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The "Professor" Rant

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by
Webmaster
, 08-31-2011 at 16:54 (4409 Views)


Having been a long-time practitioner of the martial arts, and keen observer and participant in our community, I have seen titles and rank fads come and go, but one that just grates me is the use of the title of "Professor" in certain arts. What brought on this rant is I just received a call from a gentleman that will be relocating to our area who is interested in training at our dojo. He said that his goal is to be a "Professor" of Jujutsu. I honestly cannot tell you the number of times I have heard this, or met someone who uses the title of "Professor", most of which cannot write above a third-grade level.

I work in academia, and I know what it takes to be a real Professor. So when I hear someone referred to as "Professor" in a martial arts sense, it makes me insane. Do they have any idea how absolutely stupid they sound?

I have over the years tried to figure out where in the heck this stupid title came from, and the closest I can come is that is all started with Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo.

We know from our history that Kano Sensei held no rank in Judo in his lifetime. Yes, you read that correctly, no rank. Ziltch, zero, nada. It was not until after his death that he was recognized as Junidan (12th Dan) by the Kodokan, a special rank reserved only for him. Generally, Kano Sensei was simply referred to as Sensei, and maybe in some cases, Shihan.

So where did the "Professor" thing come from? Well, it's pretty simple, but it's not because of martial arts, it's because he was a real, no BS Professor in an academic sense. In addition to being the founder of Judo, Kano Sensei was a educator, and held actual professorial rank at several universities. In addition, he also served as Japan's Minister of Education.

I know from my dealings in the world of academia, that once a person has been awarded the rank of Professor, it is a title they are entitled to use even outside of academia, and it is not uncommon to refer to a current or former professor as "Professor InsertName".

I speculate that Kano Sensei was probably referred to as Professor Kano by his colleagues and students because he was a professor in the world of academia, and it is common (especially in a very formal class-based society as Japan) to address a person by their professional title. So somehow us ignorant Westerners heard Kano Sensei being referred to as Professor Kano, and not knowing any better, decided this must be a martial arts title. Now that we know better, we still see folks running around calling themselves "professor" and embarrassing themselves. Today we have a whole army of professors in a variety of arts who are the living legacy to ignorance.

So to all of the folks out there calling yourselves "Professor" in a particular martial art, I hope you now understand why folks like me snicker and laugh at you. You may be the greatest thing to have ever walked on the tatami and have amazing martial arts skills, but you show how incredibly ignorant you are to use a title that was never intended for martial arts. At least make up some silly title like "Tashi" and pretend it's a real title, but don't hijack a something from another community (like academia) and call it your own.

End of rant. I feel better now.

Late Note and Correction: In a private discussion with Cliff Hargrave, one of our moderators here on Budoseek, he said that in the Brazilan culture, "Professor" is a generic title for teacher. I checked that out with two independent, non-martial art, extremely smart Brazilians I know, and that is absolutely correct. According to one of my Brazilian sources, the direct translation of "teacher" to Portuguese is "professor". So it's use in BJJ makes sense from a cultural and language aspect, and as BJJ is an art unique to Brazil, use of Professor makes sense within that context. So thanks to Cliff and to my two unnamed Brazilian sources!

Outside the BJJ context, it's still idiotic.

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  1. Webmaster's Avatar
    Please note that no names were used in this rant to protect the "innocent".
  2. Vagabond's Avatar
    This is such a good point! I see a lot of people use this term, and I have always been confused as to why they were not Sensei or Senpai. The only time I understood the use was in Capoeira where a certain rank granted is called Professor/Professora. This is a legitimate title in a way, at least for my grupo ). Once the Rank of Professor was reached you were required to start your own classes in a new location. Still no acedemic requirements, only 6+ years of full time training.
  3. rainesr's Avatar
    In Tang Soo Do there is an organization issuing "doctorates" in Tang Soo Do. I actually received a lecture because I used Sabomnim instead of Dr to address one of these people at a tournament (I also asked sarcastically what University issued a Doctorate in TSD). I didn't realize it wasn't a professional title and thought nothing of calling him Sabomnim.

    Professor is a new one for me though. I guess some people need to feel extra special...

    ~Rob
  4. Webmaster's Avatar
    Actually Patrick, I have talked with a number of higher ranked Capoeira practitioners over the years on this topic, and historically Professor was not rank or title within the art. Wanna know where they got it? Read my rant again... they got it from the folks in BJJ, who in turn got it from the other Western Judo and Jujutsu folks. After all, another Brazilian art can't have a bunch of "Professors" running around when all Capoeira had are "Maestros". So if you are being told anything else, you are being lied to, or the person telling you this just doen't know any better... just like those early Westerners who didn't know any better. Like I said previously, today we have a whole army of professors in a variety of arts who are the living legacy to ignorance.

    Oh, and BTW, Sempai and Kohai are NOT titles, but relationships within a group like a dojo, but that's another topic.
  5. Abbax8's Avatar
    Good One !

    The funny thing is, at several points in my life I have been nicknamed "Professor" by different people, co-workers and friends, once they found out I studied judo. It was truly wierd because in class I was either Dennis or Sensei.

    Dennis
  6. Webmaster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Abbax8
    Good One !

    The funny thing is, at several points in my life I have been nicknamed "Professor" by different people, co-workers and friends, once they found out I studied judo. It was truly wierd because in class I was either Dennis or Sensei.

    Dennis
    Thanks Dennis! I've been subjected to crazy titles like that from others, and I just politely tell them my name is Robert.
  7. Vagabond's Avatar
    Yes this is true about Capoeira originally having only Mestres (Maestro "Teacher" if you wish). This was primarily because it was illegal to practice not to long ago. I can see where this ties into your 'rant'. This makes a lot of sense to me, and I was in no way disagreeing with you. I was trying to be sarcastic with the 6+ years of training thing. A failed attempt at my part.

    I am curious as to if Capoeira got the PRofessor title from BJJ though. They have been using it for a while, before BJJ became huge. Do you have any material you could send me backing up your statement?
  8. Webmaster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vagabond
    I am curious as to if Capoeira got the PRofessor title from BJJ though. They have been using it for a while, before BJJ became huge. Do you have any material you could send me backing up your statement?
    I am pretty sure that BJJ is the connection to Capoeira's use of the "Professor" title. Remember, not only was Capoeira practiced in secret, but it's actual training was disguised as dance and musical arts. So the use of Mestres/Maestrom, a title used in the musical arts makes sense. Also remember that Capoeira is a slave art, and one that was practiced by the poorest and most uneducated. The term "Professor" was not likely within their sphere of thought or culture. On the other hand, BJJ became famous in Brazil long before the Gracie family brought it here, and once BJJ caught on here, the other Brazilian art found itself in the shadow of BJJ. So they took what they could from BJJ, and the titles and organizational structures are part of it.

    Remember, the title of "Professor" is not particularly widespread in the West, but is confined by a narrow band of arts, mainly Judo and Jujutsu, and "associated" arts like BJJ. There are a few crackpots from other arts using it, but mostly confined to just the arts mentioned above. I imagine that the number of arts that use the title of "Professor" in Brazil is even more narrow, and that makes it likely that Capoeira took the title one of these other arts.
  9. Vagabond's Avatar
    Alright, that makes a lot of sense to me. It is kind of like Karate adopting the Judo belt system. It is to be competative in a way.
  10. Ramirez's Avatar
    Good one Rob, I think you nailed it, the term professor is more than likely a misinformed attempt to emulate Kano who was referred to as professor, even today in modern judo clubs he is still referred to as professor but it has nothing to do with judo.

    And I have to admit when I hear any martial artist refer to themselves as professor I tend to think fraud.
  11. Webmaster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Ramirez
    And I have to admit when I hear any martial artist refer to themselves as professor I tend to think fraud.
    I have met some very fine people that use the title of "Professor" or any number of stupid titles. Some are frauds, most are just ignorant of the actual usage of the title and how it makes them look. However, I find that it's embarrassing because it highlights the ignorance of some folks, and serves to make the community as a whole look like a bunch of retarded morons.
  12. Webmaster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vagabond
    Alright, that makes a lot of sense to me. It is kind of like Karate adopting the Judo belt system. It is to be competative in a way.
    Patrick, see my revised original entry for a correction. You were correct after all, and I have learned something new.
  13. Vagabond's Avatar
    I am confused. What was I correct on? The title of Mestre?
  14. Webmaster's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Vagabond
    I am confused. What was I correct on? The title of Mestre?
    No, but I'm giving you partial credit on "Professor" since Capoeira is also a Brazilian art.
  15. Tom Booker's Avatar
    Calling an instructor "professor" may not be limited to Brazil. The mother of one of my students, a highly educated lady from Puerto Rico (who had also spent several years in France and Germany), referred to me and my assistant instructors as "professor". Her youngest daughter's kindergarten teacher was also "professor". It was clear to me from the beginning from the context that she meant "teacher". It was also clear to everyone else in our school as well -- no-one else used the term, but I think everyone understood it. This may be more a Latin American or even Romance language way of speaking and understanding. The sense of the matter I came away with was that a committed, skilled teacher (whether in or out of academia), merited respect for their calling in life. Certainly not an attitude I intend to discourage.

    Very different from the use of "professor" in common American idiom, where the word is often a sneer.

    Certainly when I come across a martial arts instructor in the US calling himself "professor", it still jars me. My iaido instructor is an adjunct professor at the University of Tennessee, but prefers not to be addressed as "professor". I can't remember Jerry Beasley at Radford University using the title either -- if you're in the mood to be fairly formal, he is Dr. Beasley. My father, who was a university professor, was also not over-fond of using the word, as I recall.

    Insisting on being addressed as "professor" in a martial art does put me in mind of Professor Moriarty (even though his grappling skills were a bit suspect). Certainly, when I come across an instructor glorying in the title "professor", I immediately think in terms of a fictional character.
  16. Webmaster's Avatar
    Great input Tom. While it still drives me up the wall, knowing that there is more of a connection to it's use in the Latin languages makes me feel a little better. However, it's still way over used and when I see it connected with martial arts to which there is no connection makes be cringe.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Booker
    Insisting on being addressed as "professor" in a martial art does put me in mind of Professor Moriarty (even though his grappling skills were a bit suspect). Certainly, when I come across an instructor glorying in the title "professor", I immediately think in terms of a fictional character.
    It's not just the use of "Professor" that puts me in a snit, it's the idiot use of titles within the martial arts that ticks me off. Jeeze, at one time it was enough to be just "Sensei", then that wasn't good enough so Shihan became part of the lexicon. Then we see the highjacking of Japanese teaching licenses as titles, next thing you know, we've got a Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi on every block. Eventually Soke, Dai Soke and other variations on the Soke thing was everywhere you looked.

    Not to be outdone, the Korean arts, no longer happy with just Sabum or Sabum Nim, decide to hand the title of "Master" on everyone with a 4th Dan or higher. But wait, we can't have the higher dans as mere "Masters", so throw a "Grand" in front and you've got a Grandmaster on every block. It's around this point that you start to see the emergence of master and grandmaster in a "keeping up with the Jones" moment for the Japanese arts.

    The Chinese arts kept it pretty simple, Sifu --> Master --> Grandmaster. If there's new and extravagant titles within this community, I am not aware of and cannot comment on. However, given the history of the martial arts community, I am sure that have a few whoppers too.

    Then comes the "Americanized" arts... They have the advantage of picking and choosing which which line of titles they want to use, Japanese or Korean, or some strange hybrid of the two. Of course, they needed to make sure that there was no confusion with those ordinary masters and grandmaster, so you started to see "Supreme" and "Great" Grandmasters. Because these arts can choose from whatever tradition they prefer (or break out on their own), we get really special titles like "Professor Hanshi Grandmaster Dr. Jones, Ph.D. Yes, it was us geniuses here in the West that decided that awarding Ph.D. and other academic degrees to martial arts. "Wi shukz, I'z gots 10 yerz doin martal artz, so tat maks me jus a smurt as eny Ph.D."

    As you can tell, this is a topic that I get energized about. I've long been in a crusader against the nonsense... notice how I use "Bodhisattva" in my title here on the forum? That's my way of poking fun at the whole title thing. I decided to not bother with all the Grandmaster stuff and go right to "enlighted-being" being and forgo all those "earthly" titles.

    Hmm, maybe it's time to resurrect my "Inter-Galactic Martial Arts Federation and Sokeship Council".
  17. Abbax8's Avatar
    Some years ago I and some of my students attended a tournament in Hershey, PA. There was an option for extra $$ to attend an after tournament dinner. Since my partner, Bill Clarke, who I had not seen in years, made the effort to get to the tourny I signed us all up for the dinner. There were five of us were at our own table. The torunament host was a Korean Gentleman, can't remember his name. Anyway all the instructors are introduced at the beginning of the dinner, and everyone of us was given the title Master. I was introduced as Master Dennis McGeehan. A fellow instructor at the next table who knew me choked trying not to laugh. He then was was introduced as Master Reginald Heffner. I shot him a look and shook my hand. Too wierd.

    Dennis