Sōke

Sōke (宗家), pronounced [soːke], is a Japanese term that means "the head family [house].

A sōke has the authority to issue a menkyo kaiden certificate indicating that someone has mastered all aspects of his style.

[3] In some schools such as Kashima-Shinryu there is a related position called Shihanke (師範家 hiragana: しはんけ) meaning "Instructor Line" that fills a very similar role.

Traditionally it was used very rarely in Japan, typically only for very old martial arts, although it has become a somewhat common term for headmasters of schools created in the last few decades that attempt to reconstruct or emulate older styles of martial arts.

Thus, a shihan-dai, sōke-dai, or sōke-dairi means "someone who teaches in temporary place of" the main instructor, for reasons such as the incapacity of the sōke due to injuries or illnesses.