Originally Posted by
Josh Reyer
The OP is posting from LA. Do we even know his sensei is/are Japanese?
The OP is posting from LA, Prince is located in Redondo Beach... I have this feeling that he might have a good grasp of the etiquette of this particular situation.
In general, I always have wondered about the best ways to politely inquire about a sensei or potential sensei's rankings and affiliations. Of course, these days a lot of folks have such information posted on the world wide web for everyone to see, and most worthwhile instructors that I've delt with have been pretty good about introducing their own training history up-front without bragging about it. If you have to ask the question, I would recommend doing so tactfully and indirectly. For instance, if the dojo that you are visiting is part of an international organization, ask the instructor at what level members of that organization are allowed to open their own dojo. He might respond, "We usually teach on our own after reaching yondan. Actually, I'm a nidan, so that makes this a study group rather than a dojo." Or if you are curious about the ranks of various people in the class, asking them about how long they've studied, etc., might be a good way to inspire the answer that you're looking for.
David Sims
"Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum." - Terry Pratchet
My opinion is, in all likelihood, worth exactly what you are paying for it.