Everyone's practice of the martial arts is filled with growth and change ... with transition. There are transitions that lots and lots of people make - like the transition from white belt to yellow belt. Then there are transitions that very few practitioners make - like the transition from student to sensei. Of course, any good sensei will always remain a student of the art, but not every student becomes a sensei. The sensei is a student - plus something.
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How does that transition happen? There are probably as many paths as there are people who have made that journey.
- Some people knew from the very beginning of their training that they wanted to teach, and they actively pursued that role.
- Some students move and there is no sensei near their new home, so they become the defacto neighborhood sensei.
- Sometimes the sensei moves away and a student is left to fill his role, keeping things running.
- Sometimes a student seeks out a sensei who otherwise would not be teaching.
What other paths have you seen people take to transition from student to sensei?
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Do you have any helpful hints to ease the growing pains for students trying to make this transition to sensei?
