The title "Sensei" is a Japanese title of respect. It is used to address teachers or professionals such as doctors, lawyers and others. Outside Japan, many people, due to the natural "cultural gap", have little experience with this title and sometimes unintentionally do not use the title correctly. Since this particular title comes from the Japanese culture and they are the authorities when it comes to their own language, those of us outside that culture must strive to use the title correctly by Japanese definition, if it is to be used correctly within each respective American martial arts dojo.

Sensei always comes after a teacher's name and is used like the similar honorific title "san" at the end of a person's name. In the martial arts, we call a teacher Sensei, whether or not we are actually studying under that person, unless we want to be deliberately insulting. The title "Sensei" is attached to the end of a teacher's name at all times – not just in the Dojo. If you hear your Sensei refer to an assistant teacher in the Dojo by their first name, it does not necessarily mean that you should do the same. That individual is the Sensei's student and he or she is your senior and should be addressed as Sensei. The study of the martial arts is a way of life and the same respect that is shown in the Dojo should be practiced in our everyday life outside the
Dojo.

Godans (5th Degree Black Belts) and above may be granted the title of Shihan.

Shihan (師範) is a Japanese title, often used in budo. The word means teacher or model.

Its primary definition is "One who brings water," explaining where the title came from.

Various budo arts and organizations have different requirements for the usage of the title, but in general it is a high title that takes many years to achieve. It is sometimes associated with certain rights, such as the right to give out dan ranks in the name of the organization.

While westerners want to know specifically what makes a person into a Shihan, the process of becoming a Shihan can be rather abstruse in Japan. For instance, within the Bujinkan it has been said that you become a Shihan when the other Shihan start calling you a Shihan. However, it is often common to call all teachers with at least 10th dan a Shihan - at least if he is Japanese. Similarly, within the aikido organization Aikikai a Japanese teacher automatically became a Shihan at sixth dan but it was long unclear whether westerners with the same rank also held the title. Finally, the Aikikai headquarters declared that westerners needed not only the rank of sixth dan but also a special appointment to become a Shihan.