Natural Seniority

Seniority is a notion known to every culture. The fact that generations are distinguished by age among other things, places one ahead of the other, at least in chronological terms. The most successful civilisations venerate their seniors. They build respect for age into their children’s upbringing and place great importance on the simple and obvious fact that older people have lived longer and seen more. This brings knowledge, something that comes with age and something that is only as far away as the nearest older person.

Organisational seniority is far more tangible than cultural seniority. Armies are based on a hierarchical rank system of Private through to Field Marshal with each rank in-between representing an incremental gain in knowledge, experience and importantly, power. Civil organisations such as the Police and Fire Services are based on a similar model.

Yet another 'system' is that of Natural seniority. A hard working parent who devotes his/her life to the well-being and prosperity of a family and is around to contribute to the everyday ups and downs of the family has natural seniority over a parent who does none of the above. A parent in name only who has made no contribution has no seniority over say an elder sibling who has performed the role of a father or mother. Junior in age and 'rank' he may be, but senior in every other regard and naturally worthy of more recognition.

In the same way, someone of high rank entering a new Karate Dojo has no seniority; in fact arguably the lowest ranked person in the Dojo is his senior. Of course, all the courtesy and respect afforded to any visitor is given, that goes without saying, however to make the assumption that the visitor carries the same level of seniority that he may have had in another Dojo is wrong, and to assume that because he is senior in rank that he is now the Sensei, is absurd. Even if the visitor is the practicing head in another JKA jurisdiction say, in another country, there is no case to automatically assume the same measure of seniority in a new Dojo. He is a welcome visitor and no more. If the Dojo Head asks the visitor to take a certain position in the class during formalities, to assist with the class or even to take the class, it is at his sole discretion and not because he is required to do so.

This point may seem to fly in the face of a principle that is central to the values of JKA (we can’t talk about other Martial Arts although we suspect the same applies), namely the Sempai-Kohai relationship. In fact, the Sempai-Kohai relationship actually supports this argument. To the informed, the Sempai/Kohai relationship has very little to do with rank and everything to do with natural seniority. A person who has earned the right to be called senior (Sempai) remains a senior even if his junior (Kohai) goes on to surpass him in terms of rank. We can look to Japan for an example of what this means to JKA people. There, a senior is a senior for life.

If there is any status that goes along with natural seniority, it clearly comes from without, from others, not from a self-centered or presumptive view of things. In any worthwhile pursuit, it takes many years of sustained input to establish ability and credibility. Just as a new beginner focuses on his own development, works hard, fits-in and receives the rewards that follow, so an experienced person in new territory should do the same. Good Karateka are renowned for being able to adapt to difficult and changing circumstances, they do it every day in the Dojo. They relish the chance to develop themselves further in every way and they are true students of their art. A Karateka visiting a new Dojo then, will have no issue at all when he temporarily becomes a junior again, in the same way that the natural seniors running the Dojo will have no issue accepting the visitor.

This opens up the much-asked question of what to do in the event that a highly graded individual from another Dojo comes to train permanently (as opposed to visiting) at another Dojo. This is not the dilemma it appears to be. Rank in Karate is awarded on merit but status is earned, this applies to everyone, therefore a new member regardless of rank will work for the recognition he receives in his new environment, not assume it. Of course, as a highly ranked person, he is more than likely to accelerate his position by virtue of his past efforts, but an influential past or a record of high achievement in competition, or as an official is not a passport to transfer those merits, and certainly does not automatically command the same level of natural seniority as it might have previously done.

Where a relocated person sets up a new Dojo of his own in an existing JKA jurisdiction, he will have done so with the approval of the Chief Instructor in that country via the local JKA authority (in the case of JKAA, the State body is the local authority). Thereafter, if he meets requirements like everyone else, he will be able to establish his own membership. This is ideal because new students of the new Dojo will be beginners under the existing structure.

To the Karateka concerned only with training, all of this may seem pedantic. To most, there is nothing better than the input of a more experienced person to help us along the path of self-development, so why shouldn’t any senior be able to teach any junior? It is not a question of teaching. First rate instruction, sought by students with the knowledge of their seniors which is given in the right spirit and eagerly received, is ideal instruction, but Karate is hierarchical and so direct, unsolicited contact with another Instructors’ student for the purpose of 'offering' advice or constructive criticism can deliberately or otherwise bring the input of that Instructor into question. If the criticism is negative, it can undermine the work of an Instructor who may have taught in a certain way for a certain reason. In any case, this unfortunately is only one symptom of failing to give natural seniority the priority it deserves. There are many others.

Clearly nobody owns a student, and it follows that no student can 'claim' an Instructor. However, when this subject is discussed, it should be done like all things in Karate, with due consideration for natural seniority. If anyone has the right to act in the role of a senior, it is the natural senior, the nurturer, the leader, the mentor. The one whose status has come about over time through recognition for input.

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