Japanese Martial Arts Titles

Martial artists often address their teachers as sensei. Junior and senior students are organized via a senpai/kōhai system. Also in some systems of karate, O´Sensei is the title of the (deceased) head of the style.

Various titles are also employed to refer to senior instructors. Which titles are used depends on the particular licensing organization.

Shōgō

Shōgō (称号^?, Japanese for "title","degree") are martial arts titles developed by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai,^[1] the Kokusai Budoin and the International Martial Arts Federation Europe. Many organizations in Japan award such titles upon a sincere study and dedication of Japanese martial arts. The below mentioned titles are awarded after observing a person's martial arts skills, his/her ability of teaching and understanding of martial arts and the mostly important a role model and perfection of one's character.

• Renshi (錬士 : れんし^?): Polished Instructor. (Skilled person or expert teacher) Awarded to 5th Dan and above.
• Kyōshi (教士 : きょうし^?) refers to an advanced teacher. (Senior Teacher/Expert). Awarded to 7th Dan and above.
• Hanshi (範士 : はんし^?) refers to a senior expert considered a "teacher of teachers". This title is used by many different arts for the top few instructors of that style, and is sometimes translated "Grand Master". Awarded to 8th Dan and above.
• Meijin (名人^?): awarded by a special board of examiners.

Other martial arts titles

• Kensei (剣聖^?, sword's saint) an honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship.
• Kyōshi (教師 : きょうし^?), which in everyday Japanese can be a more modest synonym for sensei, is sometimes used to indicate an instructor.
• Oyakata (親方 : おやかた^?), master, especially a sumo coach. The literal sense is of someone in loco parentis.
• Shihan (師範 : しはん^?), merely means chief instructor; unlike the titles above it is not related to grade.
• Shidōin (指導員:しどういん^?), intermediate instructor, also unrelated to grade.
• Shishō (師匠 : ししょう^?) is another title used for martial arts instructors.
• Zeki (関 : ぜき^?), literally "barrier", used for sumo wrestlers in the top two divisions (sekitori).