21/07/2026
Worth reading.
Newcastle Aikido - Terminology and etiquette series.
SENPAI | 先輩
A Senpai isn’t the person who stands at the front.
A Senpai is the person who remembers what it felt like to stand at the beginning.
In Japanese martial arts, Senpai simply means “one who has gone before.” It isn’t a title of authority. It’s a relationship built on experience, responsibility and service.
A good Senpai welcomes new students.
They answer questions with patience.
They lead by example.
They quietly help preserve the culture of the dojo, passing on not only techniques, but the values that give those techniques meaning.
Every Senpai was once the newest person on the mat.
And every beginner deserves someone willing to walk beside them.
That’s how a dojo grows.
One student at a time.
