A discussion on the role of the Sempai/Kohai system
within International Karate-Do Goju-Kai Association dojo system

先輩 / 後輩
So much is heard off regarding the Sempai/Kohai System (F.Y.I. Sempai, technically can be pronounced Senpai), especially now here on Facebook, it seems to be creeping up on us. Just what is it? How does it work? Do we need to adhere to it in 2008?

In a traditional Japanese Dojo, we find this system of senior/junior when you begin your training. Those who are already students when your training commences are your sempai (先輩) [senior], whereas those who join after you are your kohai (後輩) [junior]. This system will remain in place regardless of rank, age or experience. Since within Karate-do, every karate-ka has a relationship to those above or below him/her, we find that this system keeps moving in a very orderly fashion.

This is held in place by an ideology called On-Giri (恩義理) [duty; honor; courtesy; debt of gratitude; social obligation]. The kohai as a debt he/she owes to their seniors by virtue of their wiliness to pass on what they have learned. The senior in turn has a duty to his Sensei (先生) [Instructor, or one who has gone before] and the dojo (道場) [club, the place in where you train in the way] to bring you, as his junior up through the ranks…taking care of you much as a big brother would his little brother (or sister).

In being the senior that the system requires you to be; by helping the kohai “nudging” them along, by advising, coaching and being a confidant, the sempai assumes the awesome responsibility. The Kohai who has been tutored by the sempai now becomes onjin (恩人) [benefactor, person under obligation].

The Saiko-Shihan (最高師範) [Supreme Grandmaster] and/or Kaicho (会長) [President; Director], is responsible for teaching the Shihan and in turn or directly, the Sensei. The sensei is responsible for disseminating this information to the seniors of the dojo, while many juniors may benefit from this instruction as well.

Now it’s the senior’s obligation to tutor the juniors and help whenever and wherever possible. This type of instruction may not be as formal as the Sensei’s, but in most cases seems to be conveyed by means of example. Every sensei has his/her own unique style of instruction…it is to be assumed that each senior will develop their favorite means and method to help the sensei do so.

From the perspective of olden Japan, the respect for concepts of loyalty and obligation, the sempai/kohai relationship generates a relationship that often extends throughout the lives of those involved. It develops an attitude of helpfulness, kindness and leadership that is necessary to achieve mastery…and subsequently in a reciprocal way, the lives of both the Sempai and Kohai are improved and enhanced.
At times, the Sempai-Kohai system may seem difficult or even nonsensical. For the junior it may seem that his movements are criticized. Even outside the dojo he finds his behavior under the watchful eye of a senior who is quick to chasten. In spite of its apparent drawbacks, it really works rather well.

If you are beginner in the martial arts, remember that and listen carefully to the advice of your Sempai. Their experience is hard won. If you are a more advanced student, keep in mind that training is only a part of your purpose in the dojo. There are Kohai in need of your guidance and it is up to you to set the example.

There is however a “flip-side” to this…It is believed by many that the Sempai and Kohai hierarchal structure within a Dojo or even more so a Ryu-ha (流派)/Kai-ha (会派) will lead to the development of what could ultimately become antithetical to Karate-Do’s aims and vision. It is further believed that this kind of system would lead to the inflation of a Karate-ka (Student of Karate) ego whenever the role of Sempai is utilized in the dojo.
With an understanding of this system it becomes clear that this assumption is clearly based on a misunderstanding of the Sempai/Kohai system.

One should not assume because of ignorance that this model will automatically lead to inflated egos. You see, the original model was actually designed by Confucian ideology, in order to counteract exactly that. I can only imagine that when people make these kinds of assumptions that they do so, based on an observation of abuse of this system as opposed to the system itself.

What can one do about such things?  People that will abuse such things will abuse anything – even a silence concerning such models or the opposite of such models.  Thus, sweeping such issues under the rug, or entirely dispensing with them, will not alleviate the problem of inflated egos.  In short, the sempai/kohai structure is not the problem – the big ego is the problem. 

So let’s break this down in bite-sized bits that we can actually chew and swallow. Under the aforementioned Confucian ethics, the Sempai is the giver. He becomes more humble, -responsible, -compassionate and -owing more in servitude. Looking at these ethics, we should in most case employ the inverse of what is most often encountered within our dojo, especially in relation to how Senior Students (the role of sempai) relate to junior student (the role of Kohai). I make this statement in that it should be true whether these models go recognized or unrecognized within your dojo.

The Sempai/Kohai models in general is primarily used to check the development of the so-called “inflated-ego”, particularly when it comes to being a Sempai. In my recent studies and interactions with some of the senior I.K.G.A. Shihan, I have come to realize it can also be seen as means by which we prevent the abuses that stem from one’s incapacity or unwillingness to address one’s own will to continue through their training. Should this be in place, a properly understood Sempai/Kohai System may lead us to practice interpersonal relationships that are rather different from what we initially expect or experience. This difference will be clearly observed when we look at the Sempai/Kohai system within personal demonstrations such as Kihon, Yakusoku-, Bunkai- and Jiyu Kumite, to mention just a few.

Within Bunkai for example we see Senior Uke (受け) [the person who "receives" a technique] or cry about; “too much muscle,” “bad form,” “the kid’s not getting it,” whenever a Tori (取り) [the executor of a technique] takes them down courtesy of Seienchin Kata, or whenever a junior challenges their deficient Break fall (受身) [ukemi] skills.

The ego is thus hidden in the pretended sense of generosity in trying to “assist” the junior in “seeing the light”. On the other hand, senior students as the Uke, have to expect the greatest energies their juniors can muster, as well understand that a similar or even greater level of energy will be expected of them, in order to make any and all coming his way (yes…even those delivered in bad form, those with too much muscle or those delivered from the new kid, that’s just not getting it) safe.

In this way the senior gives of themselves in order for the the junior to advance, and in turn the dojo as a whole becomes a productive and efficient training environment.
It is rather common for senior students who are out of shape, out of their prime, stiff and often plagued by chronic injuries, or those who have plateaued in their training, etc. etc., often use their Sempai status to pull out of certain waza (技)[techniques]. It has become rather obvious that some often  find themselves in a routine to not commit to a specific regiment of energies and/or attacks…avoiding all techniques that may actually shed some light on how they have  stopped training altogether and just riding on the coattails of the rank given to them.

The Sempai/Kohai Model dictates that one should participate wholeheartedly in all Kihon Waza (基本技)[Basic Techniques]. When complete participation is expected those weaknesses by which a senior cannot totally participate are thus brought to the surface, and they are subsequently no longer hidden under guise of what we could call, skill, rank, wisdom and so on.

When you are now out in the open with what you are able or not able to do, and what you are supposed to do, you will find that it brings both clarity and honesty to ones relationship to training…This will not come about by pulling out of every repetition as you see fit based on your own egocentrisms.

In practicing this element of “self-honesty, a Sempai will be cultivating the necessary elements, to produce a genuine humility within themselves. This is a humility that both their Kohai and dojo can actually benefit from. Luckily, I have not often encountered a senior karate-ka that would show their prowess by striking the beginners harder than that beginner would strike them. In general, I found Goju-Kai karate-ka show their “toughness” or rather preparedness and conditioning, by letting the beginner karate-ka strike them harder than they will be striking them.

It needs to be understood that in Goju, each member of a dojo is both a senior and a junior (globally speaking), and as such each karate-ka will experience the Go (剛) [Hard] and Ju (柔) [Soft] of Goju, but in a manner that is more rooted in honor, humility, respect and compassion.

If you sincerely want to purify the ego from yourself or from your dojo, you should not opt to remain silent about the Sempai/Kohai matters as they come to the surface in Tori/Uke relationships. If one is truly committed and serious about these kinds of issues…place such karateka where they are expected to constantly improve his/her kihon, where there rank, in all reality means nothing…where they are left only with what they are capable of doing and with what they are expected to be doing.

Place them where they are expected to be in shape, strong and flexible for as long as they are training. Place them in a spontaneous training environment where all of the above still applies – where they come to know firsthand what some masters have called the “horror of compassion and empathy”. It is when we truly understand the “horror of compassion and empathy”, that we will truly understand what it means to be Sempai.

 

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