Shotokan - Lower Bucks County Karate Club - General Vocabulary: People And Titles

Front 1

Karateka

Back 1

One who studies karate.

Front 2

Sensei

Back 2

Teacher (Literally means “one who was born before”). Assistants to the Sensei may be respectfully referred to as Sempai.

Front 3

Sempai

Back 3

Senior. Refers to either Yudansha or to your particular mentor

Front 4

Kohai

Back 4

Junior. Refers to either Mudansha or to a student of particular concern to you.

Front 5

Kizoku

Back 5

Peers. Those of the same rank and experience as each other.

Front 6

Yudansha

Back 6

One who has rank. Anyone who has earned a black belt.

Front 7

Mudansha

Back 7

One without rank. Those who have not yet earned a black belt.

Front 8

Shoshinsha

Back 8

A novice. Generally applies to low kyu-ranked mudansha.

Front 9

Shugyosha

Back 9

One who is in intense training. Usually refers to high kyu-ranked mudansha who are preparing for their Shodan test.

Front 10

Shodan

Back 10

First degree black belt.

Front 11

Kyu

Back 11

A rank designation signifying a level of achievement below black belt.

Front 12

Dan

Back 12

A rank designation signifying black belt level.

Front 13

Uke

Back 13

The attacker in a two person drill.

Front 14

Tori

Back 14

The defender in a two person drill.

Front 15

Aka

Back 15

Red. Karateka to the referee’s right.

Front 16

Shiro

Back 16

White. Karateka to the referee’s left.

Front 17

Shushin

Back 17

Referee. Chief official in a match.

Front 18

Fukushin

Back 18

Judge. Assistant officials.

Front 19

Kansa

Back 19

Arbitrator. Overseer of match, time, and score.

Front 20

Tashi

Back 20

Expert. A title which may be given to some 3rd - 4th dans.

Front 21

Renshi

Back 21

Polished expert. A title which may be given to some 5th - 6th dans.

Front 22

Shihan

Back 22

Master teacher. Doctor. A title given to 6th dans or above.

Front 23

Kyoshi

Back 23

Expert instructor, Teacher grade. A title which may be given to some 7th - 8th dans.

Front 24

Hanshi

Back 24

Master. A title which may be given to some 8th - 10th dans.

Front 25

Note: When Shihan or Sensei is used as an honorific or a title, there are a few important things one needs to be aware of:

Back 25

• Shihan or Sensei is attached to the end of the person’s family name, e.g., Ohshima Shihan (not Shihan Ohshima), Ohshima Sensei (not Sensei Ohshima)
• According to the Japanese culture, it is not appropriate to call oneself Shihan or Sensei, or introduce oneself with the title Shihan or Sensei, e.g., Instructor John Doe shouldn’t call himself Shihan, Sensei, Doe Shihan or Doe Sensei. His students can, but he shouldn’t.
• The same thing applies to the honorific san (meaning Mr., Mrs., or Miss). Mr. John Doe shouldn’t call himself Doe-san or John Doe-san. San can be attached only to the end of others’ names.