[lesso73]

Does the Sempai/Kohai relationship exist on the forums here? Should it? Should it not?

I am curious as to peoples' thoughts.

[BCVB9SOc]

Does the Sempai/Kohai relationship exist on the forums here? Should it? Should it not?

I am curious as to peoples' thoughts.

Yes, it does. I e-bow to all senpai.

[Rndouglas]

Yes, it does. I e-bow to all senpai.

e-bow? now that would be interessting

I've never really seen a sempai/kohai relationship on the forums any more than it would apply in every day life. people just seem to respect peopl with more experience, and the mroe experience in turn provide guidance for the less experienced (like me).
It is like when at work, you respect your boss or you will get some bad treatment and the same seems to go on in the forums. There seem to be no strict sempai/kohai relationships here on the forums though.
The general rule is that you get back from everyone what you put in, choose your word carefully and you will be respected.#
Hope this helps

[forumsfavoriteall]

There was an interesting program on Japanese TV talking about the internet having no having the sempai, kohai ethic and hierarchy that makes utter confusion out of face to face Japanese business and society. It really is not possible to step outside the door in Japan and not be affected by it if you are Japanese.

[onlyfun_biziness]

You won't believe it, but I have made on this forum some kendo friends. And it's very interesting, when you meet those people in live. It's astonishing. Once I was asking for help on kWF, than someone gave me a good advice and then I have met this preson on a kendo seminar. And you won't believe it, he was a very nice sensei. I still write him meil and bother him with my problems. And there is a sempai from Belgium whom I really like, we chat and fool around; he is a really good friend! I hope I will meet him someday.

[vdw4Epsi]

It really is not possible to step outside the door in Japan and not be affected by it if you are Japanese. I remember the first time I had to go to Japan for work. We all had to get business cards printed in kanji to hand out so everyone would know who should bow lower.

[RCQDnMp5]

First of all I would suggest that within the limits of American dojos there is only a little of the Kohi Sempi relationship and outside of the dojo there is none. So I am not sure who that would translate online. I do know that I tend to be careful with what I say because my Dojo mates do read this forum, but that’s not the same thing.

[Zdmlscid]

You won't believe it, but I have made on this forum some kendo friends. And it's very interesting, when you meet those people in live. It's astonishing. Once I was asking for help on kWF, than someone gave me a good advice and then I have met this preson on a kendo seminar. And you won't believe it, he was a very nice sensei. I still write him meil and bother him with my problems. And there is a sempai from Belgium whom I really like, we chat and fool around; he is a really good friend! I hope I will meet him someday.

I have no difficulty believing in friendships formed on the internet or in people actually presenting themselves as they truly are. But that is not the same thing as sempi/kohi even when one person clearly leads.

[priceyicey]

First of all I would suggest that within the limits of American dojos there is only a little of the Kohi Sempi relationship and outside of the dojo there is none.

Well, it depends on the dojo, but the sempai-kohai relationship can be a bit more subtle in the western world, especially nowadays, when many adults start kendo quite late in life. This means that people who are considerably younger may be your sempai in kendo and vice versa. Generally, this means that inside the dojo, you adhere to the sempai-kohai relationship in terms of dan level. Outside the dojo, it becomes more flexible, but from my own experience, it still exists.

But just remember the golden rule -- treat other people the way you would like to be treated.

[sEe]

Guys, you'd have second thoughts when someone tells you, "hey, I was reading what you said at the forums, and..."

[Ocqljudq]

Guys, you'd have second thoughts when someone tells you, "hey, I was reading what you said at the forums, and..."

Heh, I get this sometimes!

Once, even one of my students got it went he went home for the holidays.

"who is your teacher?"

"Gibbo."

"You mean that mouthy gobshite on Kendo World?"

Nice.

[Gcromqgb]

You know you love it mate!

[PareKeect]

Heh, I get this sometimes!

Once, even one of my students got it went he went home for the holidays.

"who is your teacher?"

"Gibbo."

"You mean that mouthy gobshite on Kendo World?"

Nice.

That can't be right, there must be two Gibbo's. One sensible well behaved Kendoka and the other is obviously the mouthy one.

[prehighaltitudesjj]

In the cyber world it shouldn't matter. But in the real world if you are a sempai that people respect, that respect will follow no matter where you go. For example two of the most humble senseis are C. Marsten Sensei and Mastuda Sensei. I don't think if you saw either one of these idividuals on the streets, if you called them by their first names you would offend them. But because who they are and what they do you would nturally call them sensei.

The problem is I have seen kohais taken advantage of the idea of sempai and kohai. Kendo has taught me to be more humble. And when I was a kid, I used to go to the senseis after keiko and ask to put their bogu away. Most sempais I went to I had to pretty much insist to put their bogu away. In my opnion these were true senpais.

But I have seen at other dojos, young 3 dan and 4 dans basically throwing their hakamas at their kohai to fold. This in my opinion is bs. And then there are people out their who feel just because they are 4 dan or higher, they deserve repect. Respect is something you earn. And just because you have a piece of paper with a dan on it, that doesn't mean you earned my respect. It's what you do with that dan is what earns my respect.

[dicemets]

many adults start kendo quite late in life. This means that people who are considerably younger may be your sempai in kendo and vice versa. Generally, this means that inside the dojo, you adhere to the sempai-kohai relationship in terms of dan level. Outside the dojo, it becomes more flexible, but from my own experience, it still exists. Yup. Well, I'm turning twenty-eight this year and my sempai is about eleven. I have no problem with this. She is sweet and helpful and most importantly, knows more about kendo than I do!

[tadacia]

Does the Sempai/Kohai relationship exist on the forums here? Should it? Should it not?

I am curious as to peoples' thoughts.

The forums are another form of communications.

As far as I am concerned, it is on par with face-to-face conversations, telephone calls, and snail-mail letters. If you would not say it f2f, over the phone, or in written correspondence, then do not say it on the forums. Simple.

That being said, Sempai-Kohai is a TWO-way, not a ONE-way, relationship with responsibilities on both ends.

A Kuden ("oral teaching") given to me many, many years ago is "Praise in public, and admonish in private."

I have also observed over the years, that true respect is earned, and not a right based on position. In an ideal world, the Sempai-Kohai relationship is one based on mutual respect.

YMMV.

[propolo]

That being said, Sempai-Kohai is a TWO-way, not a ONE-way, relationship with responsibilities on both ends.

Sometimes, I make it a one-way relationship with trolls and noobs. I'm so bad.

[SnareeWer]

only problem is that sometimes on here people come across as rude, a bit abrupt etc, but its not meant. Same people in the dojo are real nice guys and wouldnt dream of being like that. So long as you are polite and try and help if you can its fine.

My students come on here and treat me the same as in the dojo. A little cheeky sometimes but thats ok, they are all nice kids. I would not expect sensei this sensei that...it would be unacceptable.

[Chiquita]

I think a form of sempai/kohai has existed on internet boards for a long time now. It has always been considered appropriate behavior online to lurk a little while after joining a board before spouting off. This is true not only on today's web boards, but also going back to Usenet and listserv days. I find that people generally do pay attention to who the board seniors are and follow their example on how to behave. When n00bs come along who do not respect the order of things on the board, they get flamed into little cinders.

On the other hand, I don't think that there is much of a corrolation between seniors on a web forum and seniors in real life.

[bWxNFI3c]

Who needs it? As long as we all show equal respect for each other, then we should all be fine. No need to make anything formal out of it. Besides, the whole kohai/sempai relationship, is a very Japanese cultural thing, that, to be honest I don't really agree with. For example in the school system, your sempai is anybod older than you. Regardless of their skill or rank in comparision to yours. Japan is a culture of agism. You can get discriminated against if you are too young, or too old, if you're a woman, and gaijin, etc.....(sorry, got a little sidetracked)

Anyways, in something like kendo outside of Japan there shouldn't be any need to such a formal kohai/sempai relationship. Just use basic common sense and show respect the way you would to anyone in a higher position than you, or somebody you respect. I agree with KENDO-MILITIA. Respect is something earned, not something you're born with.