Shihan

Nihongo|Shihan|師範 is a Japanese term, often used in Japanese martial arts as an honorific title for expert or senior instructors. The term is frequently used interchangeably with English terms such as "master instructor".

Various martial arts 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 black belt ("dan") ranks in the name of the organization. However, the title is generally distinct from the black belt ranking system ("dan'i").

The use of the term is completely style or organization specific. The process of becoming a shihan can be rather abstruse as well. Within the Bujinkan it has been said that you become a shihan when the other shihan start calling you a shihan. However within judo, a Japanese teacher automatically became a shihan at sixth dan. One could say your promotion to sixth dan comes when you are ready to be called shihan. In other organizations, for example Shodokan aikido, the title is organizational and less strongly correlated to rank.

ee also

*Japanese honorifics
*Dojocho