The Chinese Martial Arts Family Hierarchy is like a corporate hierarchy which martial arts practitioners within a certain style address one another other. Seniority is based on time of entry by the master/teacher after the acceptance ceremony.
This is expanded vertically among the generations, as well as horizontally among seniors and juniors of the same generation. The term can be used as a standalone, or together with the family name of the one being addressed e.g. Chen Shī Xiōng (Brother Chen). This is to signify one’s respect for a martial arts brother of same martial arts family.
This is more common in Chinese Martial Arts,
Japanese Martial arts commonly use Sensei (先生) meaning “teacher” or literally translated, “born first” hence with more experience. A Sensei is a person who has knowledge and is willing to teach that knowledge to another.
Several Japanese organizations, such as the Bujinkan, Kodokan (Judo), and most branches of Aikido, formally award a certificate conferring the title Shihan (“teacher of teachers” or “master teacher”) to recognize high-ranking or highly distinguished instructors.
Sōke (宗家), meaning “the head family [house]”, is sometimes used to refer to “founder of a style” because many modern Sōke are the first generation headmasters of their art, but most correctly refers to the current head. A Sōke is considered the ultimate authority within their art.
In Korea, The actual Korean word for a student’s master is sonsaeng. This term is only used by the student when speaking to the instructor. Many Korean titles are often mistakenly translated as “grandmaster” (태사님 TaeSaNim 太師님).
Sonseang-nim (선생님 SeonSaengNim 先生님) is a general term for a teacher of any subject as well as a respectful form of the word “you”. Martial arts instructors (in Korea 4th Dan and above) are called Sabom-nim (사범님 SaBeomNim 師範님).
Below is a simple Chinese Martial Arts Family Hierarchical chart:
