Senpai usually means the person who has been practicing karate the longest and therefore has the most experience. Kohai is the person who has been training in karate the shortest amount of time. In the west, senpai/kohai does exist in some dojo, but as a general rule, if a western kohai karate-ka sees a weak senpai, in most cases, they will do all in their power to beat and show the dojo that they are better than the senpai, sometimes even embarrassing and humiliating them.

In Japan the senpai is always treated with respect, irrespective of physical skills, such as speed, strength, agility, etc. Once the senpai/kohai relationship is established, its for good!

There are obligations from both senpai and kohai, the kohai will respect the senpai completely and in return the senpai will help and guide the lesser experienced kohai as best they can, this relationship will continue for as long as both people stay in contact.

I believe, the nearest thing we have in the west to senpai/kohai, is mentor/apprentice, but even this cannot be easily compared to the Japanese system.

In Japan, senpai/kohai begins in school, in all the school activities, the older students lead the way and the junior (kohai) students receive all the mundane, boring and sometimes nasty jobs, fetching, carrying, cleaning, etc.

This practice is also very strong in Japanese business, but with so much western influence things are changing, in some companies the senpai have to perform and if they do not, they are replaced.

At many karate dojo in the west, where senpai is used, it is deemed as an honour and a privilege, but in Japan, it is a huge responsibility, not to be taken lightly.

Ossu
Linden Huckle

Linden Huckle

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