| A practitioner
of Judo is known as a Judoka (judoka, Judo practitioner), though
traditionally only those of 4th dan or higher were called "Judoka".
The suffix -ka, when added to a noun, means a person with expertise
or special knowledge on that subject. Other practitioners below
the rank of 4th dan used to be called kenkyu-sei (trainees).
The modern meaning of Judoka refers to a Judo practitioner of
any level of expertise. A Judo teacher is called sensei. The word sensei comes from sen or saki (before) and sei (life) i.e. one who has preceded you. In Western dojo, it is common to call any instructor of dan grade sensei. Traditionally, that title was reserved for instructors of 4th dan and above. |
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