Different Titles in the Martial Arts and their meanings.
Sensei - One who has gone before" Used for instructor or teacher.
Sempai - is used to signify a senior student who assists with instruction.
Kenshusei or "Shidoin" - is used for students who are enrolled in the instructor program.
Once they have completed the program they may use the title "Sensei".
Shihan - literally means "to be a model" it is a formal word for Sensei, instructor or teacher. This title has been reserved
for instructors who have achieved the rank of 7th Dan or above.
Here are the requirements for the higher grade titles, (but not binding with ABOK*,) (ref JKF JKA). see below;
*( Not binding for the simple reason; A student or teacher training and learning many time a week over 30 years would be much more qualified than someone only training once a week or less, over an even longer time.)
Hanchi: 8th dan for more than two years. Must be older than 60 years.
Kyoshi: 6th dan and above for a minimum of two years, and older than 50 years.
Renshi: 5th dan and above for a minimum of one year, older than 40 years.
Kancho.
The word Kancho in Japan can be used as a practical joke * ( but in the martial arts sense it has a different meaning,
"Kan" means building or Dojo where as "Cho" means the head or top. Thus Kancho means top or head of the organization.
Not necessarily rank related. (many styles have the word "kan" included in their name.)
References
1 Zanshin: The enlightened mind. Also, (It means being aware of one's surroundings and enemies, while being prepared to react.) International Karate Daigaku. Link master Funakoshi and Masatochi Nakayama.
2 Japan Karate Federation.
3 Shotokan Karate Do Centre.
4 Black Belt Wiki.
5 And the following is by www.karatebyjesse.com/
The most common titles used today would maybe be these:
- Shido-in
A shido-in is a formally recognised instructor, who has not yet been recognised as a “real” Sensei. More accurately the
term describes an assistant instructor. The word shido means “to guide”, and in means roughly “member”.
A person who guides members (of the club)! Usually given at 3rd dan.
- Shidoshi
Means "guiding principle." - Renshi
A Renshi is considered an “expert instructor”, or a person who has “mastered himself”. A “teacher by example”, or something
along those lines. Renshi is not that common, some organizations actually skip this step. Renshi is usually given at 4th Dan
to 6th dan.
- Kyoshi
Kyoshi is actually the common word in Japan for a “teacher”, or a “professor”. Not to be confused with the word sensei which
has a different and more complex meaning. Just remember that you never use sensei about yourself, only when referring
to others. Anyway, Kyoshi is very common outside the martial arts too. Often conferred at 6th Dan or 7th Dan.
- Shihan
A very formal title, meaning approximately “master instructor”. A Shihan is in short a “teacher of teachers”, and is given at
around 7th to 8th Dan. Widely used.
- Hanshi
If you flip the letters of Shihan you get what? Hanshi, that’s right. Considered the highest title of all, it is a formal honorary title
given to the highest person in a organization, signifying their (complete?) understanding of the art. Used in 9th Dan to 10th Dan.
There are some other titles too, in short:
Jisha: Attendant
Jiki-deshi: Direct student
Uchi-deshi: Live-in student
Mago-deshi: The student of a Jiki-deshi (lit.grandchild student)
Fuku-shidoin: Almost an assistant instructor
Dai-sempai: A school’s most senior student
Kancho: Chief of the dojo (often used)
Kaicho: Chief of the organization (often used)
Soke: A head of the family/house/style (rare title even in Japan).
* "Kancho" is the ancient art of clasping your hands together and poking someone... in the rear.
Kancho is not meant to be vulgar or mean, in fact it is rarely used in an antagonistic way, like a nipple twister, or a head
noogie, but rather as a kind of affection,
similar to athletes patting each other's butts. Foreign teachers in Japan are often the target of Kancho. This is partly due to their
celebrity status in schools, as many kids want to be the one who Kanchoed the English teacher. Kancho.org is the brainchild of
teachers in Japan who saw how funny Kancho is, and wanted to teach the world about Kancho.