22/10/2025
● The Ups & Downs of being a Sensei:
There is definitely a dark side of being a sensei... Being a sensei is far more than just teaching martial arts. It's a relentless journey filled with sacrifices, challenges, and emotional resilience. Many see a sensei as a machine that never stops working and has all the answers for everything. Behind the scenes, you're constantly pouring your heart into teaching others who often give little effort in return. You navigate through a sea of excuses, setbacks and the inevitable loss of students. Some students come and go, while others, even those who have trained with you for years, disappear without a word. Some leave due to ego clashes or disagreements. Some leave and join another dojo and sometimes different pursuits can lead students to leave, sometimes with little explanation. Many times, parents allow their children to just quit easily instead of encouraging to keep going and encouraging perseverance, adding to the frustration.
As a sensei you face constant pressure, students constantly not paying their fees or paying late. Dealing with students who avoid training yet claim they'll be back, or who simply stop showing up without reason or worse they sometimes lie or make excuses about their attendance. Dealing with sometimes difficult parents who just want their students to grade without putting in hard work or giving a list of things their child can't do, but without any logical or medical reasons.
Friendships built over years can fracture due to organizational politics, disagreements or focus shifting. You encounter negativity, jealousy, false accusations and sometimes outright hate. The reality of running a dojo often involves financial hardships, moving from location to location, using whatever space you can afford just to keep training alive, often struggling to cover rent and expenses, sometimes unable to afford proper equipment.
You often feel unappreciated and even sometimes disrespected. Many people don't see these lows, many are unaware of the sacrifices you make daily. Yet, amidst the lows, the highs of being a sensei far outweigh the lows. Your passion, your vision and your dreams are far more powerful than any obstacle life throws your way.
So, I encourage you all, take a moment to recognize and thank your sensei. Let them know they are appreciated, tell them they are going a good job. Remember, they are true warriors, dedicating their lives to shaping others and preserving a noble tradition. Their resilience and commitment deserve acknowledgment and respect. So remember, support your local dojo, their heart is in the right place and they truly want what is best for the community.
Of course not all sensei are genuine, there are certainly a fair amount of bad instructors out there also. But hopefully you have a great one. Osu! 👊🏻🥋🙏🏻
