If you call YOURSELF “master” or “sensei” you probably aren’t one. I see this so often, especially on social media. – Come on guys..… let go of that EGO!
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If you teach karate and are using Japanese language in your dojo or school, then you should know how to use these titles, or specifically, honorifics (an honorific is showing or giving honor or respect: when used in addressing or referring to a person; Cambridge dictionary).
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Being introduced by someone else as a “sensei” is fine….. However, introducing and calling YOURSELF “sensei” is WRONG. If you do, then you are either ignorant of the Japanese usage of the term, or extremely arrogant, or both. It’s as if you are trying to give yourself a title when you don’t have one.
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I’m not sure who is certifying and handing out certificates to people as “SENSEI”, but it is plain wrong. It’s a word that is used to refer to others.
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“Sensei” should be used to address other people, not yourself – Therefore calling or signing YOURSELF “Sensei Risa Mendelson” (an example) is WRONG.….. So scrap that business card and social media name.
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Hanshi, as an example, and the lower level titles of Kyoshi and Renshi, are what are known as “Shogo”, teaching titles. Sensei is NOT a teaching title.
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“Sensei” is an honorific, like Mr. or Mrs., but since its Japanese and we are following Japanese arts, and using Japanese language in the dojo, it has to go AFTER the person’s name. As an example it should be written “Risa Mendelson Sensei”. But still, you do NOT refer to yourself as such.
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Sensei is a term given by a student to their teacher. It’s NOT a label you give to yourself. You call somebody else a sensei. NOT yourself……. Do you get it yet?
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If your teacher, dojo or school aren’t getting simple things like proper use of honorifics and titles right, this is a big warning sign. It doesn’t take much to learn how these things should be used. If someone is using them incorrectly, it suggests to me that they really have not done the necessary research, or have the desired knowledge to actually be called a “sensei”.
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Calling yourself sensei doesn’t impress anyone….. In fact, you just look stupid.
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STOP CALLING YOURSELF SENSEI….Your sounding like a total amateur. If you have to demand respect you obviously haven’t earned it. 
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Photo Credit & with thanks to Jesse Enkamp
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