Can't stand the sempai?

Question

i'm 5th kyu, he's 4th kyu, so he's barely above me. when we line up, he's ahead of me and i'm right next, followed by the students who are of lower ranking to me. he's only 1 rank above me, but he LORDS that position. he constantly talks down to me and says every time I help the lower ranks with kata or basics, i'm doing it wrong and need to do it HIS way. I'll admit, I've corrected the lower belts, but I do it in a polite way, mainly because it's easier to ride them about it now than to have them do it wrong for a year. I'll have them do kihon kata, and if they do it 7 times perfectly, they're done. if they do it 6 times perfect, and once wrong, they start over and do it at one. yes it sucks for them, but I did it and it's better in the long-run. again. he's barely above me but acts like he knows all there is to know about martial arts just because he likes DBZ and ninja turtles. I was practicing weapons and he came and chewed my butt because I was doing it wrong. he's never used that

Answer 1

you both need to sign up for some marital counseling

Answer 2

There is the Zen story of the gift not received. The moral of which is the following question for thought. If a man comes bearing a gift and no one receives it, to whom does it belong?

Think of the respect for your patience and character you are building by enduring this bore. The other students see and hear what is going on and the discerning ones know the truth. We had a similar student when I was coming up the ranks in our school. Often they do not stay the course to advanced ranks. They get impatient because their cup is already over flowing with themselves.

Talk to the Master instructor and see if he can save this student from certain folly. When your cup is overflowing there is no room for improvement is there?

Good luck and stay the course. It is about you not him.

Edit:

Sensai, Katana, Wulf, Puggpaws and Tao J all good advice as usual.

Answer 3

So what is your question?  

I would suggest you tell him that you respect his rank, but if he dosen't show you respect in return he can feel free to kumite and see if skill matches rank.

Answer 4

Did you think a dojo was going to be different than the real world.Jealousy back stabbing inter dojo politics all come into play among lower ranks .

When I started training in 1960 to call someone SENSEI just because he was wearing a black belt was a big mistake.The dojo had one sensei only 1st and 2nd degree black belts were called sempai and no one else as everyone else was kohai or junior to a black belt .A 1st and 2nd degree black was only considered knowledgeable enough to be a sempai a mentor who guided you along the senseis's path .A 4th kyu hardly qualifys for that posistion or any kyu rank.

At 3rd dan level you would attain the title SENSEI  but not when THE SENSEI was on the floor.

The term MASTER also was never heard when addressing a high rank as you would be looked at as a kiss *** suck up.

They say the JAPANESE are in love with ranks and the pecking order but they know how to deal with it rationally and properly as it has been part of their social order for a few hundred years.Each rank is earned by years of hard work not because someone has trained a few more months than you and has a higher kyu rank .The idea is absurd in the extreme.

If anything it's us who are in love with rank and not being used to it can't handle it properly as witnessed by your dojo mates arrogant attitude.

In JAPAN or OKINAWA if you say "I was trained by master FUNAKOSHI" they will ask "but who was your sempai" in the case of FUNAKOSHI if you said my sempai was KANAZAWA or NAKAYAMA or ENOEDA they would know immediately what your main strengths were .SEMPAI IS TO IMPORTANT A POSISTION TO WASTE ON KYU RANKS.

Answer 5

You sound like a crybaby.

Answer 6

Part of the responsibility of being a higher rank belt is setting a good example for other students.  If you are being completely honest, it sounds like you are doing a good job of this and your sempai may not be.  I would address your concerns with your sensei or head instructor in private.  Don't whine, and don't list your accomplishments, just tell sensei simply that you are concerned about the disrespect you are getting from this 5th kyu student and ask how you should handle it.  In the mean time practice hard and be humble.  There is a lesson in this for you too.

With regard to Dragon Ball Z and Ninja Turtles...those are cartoons...why is that even part of this discussion?

Answer 7

Work harder so you can pass him.

Be humble about it.

Answer 8

There are two types of respect in Martial Arts. There is a certian level of respect that is given because of the position or status, which to me is necessary, but is not the best type of respect. The second type is the respect that you earn for the way you conduct yourself, your actual knowledge, and the way you treat others.

I myself would much rather have the second type of respect from my pears and students then the first. For instance as a senior belt I am not supposed to be addressed by my first name in class, which is traditional. I don't enforce it or don't care about that.

Sempai literly means mentor, and a mentor has a responsibility to treat you with a certian amount of respect if he expects the second type of respect in turn.

Talk to your instructor and let him know how you are feeling, and what you see. Keep it strictly on a factual basis and do not make it personel. If you don't want to do this I understand, and if what you say is true about you being better at stuff then he is, eventually you will premote past him and not have to worry about it anymore, unless you are at a belt factory that has a rigid testing schedule.

Other then those two things my only advice is to consider the source, learn to live with it, and train for yourself.

Answer 9

Josh

Ever one teaches in their own way and some are good and others not good.  So yes he may be ONE rank over you now but that can change fast trust me. You could be first or another their are so many variables.

I suggest you teach as you know it and if your Sempai corrects you then just go along with it and explain to your Sensei later which way you should be doing it and then go back and clarify with the student and have the Sensei clarify with the Sempai.   This will keep you within what we would call appropriate way to handle it via rank.

The Sensei will overall decide and that is who you follow. I just hope you have a good one..=] As I said not all teachers are equal but all styles are!

Answer 10

Your question really has more than one issue here.

1) You mention several times that Sempai is only one rank above you.

2) You also say that you are better than he is. (That is your opinion and may be true or may not. Your Sensei made the decision to appoint him as Sempai, so it is not for you to judge.)

3) If the Sempai is chewing you out you may or may not deserve it. However, in any case he should be doing it in private.  There is a general rule here.  The rule is: Praise in public, criticize in private.

4) No matter what the situation is your attitude is not what it should be. no matter who is better, right, or higher ranked, it should not matter.  What you should be thinking is how to improve your training. The martial arts are not about who is better. They are about overcoming your limitations both physical and mental. It has nothing to do with comparing yourself to others.