WHAT IS A MASTER?

 By Phillip Starr

Nowdays, I often hear many martial arts teachers referred to as “Master” so-and-so. That includes me.

In some cases, the title is bestowed upon someone who, having reached a grade of black belt, has continued to practice and/or teach for a good many years. I know several people who are/were just 2^nd grade black belts (for which they underwent rigorous examinations) who continued to practice or teach for another 20-plus years and they're now referred to as “Masters” or even “Grandmasters.”

Within some styles or organizations, once one has ahieved a certain grade of senior black belt (such as 5^th dan), one is labeled as a “Master.”

But what is a “Master?” To be honest, I don't know. In Chinese, it is called Dashih (大师), which translates as “Big/Great Teacher.” owever, such a term is never (in China) applied to a martial arts practitioner. In Japan, no one is ever referred to as a “Master” by native practitioners. Even some of karate's best-known, legendary kaarte practitioners/teachers were called, simply, “Sensei” (referring to them simply as a teacher), In Asia, honorific titles such as Master, Grandmaster, Supreme Grandmaster, ad nauseum, simply don't exist. A very few are known as “O-Sensei” (Great or Big Teacher).

The various flavors of upper-level practitioners (Master, Grandmaster, Great Gransmaster, Supreme Grandmaster Poobah) all originated in thr West.

So, what is a Master? I always regarded it as someone who has achieved supreme skill in his craft, who has attained a complete understanding of it, and who has pretty much learned all there is to learn about it. So that definition definitely eliminates me as a member of that obscure title; I'm still a a student, still learning, still seeking answers and knowledge. Always have been, always will be.