What rank before teaching on your own?

Question

I have heard some say 1st kyu (brown w/ black tip in our style), but I disagree. I think one should be a blackbelt before teaching solo as a senior sensei. And I would want to be a sandan before starting my own dojo.

Answer 1

In Japan and Okinawa it is customary for no one with less than a Sensei title to teach. That means at least 3rd degree black belt, and a Sensei title. Titles and ranks do not go hand in hand. Some believe that if the reach a certain rank and teach that they are a Sensei. Not so by tradition. The organization decides who will get the Sensei title and who will not. If it is given it is either written on the persons rank certificate or given as a separate document.  Sensei in "very rare" cases can be given to some one of Second degree black belt. It is however almost never done.  Even those that have a Sensei title may not be considered qualified to open their own dojo. Many are not allowed to go on their own until 5th dan. Some are even more strict and do not allow it until the student has reached 7th dan. It varies from Okinawa to Japan and from Organization to Organization.   In any case anyone not having been "Officially awarded" the Sensei title ,a no less than 3rd Da has any business on their own running a dojo. They simply do not know enough of the style.  

Edit: John W    There are on laws or rules that pervent anyone of any rank or experience level from opening a martial arts/business. They only have to do what any other business would have to do legally..... business license, pay bills, pay taxes, .....

Answer 2

in this country to open a school you need to be  a first begree black belt unless you are teaching for someone else. then its there decision. but in korea i belive you have to be a third degree black belt before opening your own school.

Answer 3

We sometimes have Brown Belts who are getting ready to test for Shodan run a class to see how they do, however if you are talking owning a school and being the primary instructor, I would say that 2nd dan is probably the lowest I would be conftorble with, and that is only if he continues to train under his instructor.

Answer 4

Well, in my system you're supposed to be at least Sandan before you can teach and promote. Otherwise you can still teach, and our little dojo does that anyway. We tend to walk alongside the path before us but still forge our own way.

Answer 5

You can hold yourself to whatever standard you want.

However, its not always possible...  what if there are no Shodan at class and you are the highest rank?  In my dojo, if the scheduled instructor cannot make it, the most senior teaches.  Life happens and sometimes things come up - its just a matter of rolling with the punches so to speak.

Also, rank isn't the best barometer - maybe the person doesn't really care to test much?

When you have your own dojo, your can make whatever rules you want.  Until then, you have to go by whatever rules your Senseis establish which might include teaching before Shodan.

The last time this happened was after a class I normally teach - the mid week kids class.  Sensei showed up but since he was leaving for vacation the next day, he asked if I would take the following adult class.  I asked him if there was anything specific he wanted me to do.  He told me to work on whatever I thought they needed.

Its good to have some teaching experience under ones belt...  to get it, you just have to be competence; you don't have to be a master because teaching itself is a learned skill and an art.  If you are going to instruct, you have to be good at what you are instructing AND be able to teach it period.

The most skilled people are not always the best teachers of that skill though they generally are on similar levels.

Answer 6

I would say that your sensei would be the one to ask about it.  If he feels you are ready at the rank you are at, then you are ready.  But if you want to wait, then wait.  

The answer is really up to you.

Answer 7

Ok..well this will depend on your karate association.

Most will require that you have at least shodan (be a black belt).

But even if you were teaching as a shodan you wouldn't be a senior sensei... you would be a very very junior sensei. Especially in terms of years of experience (teaching

experience - which is why you would eventually be called a senior sensei - unless you are 65 years old? ha ha), you would only be a junior sensei.

In most larger associations with direct links to Japan you need a 3dan (sandan) before you can be a "sensei" and teach regularly.

Here in Japan, there are times where a shodan or a nidan is teaching (small clubs, university clubs, etc) but then they are just called "sempai" as there is then usually a teacher or a master in charge of the dojo - but they cannot attend all the time.

I do not agree that you can decide. Your teacher or association will decide when you are ready. Then you can decide if you will do it or not. I don't think you can be the one to say "I CAN be a teacher" but you can be the one to decide "I WILL be a teacher" if that distinction makes sense...