We have the titles of sensei, shihan, and hanshi. Our organization has set the meaning of these titles. They are not used in the same way as in the past, nor the same way other organizations use the titles. Historically, in the USA, the use of these three titles is akin to “keeping up with the Joneses.” This phrase refers to maintaining one’s social status. Initially, only the head of the dojo was a sensei. If a student had a school, he might use the title sensei, but if he took instructions elsewhere, his instructor was the sensei, and the student did not hold the title in his instructor’s dojo. He was simply a student or assistant instructor at that dojo. At that time, the title sensei involved much more than how we treat the title today, which is allowing sandan and above to use the title as a reference to their instructor status. The consideration of sensei was much more than that. It was an honorific for those
who have gone before, but also a title of honor and respect for knowledge and the ability to pass it on, not just as a teacher, but as one who makes a student a better person through a mentoring relationship. In this sense, there has been only one sensei in the Kwanmukan: George Anderson.

The ordering of our titles is based on our organization’s practice. The title of Shihan represents a highly experienced and respected master instructor – a model teacher and exemplary practitioner. Yet, in the USA, there were no shihan at one time. Then one person took the title, and before long, there were Shihan everywhere. In the Kwanmukan, we designate a shihan as senior to a sensei. If you carefully examine our shihan, most run a dojo, and those who do not are considered experienced in their field or long-term practitioners of Kwanmukan who can contribute to the organization at a high level – both
technically and otherwise. But the true sensei is worth more than any shihan.

We can say the same thing about the title of Hanshi. Hanshi is an honorific title that refers to a senior expert or teacher of teachers. In many martial arts-style organizations, there is only one Hanshi. One senior expert. But Hanshi also goes into the character of the person holding the title. In the Kwanmukan, the title of Hanshi refers to the organization’s superiors, who, due to their age and experience, possess a broad insight into martial arts and are recognized and respected throughout the martial arts world. The Kwanmukan, through the vote of the Shihan Council, limits itself to three Hanshi – our two senior 10th dans who head the shihan council and to the technical director of the Kwanmukan – which is a courtesy, only due to his representation of the Kwanmukan to numerous organizations.