What Makes You an Expert?

Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)

A sensei should be an expert in the art or discipline they teach. A major obstacle to this is there are NO governing bodies that would be considered the authority to bestow on one the title of expert and sensei. We 'assume' that the guy running the dojo is properly trained in all the disciplines that make for a person of good character and ability and knowledge and understanding to be a sensei/expert. 


An expert, the person teaching you how to survive a conflict and possible violent situation, should have a comprehensive, authoritative knowledge and understanding, and the experiences along with appropriate effective skills necessary to teach others. His or her knowledge and understanding must involve authoritative knowledge, understanding and experiences. 


Considering these concepts, have you ever asked about your sensei or yourself what it is that makes you the expert in said discipline?


Is it your black belt? 

Is it your accomplishments in tournaments?

Is it your style of practice?

Is it the years you spent in the dojo? 

A formal education?


For instance, I began learning about karate as a teenager, around sixteen years of age, and I also dabbled in boxing as well. I began seriously pursuing knowledge, understanding and skills in karate and judo in 1972 as a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune. Circa 1976 I began to train in Okinawan karate, Isshinryu, then actually joined a special services dojo when I arrived on the island of Okinawa in 1979. 


I earned my sho-dan in December of 79 and then went on to train and teach at Lejeune until I was discharged in 1981 around December. I taught civilians until I went to work as a civil servant at the Concord Weapons Station in California. I kept teaching karate until I retired in 1998. I would visit dojo in the area for a period, assited an Isshinryu dojo in Berkeley California for a year then retired to train on my own and study, a more academic endeavor, till today writing and studying and learning about things that were not taught during my tenure as a sensei. Now, without details, does this make me an expert? Does it qualify me as a sensei? Does it even qualify me as a senpai? 


It hsould be noted that during all that time I did earn my way up the belt structure past sho-dan but that is pretty much dependent on who you ask and who awarded me the grade because that part of the system is NOT standardized or governed by any authoritative body like a University or accepted agency of society or the government like teaching credentials of the state for school teachers. 


So, I ask again, "What makes you an Expert?" Don't answer me, answer the question to yourself with your own unvarnished deeply considered thoughts on what you think make an expert and a sensei. 


Read more about what I have to say about being a sensei and teaching, etc. in the following links.


https://tinyurl.com/y6mupflh


at the end of this article there will be a long list of other articles to read on the subjects. Enjoy!


https://tinyurl.com/yy3w92m3


For reference and sources and professionals go here: Bibliography (Click the link)


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