What Is a Sifu?
Sifu is a Cantonese term for "teacher" and also has the connotation of "father". It is a title that denotes respect towards the person addressed as Sifu. This title is commonly used in the Chinese martial arts, the equivalent of the Japanese "Sensei".
Traditionally, once a student opened a school he became a Sifu. In the IWTA, the world’s largest single-style professional martial arts organization, the title of "Sifu" is conferred to WingTsun™ instructors only after they have obtained specific qualifications. Receiving the Sifu title indicates that the instructor has been training and advancing over many years, has his or her own group of students, and has brought at least two students to the First Technician Grade. Until the instructor has achieved those qualifications, his/her students will commonly refer to him as their "Dai-Sihing" which means "Eldest Brother".
There is no clear and separate equivalent for female instructors. Generally, a female instructor who reaches the level of Sifu is referred to as "Sifu" or "Lady-Sifu". "Simo" in any case would be considered wrong, as "Simo" means "wife of Sifu".
Chinese martial arts organizations generally reflect a family structure. A male student will be addressed as "Sihing" (Older Brother) by students who have been training for a shorter period than he has, and Sidai (Younger Brother) by students who have been training longer. Likewise, a female student will be addressed as Sije (Older Sister) by more junior students and "Simui" (Younger Sister) by senior students.
The relationship between the students does not change. If student X learns from an instructor before the instructor has been pronounced Sifu, he generally calls him "Dai-Sihing". If that instructor becomes a Sifu, student X will still call him "Dai-Sihing" and not "Sifu". How can an "Eldest Brother" become a "Father"? Of course he cannot! Any new students that join the school would call the instructor "Sifu" and these new students become the instructor’s "Kung Fu children" or "To-Dai."
As an example, "Sifu Asad Mir" would be used to refer to the instructor as a third person. A student addressing his or her own personal "Father-Teacher" (there can be only one in the traditional Chinese martial arts!) would address him simply as "Si-Fu" without the first or last name.
The title "Sifu" carries respect with it. Without respect, there can be no sharing of knowledge between student and instructor. Students and, of course, instructors, should always use the appropriate title when talking to or referring to members of their martial arts family senior to themselves.