I was surfing on the web the other day and stumbled on a karate video on you tube where the teacher referred to himself as “zokucho”. I almost fell out of my seat laughing. It was an absolutely brilliant display of using a Japanese term in a completely wrong context – almost as good as “空手に先手なし.”
Anyway back to Mr. Zokucho who I am assuming is using the romanization of the kanji 族長. I find this funny because zokucho is a bit archaic and can refer to a tribe or clan chief. Kind of reminds me of my ancient Celtic ancestors (^_-). But then again maybe his dojo or association is run this way. LOL.
In all seriousness I wish teachers and their students would stop using all these ridiculous terms – the list is endless: hanshi, kyoshi, renshi, shihan, tasshi, soke, doshu, saiko-shihan, and now zokucho. I have only ever referred to my instructors as sensei – that’s it. No extra bells and whistles and I know that I would get an angry look or a smack upside the head if I (and I don’t want to) tried to call them some other grandiose title.
Karate is grounded in respect, simplicity, and humility. When you use absurd titles after your name you’ve missed the point and it’s time to go home.
But, but, but, it sounds kool!
About as cool as a three year old getting of his tricycle
M
ROFL a lot
Might there be a case made for the “appropriate use” of these titles?
From the begining I’ve made a point of not putting my dan rank behind my name when submitting magazine articles. When I began to be published, almost every article I came across in a magazine carried the the authors rank in the by-line, (by Joe Blow 5th Dan), I didn’t like it then I don’t like it now.
However I have used the dan rank tag, and the kyoshi tag too, in cases where I feel it might help someone else: I’ve done it twice so far. But like you Mario, I have never had a teacher who expected to be addressed as anything other than ‘sensei’, regardless of what rank or title they held.
The title you mentioned is a new one on me…but now it’s out there…who knows, we might start to see more? I think there will always be folks out there who prefer to surround themselves with the trappings of karate, rather than actually practice it.
Yes there certainly is a time and a place for titles. Just as we use titles in the west for formal situations or special occasions, but they are generally exceptions and not something done on a daily basis. If people want to use such titles then they should apply the same common sense that they would use when applying non-Japanese titles in their mother-tongue.
That said, there still are some titles that are completely nonsensical IMHO. Like a young Karateka calling himself “doshu”. A ninja master calling himself “shidoshi”, and of course a plethora of karate teachers using the infamous “soke” to refer to themselves.
M
I had to grin when I read this! 族is also commonly used to refer to motorcycle gangs in Japan. Perhaps the Dojo is comprised of motorcycle gang members?? (^^)
Yep, “bosozoku” 暴走族. I remember their noisy, obnoxious antics when I lived in Japan. Don’t miss them.
I agree, but then, the level of education in karate these days is shockingly low in most quarters. IMHO, the rise of karate “associations” and commercialism, have taken the focus off the lndividual teacher – student relationship, and placed it squarly in the relms of service provider and customer. Is it any wonder there is so much “beige” these days, in a once colourful world of budo.
Those sad souls who grasp at rank and title as if it bestows authority and authenticity remind me of rabbits…they breed quickly and amount to very little.
Mike
(sorry to slip off topic a little here, but in a way I think it’s all related)
Sadly it is all related and I find myself nodding my head in agreement as I read your comment.
M
A colleague recently referred to his Shotokan instructor as renshi, which he reiterated as his “master”. I recalled the title from old samurai shows…but he stated it was for 6th dan practitioners. Further review shows conflicting requirements: must be 30 years of age, or have 20 years of experience, must have published a thesis…the list goes on.
Regardless, single word titles sure dont compare to my old favorite: His Holiness the Dali Seng Shi Grand Master Olaf Simon.
Good old Olaf LOL. （＾Ｏ＾）
I’ve just had a look at the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame…(I was curious about the Grand Master you mentioned). They have a similar thing down here in Australia, lots of back-slapping, and enough egotistical carrying on to have any self-respecting budoka reaching for a bucket within seconds of reading about their latest “dinner and awards night”.
I was embarressed to see my sensei’s name and his dojo mentioned in connection with one of the folks on the list. Just imagin being the “World Champion” in (wait for it) Musical kata….who would you tell? “Hi guys, guess what I’ve just won?” If it takes the theme tune to Hawaii Five-0 or Braveheart to get you excited about kata training, perhaps some people need to reconsider their involvement with karate.
Having an empty hand is one thing…having an empty head…well….that’s not so good!
Well Mr. Clarke hit the nail on the head when he mentioned commercialism. Fancy titles sell to an incredibly gullible public.
Maybe someone could provide the some examples of the proper usages/meanings of these ‘titles’. That would be rather enlightening.
As far as I’m concerned, people can call themselves anything they want. It means nothing to me. I’ve met , been challenged by, and summarily dispatched a man who called himself a “12 level Grandmaster” of some style I’ve never heard of. He spent the night in jail, and I went for coffee.
However, If my teacher gave me such a title, I would be grateful and show the appropriate courtesy. I’d just never refer to myself as that title. The same way that you never refer to yourself as “john-san” (provided your name is John)
In the end, no titles will block that next punch coming for you.
Thanks for the comment. Yes people can call themselves anything they want, but if that title comes from your teacher then it should have meeting – terms like “zokucho” are meaningless, contrived and pointless. And as you said it should be between you and your teacher, not something you should advertise.