Fat Sensei

One of my pet hates in the martial arts is what I call "Fat Sensei". This meaning does not incorporate all Sensei who are overweight. Not all Fat Sensei are themselves overweight (some are skinny), it is just that the type of people whom I am trying to describe are often Sensei who are, well, fat.

A Fat Sensei is a Sensei (instructor) who no longer has the drive or passion for learning martial arts, has achieved some kind of authority and rank, and continues to partake in martial arts notwithstanding their diminished interest. Typically a Fat Sensei was once passionate and skilled and trained hard but now just instructs (or referees or whatever). Their body weight is usually symptomatic of their lack of training (as opposed to them being naturally large), however if a Fat Sensei had a fast metabolism they might just lack co-ordination, or muscle strength etc as the symptom of their lack of training instead of being fat.

A Fat Sensei might have some of all of the following attributes:

- Repeated reference to past accomplishments, even in reply to unrelated situations. e.g. "I know how to teach street self defence - I was the 1989 regional point sparring champion"

- Reluctance to train or do other physical activity. They may get Senpai (senior students) to teach most the class or do any demonstrations, and/or may wander around and point their finger alot.

- Big ego

- Bad martial ethos. For example they may have a profit motive that overrides the maintaining of standards amongst students.

- Reluctance to have their teachings questioned. (While you shouldn't talk back to your Sensei, if someone teaches something that is useful, that use should be explainable and be able to withstand honest examination)

- Justifying theories in untestable ways. For example they may reference everything they teach to some kind of pseudo-mystic concepts which have not been obtained by anyone but the Sensei.

- Fancy costumes and/or titles. A Fat Sensei will often be "Kancho, 10th Dan, 1989 regional champion, Founder and Master of Fat Sensei Martial Arts Dominion". They will probably insist that people use their full title as much as possible.

- Generally dis-interested in the class. I have had a couple of Fat Sensei say to me that martial arts no longer interests them. One Fat Sensei even hated martial arts! But they still ponced around with all their fancy titles.

Here is an example of someone who appears in this video to exhibit the traits of a Fat Sensei.



and the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HgzfikdJL0

He is clearly disinterested with what he is doing, comes up with some rubbish about knocking people out with ki energy (try that one on a resisting opponent...) has a fancy uniform, he is even wearing sneakers and a watch - perhaps so when it is time to skedaddle out of the seminar he can make a quick exit. I am sure that if he actually had to use any of his martial skills he would be in big trouble. Worse though, any student of his who tried to use their skills cound find themselves in a very bad situation...

This is the reason that Fat Sensei bother me so much - what they teach would probably be dangerous for any student hapless enough to have to rely on it. Imagine being assaulted and trying to rely on your "Kyusho Jutsu : knock-out just by looking" - the misplaced confidence in the non existent ability could seriously aggravate the danger faced. This also brings martial arts into disrepute, or even specific styles.

Unfortunately Karate has a large amount of Fat Sensei. Many martial artists often think of Fat Sensei that they have encountered when they think of Karate, which is unfortunate (both for them and for Karete). However I think that this large amount of Fat Sensei is probably due more to the popularity of Karate than some style-specific defect - I have seen one Fat Sensei in Kendo, and have read about one in BJJ (and have seen lots in other styles which are more popular here, such as Taekwondo).

I should note, however, that you can still benefit from training with a Fat Sensei, especially if you are new. They will usually have some level of skill in basics that they can pass on, and it is better that you learn this initial material from a Fat Sensei than not learning it at all. They might have Senpai who are quite skilled and you will probably meet other martial artists when you disclose that you train and can get opportunities from there.

Unfortunately some students of Fat Sensei go on to mimic their teacher, and teach the same rubbish that they were taught. Actually, because the Fat Sensei don't train much, they don't advance their skills, and so their ability actually deteriorates. This will mean that the student can never achieve the peak of the Fat Sensei, because when the student is ready to train to that level, the Fat Sensei no longer has the skill to take them there.

Many students of Fat Sensei become disillusioned with the Fat Sensei and quit training. Hopefully, the student will retain an interest in martial arts and seek out another instructor, who will be less flawed, and will stimulate their interest in training. Indeed, some of the best martial artists I know used to train with Fat Sensei!

Fat Sensei are not completely useless, it's just that the martial arts would be better off without them.