QUestion for people in belt based martial arts: BJJ, Judo, Karate, etc. Do you address higher ranks in some formal manner/title inside the gym, or an informal but respectful way (not asking higher belts to roll, etc), but also carry on this respect OUTSIDE the gym? Say when you run into them on the street, library, mosh pit, dormant volcano etc?
I ran into my TKD Master and his wife (my chief instructor) at the Cheesecake Factory one time, and i greeted them like I greet them at the Dojang, by shaking my Master's hand, and bowing to him and saying "hello sir", and gave my chief instructor "knuckles" and bowing as well, saying "hello ma'am". I haven't met any fellow students outside of class though.... 
Sort of the point of traditional martial arts is that you should treat everyone with respect.
Not just your training partners, and not just on the mat.
Be kind to everyone you meet regardless of rank or position.
It takes the same amount of energy to be nice as it does to be a cunt; nice just feels a lot better.
I had an instructor who (shotokan) who used to tell us never to bow to anyone outside the school or tournament/training sessions because if there were someone who was watching and going to attack them (for whatever reason, say mugging) he thought it was best to have as much element of suprise as possible and not give the attacker any indication that the person is a martial artist. Kinda paranoid reasoning, but I guess it's similar to the "don't salute officers" advice in a war zone prone to sniper fire.
Since I've transitioned to BJJ, I reflexively call every black belt I meet "sir" or "ma'am" unless I am on a very friendly basis with them personally (when continuing to call them that would just be socially awkward).
When I run into fellow bjj gym goers or teachers it's like running into an old pal or family member. I feel like kissing em on both cheeks and giving them a hug
I call my coach John, it's his name!
So does everyone else who trains at our club.
we refer to to every one on a first name bases at my bjj sessions. 3/4 of my class is soldiers and all the instructers but one is a soldier. so everyone knows each other pretty well. 
cheesesteak - When I run into fellow bjj gym goers or teachers it's like running into an old pal or family member. I feel like kissing em on both cheeks and giving them a hug
Are you brazilian?
FOX Force Five - I call my coach John, it's his name!
So does everyone else who trains at our club.
This. I don't think it's disrespectful for anyone to call me (I'm a black belt) by my first name, nor do I expect it. It's not the military or a hierarchal organization that should expect someone to refer to superiors/elders in such a manner (Schools, Church etc...) When we go in to see our accountant, we don't offer him reverence for being a CPA (though if anyone deserves it, it's that man!) and in all honesty, it kind of weirds me out when people call me sir.
On an unrelated note how awesome is the screen name FOX Force Five? Shouldn't you be finishing every post with a bad joke?
Rudi -cheesesteak - When I run into fellow bjj gym goers or teachers it's like running into an old pal or family member. I feel like kissing em on both cheeks and giving them a hugAre you brazilian?
nah...italian
Nope. Treat everyone the same, lower/ higher whatever. Whenever I bump into my coaches I talk to them on a level too. Obviously I admire them in general so that may come across but definitely nothing conscious. It's nice to be nice to everyone.
I treat instructors like old high school teachers. I usually treat higher belts like homies because they usually are :-/
Anyone who puts on a gi and rolls deserves some level of respect for having the courage that a lot of people simply don't have.
I call my professors by their names outside of the gym and some of them don't even like me calling them "sir" or "professor" inside the gym.
Any guy who demands a title outside of the gym would seem a bit odd to me.
Stannis Baratheon -Mustard Tiger - Be kind to everyone you meet regardless of rank or position.I'd VU if I hadn't already today.
It takes the same amount of energy to be nice as it does to be a cunt; nice just feels a lot better.
I would but im a cunt
I had a visitor once who was the mother of a child who was interested in training with us. She bowed to me, then the mat, and kept calling me master. Freaked me the fuck out. I'm glad they stayed at their current school.
I dont see how its disrespectful to ask someone more experience to roll/spar.<br /><br />All it means is you wanna test yourself.. I spar with experienced thai boxers all the time and theres never any hard feelings.
Also, I call them by their first name
Santino DeFranco -FOX Force Five - I call my coach John, it's his name!
So does everyone else who trains at our club.
This. I don't think it's disrespectful for anyone to call me (I'm a black belt) by my first name, nor do I expect it. It's not the military or a hierarchal organization that should expect someone to refer to superiors/elders in such a manner (Schools, Church etc...) When we go in to see our accountant, we don't offer him reverence for being a CPA (though if anyone deserves it, it's that man!) and in all honesty, it kind of weirds me out when people call me sir.
On an unrelated note how awesome is the screen name FOX Force Five? Shouldn't you be finishing every post with a bad joke?
Was gonna say the same thing about the FOX force five haha, favorite movie
UK Asylum - I dont see how its disrespectful to ask someone more experience to roll/spar.<br /><br />All it means is you wanna test yourself.. I spar with experienced thai boxers all the time and theres never any hard feelings.
Also, I call them by their first name
I made the mistake in asking my instructor to roll when people were picking each other, I was fine for a while but once the choke came and I tapped and he didn't seem to care. He let go when I was maybe a second away from being completely unconscious. After the roll I was kinda like what the hell and he said don't ever call out black belts.
Was completely unaware of that rule and don't entirely understand it still. I tend to learn things the hard way.
Some of you must train with some arrogant guys. I have access to 4 BJJ Black belts, off the mat I treat them respectfully because they are good people. On the mat I treat them as a book of knowledge and am respectful to them but I act the same way when anyone rank is teaching whether they are purple/brown/black.
As far as rolling if there is an odd number they jump in or rotate in when someone needs a break.