generation. Karate is relatively young, and the practitioners are what create the culture, so I believe bottom up change is possible thanks to people with your mindset. Hierarchies are not inherently bad (we need them to function), but everyone participating within that hierarchy needs to be accountable for their own behavior, and as a baseline, we should treat each other with dignity. I feel like the solution exists in the dojo kun: "Seek perfection of character. Be faithful. Endeavor. Respect others. Refrain from violent behavior." Sorry for the long post, but your question is very deep. I'm not sure if "good/bad aspects" are the best words since cultures can be looked at as a set of several parameters with sliding scales, and maybe toxicity manifests when any of those individual parameters becomes imbalanced.
No worries I understood your core message
I was born in 1994 in South Korea and still living here, I get to learn TKD in 2002, and yeah at that time we followed the hierarchy like sunbae(senior), hoobae(minor), s-seung(the teacher? maybe) and till now we still have that kind of individual calling systems(?) but way more friendly now, and I think it's because of the systems we live in such as many parents both go to work and no time to pick up their child on time TKD dojang take care of these kids after their TKD class more of recreation styles like dancing TKD or acrobatic moves. growing up along with the other sunbae's and hoobae's in that kind of situation helps break the ice so it turned out to be very energetic and playful
Yes I am from Cameroon. Our former president of karate federation was suspended for 8 years and for life in Africa/world for sexual harassment. It's very sad and disappointing abusing position of authorities to young female athletes.
I'm Asian and your artistic in the way you talk. I'm glad too see it. I'm older than you and I'd totally understand what your saying. As an elder or teacher in Asian culture your suppose to be a remodel and students will respect you for that when you help them to achieve their goal. It's not only apply to Martial art. Modern day now, getting too much into student personal life or trying to get them to see you like a parent figure is crossing the line. Know your boundary.
Thank you for sharing this. We are all imperfect humans where hopefully, we have a chance for improvement of character through martial arts.
Those issues are a problem worldwide. You will have great teachers and you will have bad ones. I have seen both.
Totally!
True. I have trained in WSK, Wingchung and TKD in UK, Canada and Nigeria respectively and yes I have seen terrible and great sensei's. I think it's the individual that matters. truth is some people are just terrible and others are good natured. It's part of nature
I am American and I am a shotokan instructor here in the U.S. I grew up in Japan in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. I think it is hard for Americans to understand the Japanese culture. Here in America, it is amazing how much we can be individuals but it is sad that we lack honor and respect for each other in so many ways! BTW, I love your channel! You do such an amazing job bridging the cultures and clarifying Japanese martial arts for us! Thank you!!!
I am lucky to be in a club where the Sensei is approachable, I am a San Dan and the philosophy of the Dojo is respect and assisting everyone to progress in their karate journey. We are an Australian Dojo which might be why.
Its actually sad to hear this news. I always stay tune to the Premier Leagues and World Championship most especially if the athlete is from Japan. Im also fascinated with Athletes from T. University most especially that I am a fan of D.W. Never thought that one day I'd be hearing this kind of news considering that Sensei M.K. has this strict way of teaching, I always thought that they got used to it (in fact I have seen a video where he uses a Kendo Stick to hit his students) With regards to the main issue you have presented, I just would like to share the culture in the Philippines. We have this culture of listening to our elders, but sometimes our elders would abuse their status as being the "Wise One", to the point that they would not let us speak out. Well, whether we like or not, culture is what gives us our identity. Sending my salute to you sir from the Philippines.
My karate sensai is a 55 year old at 9th Dan in shito ryo style. But still he always says "you learn a lot of new things from others. Even a white belt could teach you a lot of amazing things if you keep your mind open for it". He never mistreats his students or look down on us. Just gem of a person he is! 😊
Karate seems to be a complex community , this martial art is truly interesting . Coming from brazilian jiu jitsu practicioner
In Finland this kind of a hierarchy doesn't exist, but to some extend it does at least in my dojo. The sensei who runs the place was trained in a traditional Japanese way but every time he tells stories of those times, he also reminds us that even though that is his upbringing, he's not running his dojo the same way. The only thing he's strict about is how you behave inside the dojo. During our first class he told us when he steps in that door, he's sensei regardless of if it's his students or his family, outside the dojo that hierarchy does not exist. And that's pretty much just him, all the other traines are a bit more laid back about it.
The Age thing runs both ways and you will likely appreciate it more as you get older (maybe you wont). Traditions and also respect for senior ages grew as I got older, and I must admit I hate how quick we are to declare older folk useless or some how "faulty", in the West.
I have been guilty of this when I was a teenager but at the same time I very much understand your POV on Age and Status. Skill or knowledge for sure should count, I.e. Merit of ability and/or experience.
This is the thing though, Experience wins (assuming everything else is equal). I actually learned this in Football/Soccer. I can tell when someone started playing under 6/7 years old, even if they have had a gap/break in their playing. There is a fluidity and a natural movement that is acquired, as well as other "Qualities" like natural ball shielding with body position, and also the realisation that you actually usually have far more time than is perceived.
Martial Artists develop qualities too, be it ability to take a hit, block, react, counter all with fluidity. People who have started young and had a lot of pressure testing/sparring/tag fighting have an economy of motion,a quickness of reaction that is on a muscle memory level. Muscle memory reaction is almost instant and several times faster than visual reaction.
This concept holds for anything Physical, whether A throw or roll I was learning in Judo or a Skill I practiced with a football.
If you train the move over and over, and learn how to do it correctly, but also incorrectly, and also what happens when it goes wrong, your body will remember what to do (assuming you are training other techniques in the same way) and will fluidly do the best thing next, this is beyond conscious thought, this is thinking and doing at the same time. Experience is teh best path to such "Qualities" or understanding, I suspect you already are aware of this, possibly in different terms or analogies but I have seen you do sparring , your fluidity is very high :D
As a foreigner who studies karate in Japan I think it depends on what was said. As a English teacher I have said things to push my students, cause I hate to the them waste their potential. But AU is a champion and a instructor in her own right so this will be interesting to see how it comes out
It's always right to defend yourself, be it in the streets or in the dojo.
That doesn't always mean physical abuse, but also mental and verbal.
When someone goes over a boundary, you need to make it clear that they shall never cross that threshold again.
If they insist on continuing, they are only going to try and control you. They become as meaningless as stagnant water, absorbing pollutants and only leads to you getting sick or worse.
I agree, and that's what the athlete has done
I'm very impressed with your content and your channel. Really fun. I'm nidan but have been unable to train for several years because of an injury. I miss karate-do... I am undergoing surgery in a few months - and I hope to be returning to the dojo if the surgery is successful.
I hope to be transferred to Japan for work. If my surgery is successful, I would appreciate the opportunity and honor to train with you at your dojo.
I appreciate your videos and opinions.
This abuse of Senpai/Kohai relationship is rampant in Thailand, especially in more traditional schools and universities. Lots of verbal abuse and peer pressure. Outliers are at risk of alienation. Fortunately, it is easing up with various movements for liberalization by the students, and it is seeping from the education environment into society as a whole.
Yes! The recent social change in your country is amazing. I hope things turn out fine
The one problem I see with any Martial Arts in any part of the world is too many schools with so many students in the modern world that they reach a point of going nowhere with whatever experience they have learned. It takes certain people, very few, to be fully dedicated to martial arts.
Well I live in Tokyo in practice Karate there. I’ve been doing Karate since childhood back home in Europe.
My school here is great and the teachers are just fantastic and also they are good practitioner themselves which is important to me. Back home I had issues with senseis who had a sense of entitlement due to their status while not practicing much themselves. They grade just gave them the legitimacy in their eye. Of course all schools are not like that sometimes you just get unlucky depending where you live
Watching many months later, not sure if anyone's still reading comments but I can totally relate to what you're saying. I too was born and raised under Western influence almost my entire life but coming back to live in Asia as an adult gave me reverse culture shock in many ways. Here in Thailand hierarchy is huge too based on age and often social status. There is now a big generational conflict among old and young people on political and social ideologies. The world has evolved so much that I guess certain generations are being left behind unfortunately. Being in the middle as A Genx just trying to make the best of both worlds. The hierachy in the dojo culture being discussed here very much reflects on 1000s of years of traditional social hierarchy so unfortunately that won't change anytime soon.
I'm originally from Hawaii living in Japan (Kanagawa), Hawaii has a very senpai and kohai cultural relationship but they don't take it so far as to disrespect. I train Shotokan JKA here in Kanagawa but I don't see the disrespect between the 2 with my sensei. Respect goes both ways and the students really love my sensei because of this.
I absolutely love and adore Japanese culture and people but I do know just as with all things there are some issues and almost nothing is perfect, thank you for bringing out one of those things in this video.
I very much share this sentiment, Nagano Sensei! I've seen both problems. Instructors in North America who face decided that they're Japanese and expect proverbial kowtowing and entitled treatment, while speaking to people as if they're worthless.
Also, students at least in the US who refuse to do what they're asked in class just so that the lesson can be taught and so that class isn't interrupted.
I gravitated toward heavy contact styles like Kyokushin and judo because I don't see nearly as much attitude there. I think there's a knowledge that no matter how senior or titled someone is, a white belt could get lucky and ippon them any day in practice. And less experienced students usually seem to respect those more senior for their abilities rather than just because of rank or prestige.
Oh of course! In the U.S. as well. Happenes more often than I'd like to admit but people in the U.S. try to use their money to suppress it. It works sometimes but sometimes it doesn't and it get out. Especially in Government.
This happens in all sports all over the world. I've heard stories about sexual harassment in BJJ, in TKD, in karate, etc here in the western world. I started my martial arts experience on my college campus so the whole hierarchy structure wasn't much of a thing, and was much more relaxed and chill. But as a karateka, and martial artists, this is a big issue and personally I never faced this problem before, fortunately, but to me though respect is a two way street, and lets all just have fun and train.
One thing I hate about martial arts in the U.S. (among many things) and one could argue is a global thing, is the ego that comes along with high rank. I had a brief online "conversation" with Jesse Enkamp about it. During Funakoshi's lifetime he only promoted up to 5th Dan. After his passing the JKA started promoting above that I guess in order to be on par with the Kodokan maybe. I asked him if he thought that if karate had never gone above 5th Dan if there'd be less ego and he believed yes and I agreed. In most systems material only goes up to 3rd or 4th Dan, everything above is basically honorary and in some cases $$$. Tsutomu Oshima, one of the last if not the last person to have trained with Funakoshi, to this day has never accepted a rank above 5th Dan which is what Funakoshi awarded him. I think it be better had we never gone crazy with the Dan system. But that's something that will never change. Too many westerners wanted to be called "grandmaster".
The moment you said her initials were "A.U." I know who you were talking about. Didn't know who her harasser was or even about the allegations until I Googled it right now. Not that it matters, but she is not a shotokan stylist. The club that she trains at where her accuser coaches is I believe a predominantly shotokan club judging from videos.
This kind of problem still happens in my country (Philippines). But thankfully, people, especially the youth, are not following the hierarchy anymore. We go "respect begets respect". Basically, we don't just give you respect just because you are older. We give you respect if you deserve it.
Just yesterday, I sent a message to my former teacher from high school how he was such a terrible teacher. I gave him harsh constructive criticisms and compared him to my other teacher who was way better than him in all aspects. He blocked me instead of confronting me. Did not even say anything like I should be respectful of elders. It does not work that way here in the Philippines, thankfully.
My sensei is from Sapporo been in the US since the mid 1960's and an American university professor from 1969 to 2019, very much accustomed to US culture. But he demands a high level of respect, and an adherence to traditions. For me, it was like having a second dad these 40 years that I have known him (I was never that close to my first dad). Kohai MUST respect Sempai, and Sempai MUST earn that respect EVERY TIME they interact with Kohai. I have guys that started long after I did that now rank well above me. Our relationship is casual as it would be with any friend BUT in class: they respect me because I trained them and have been in our dojo for 40 years, but demand a different relationship with me in the dojo, one of respect and obediance. I gladly give it because they have earned it and I know they are trying to make me a better martial artist. I get respect in my own dojo from my own students for the same reason. They have faith that I am trying to make them better martial artists and better people.