Sempai meaning in Aikido

Sempai in Aikido refers to a senior student who has more training experience than others in the dojo. A sempai is not the instructor, but they play an important leadership role during practice. You often look to the sempai for guidance on etiquette, technique order, and dojo behavior. The relationship between sempai and junior students helps maintain structure and safety during training. Respect for a sempai is shown through listening, observing, and following instructions carefully. This system creates a supportive learning environment where experience is shared rather than enforced.