The Teacher-Student Relationship

To me, the title of sensei is very special, and not one to be taken lightly. The role of an instructor is one that bears a responsibility not only to the student, but to the sanctity of the school, and the surrounding community. In a traditional ryu, the initiate had to be interviewed by the chief instructor before training commenced. The candidate's character, standards, and personality were scrutinized before being accepted.Thugs, tough-guys and the like were summarily turned away.

Deshi is the Japanese word for disciple. Disciple sounds like a word in a religious sense, but it exemplifies the true definition of a budoka(this is especially true in Japan). An uchideshi is a "live-in" disciple, who actually has taken up residence at the living quarters of the dojo. Her or his responsibility is to tend to the daily mundane tasks of the master, in addition to regular training. Cleaning house, gardening, shopping, etc. A big departure from what we are accustomed to from a strip-mall karate school! This is not to convey the message that the student must kneel-down before the master. In his book Toward a Psychology of Awakening, John Welwood writes:

Genuine teachers encourage self-respect as the basis for self-transcendence...The authentic teacher-student relationship leads beyond narcissism by teaching students how to devote themselves to a greater power that lies within yet beyond themselves.