Mixed Martial Arts San Bernardino, CA | BJJ, MMA, Muay Thai, Karate | Adrenaline Mixed Martial Arts

CALL: (888) 423-2496 | CONTACT US
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT ADRENALINE
    • ADRENALINE FACILITIES
    • TRAINERS
      • Adam Rothweiler
      • David Salinas
      • Nestor Alonso Frutos
      • Jesse Duran
      • Gilberto Alonso
      • Megan Moran
      • Jose Medina
      • Anthony Roque
      • David Ramirez
  • CLASSES
    • BOXING
    • JIU-JITSU
    • JUDO
    • MMA
    • MUAY THAI
    • WRESTLING
  • SCHEDULE
    • ADULT SCHEDULE
    • KIDS / TEEN SCHEDULE
    • FITNESS SCHEDULE
  • TEAM
    • PRO FIGHTERS
    • AMATUER FIGHTERS
    • KIDS TEAM
      • PANKRATION / MMA
      • KIDS WRESTLING COMPETITION TEAM
      • JIUJITSU
  • NEWS
    • MARTIAL ARTS EVENTS
    • STUDENT OF THE MONTH
    • LATEST MMA NEWS
    • MMA BLOG
FREE 1 DAY PASS

WHAT DO YOU CALL YOUR MARTIAL ARTS TEACHER?

Monday, 20 March 2017 / Published in Coaching, Martial Arts

WHAT DO YOU CALL YOUR MARTIAL ARTS TEACHER?

What do you call a martial arts teach or instructor? The question struck me as odd, but I suppose that you really need to know what you call your martial arts teacher. I have the kids call me coach, but it depends what martial art you are teaching. I don’t think anything is insulting, but here are some common teacher names for some common martial arts.

Japanese martial arts commonly use Sensei meaning “teacher” or literally translated, “born first” or “one who has gone before”.


A Sensei is is a person who has knowledge and is willing to teach that knowledge to another.


Grandmaster (or Grand Master) and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Typically these titles are honorific in nature, meaning that they do not infer rank, but rather distinguish the individual as very highly revered in their school, system, or style. It is a badge of honor and respect that isn’t formal, but is a compliment.

Chinese Martial Arts like kung-fu usually call the teacher Sifu,, although the term and pronunciation are also used in other southern languages. In Mandarin Chinese, it is spelled “shifu”. Many martial arts studios pronounce the word like “she foo”. In Cantonese, it is said as “see foo” (almost like “sea food”, without the “d” on the end). The actual Korean word for a student’s master is suseung-nim. This term is only used by the student when speaking to the instructor. The student is hakseang. Many Korean titles are often mistakenly translated as “grandmaster”. The term is general term for any teacher of any subject as well as a respectful form of the word “you”. Coincidently, martial arts instructors (in Korea 4th Dan and above) are called Sabom-nim.

In the Muay Thai world, instructors are called Kru and Arjan. (also ajaan, ajarn, acharn, and achaan). These words do not by any means mean “Master.” Quite simply, they both mean “teacher.” They do not differ from society to the gym. Your english teacher or math teach would be referred to as Kru or Arjan. Although Ajarn is used for more experienced or respected teacher… it still translates the same as Kru. In the Muay Thai world, it is a tad disrespectful to call yourself a Kru or Arjan if you haven’t fought though. Although the term doesn’t mean that you are a fighter, it is commonly understood that the instructor was an actual fighter at some point.

The term that seems to have the most controversy is the name that BJJ practitioners call their instructor. Most of them just call them coach but others are referred to as Professors. I thought this to be a distinguished honor when I first heard it and it added some regal sense of mastery to anyone who was being called a Professor by their students. When I learned why, it was actually kind of underwhelming. The term is a literal translation from Portuguese (the national language of Brazil), that means simply: Teacher. So now you know what to call your instructors.

  • Tweet

What you can read next

MARTIAL ARTS FOR YOUR GRANDPARENTS?
UFC 205 HISTORIC IN NEW YORK
THE CONGRESS AND MMA

Recent Posts

  • Amateur Boxing San Bernardino, CA

    Adrenaline Fight Night – Amateur Sparring San Bernardino CA July 16, 2022

    Adrenaline – Fight Night! Action-Packed S...
  • Brady Fink - NOGI Jiu Jitsu Seminar

    Brady Fink – NOGI Jiu Jitsu Seminar May 14, 2022

    Brady Fink 4th Degree Black Belt is returning t...
  • Teen's Boxing Student of the Month Patrick Martinez

    Student of the Month – Patrick Martinez – Teen’s Boxing – July 2019

    Teen’s Boxing – Student of the Mont...

Archives

  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • June 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2014
  • February 2014

CONTACT US

Adrenaline Martial Art and Fitness, LLC
245 E Redlands Blvd.
San Bernardino Ca 92408
Tel: (888)423-2496

Hours of Operation

Monday – Friday: 1 pm – 8 pm

TRAINERS

  • Adam Rothweiler
  • David Salinas
  • Nestor Alonso Frutos
  • Jesse Duran
  • Gilberto Alonso
  • Megan Moran
  • Jose Medina
  • Anthony Roque
  • David Ramirez

MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES

BOXING
JIU-JITSU
JUDO
MMA
MUAY THAI
WRESTLING

TEAM

PRO FIGHTERS
AMATUER FIGHTERS
KIDS PANKRATION / MMA
KIDS WRESTLING
KIDS JIU JITSU

  • GET SOCIAL

© , Adrenaline Martial Arts and Fitness. All rights reserved. SEO by Magic.

TOP