SENPAI AND KOHAI
In a traditional Ninjutsu Dojo or Japanese Martial Art school a very special relationship exists, known as the Sempai-Kohai (juniors and seniors) system. When you begin your education at your dojo, the students who are already there become your seniors, your Sempai and the ones who come after you become your Kohai, the juniors.  This system remains regardless of rank, age or experience for the duration of your training. Since everyone who joins the school becomes part of the martial art family they will develop a relationship to those above or below them, this hierarchy system flows in an orderly manner. This method is called ON-GIRI (debt, duty or obligation). The kohai - junior has a certain debt which he owes to his Sempai – the seniors due to their willingness to pass on what they have learned.

The Sempai in turn has a duty – Giri - to his Sensei and the dojo to bring up the Kohai through the ranks as an older sibling would with their younger family member. This Kohai will help you, motivate you or yell at you when you are lazy, by acting as an advisor, coach and confidant; the Sempai assumes a tremendous responsibility. The Kohai who has been nurtured, tutored and cared for by his Sempai becomes an - ONJIN, a person obligated by this task, and as old Japanese adage goes, “Life and death are light as a feather, but obligation is as heavy as a mountain.”  Most people cannot live up to this obligation, only performing these tasks while the obligation is easy and the benefits are visibly evident, until tasks and the loyalty becomes too difficult usually resulting in the re-evaluation of the Sensei, Sempai, Kohai relationship.  Usually when this happens the average student will quit.  It is not their fault; they do not possess the knowledge to make educated decisions or the will and desire to push past difficult times. This is only developed through consistent training.   

The Dojo Cho or master of the system is responsible for teaching the Sensei.  The Sensei’s are responsible for distributing the information to the sempai, so that others may benefit from his/her instruction. But it is the Sempai’s responsibility to tutor and assist the Kohai along and help whenever possible. The instruction is not as formal as the Sensei’s, rather it is given by example. Just as every Sensei has their specific method of teaching and passing on their lessons and the system of the martial arts.  Every Sempai unconsciously develops their own method in assisting the head instructor. These methods become like a dojo sub-style. When a visitor settles in, he may have a few lessons to teach himself, or he may have a few to receive depending on where he falls in the Sempai-kohai relationship. This is only figured out with time and training. 

Based upon the deep respect for loyalty and obligation which was a culture in old Japan, the Sempai-Kohai relationship is one that often extends throughout the lives of those involved in it. This is a concept that allows a Kohai to begin to develop the skills and attitude of helpfulness and leadership that are necessary for mastery and in a reciprocal way better their own lives. Quite often students take on a specific mentality – expecting new lessons on a daily basis, and in this modern day martial art era, the student expects the teacher to continually motivate, excite and nurture the student.  If this does not happen the student loses motivation and the desire to better themselves.  In a true school of Bushido – the warrior code – at some point the student changes their role and starts to give back to the Head instructor, the Sensei’s and the Sempai, in turn discovering things they would never have learned if they hadn’t.  This is a very rare occurrence in modern society.  In the case of young students this very rarely ever happens due to the fact of the parent always putting monetary expectations on their child’s lessons.  It is not evident to the non-training participant as it wouldn’t be evident to an outsider of a parent who views their child’s growth based on the many years they have lived with their own child.  

At times, this system or mentality may seem difficult for a person who has been brought up in an Eastern mentality. The junior may feel they are being criticized or picked on.  Even outside the dojo they may find their behavior under the watchful eye of a senior who is quick to correct or criticize. In spite of how it may initially appear it is for the benefit of the student and the dojo family.   If you follow this path you will soon find yourself in the role of Sensei – guiding others, helping them achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives.  Living Giri – your loyalty for all you have learned and finding yourself a better person because of it.