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Old 01-04-2004, 06:22 PM   #7
PeterR
 
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Dojo: Shodokan Honbu (Osaka)
Location: Himeji, Japan
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Not sure about the ins and outs but Shihan is a title as far as I know. Theoretically it only works within an organization but even that's fuzzy.

What I mean is I would not necessarily address Chiba sensei as Shihan but would definately address Nariyama Shihan as such. By fuzzy I mean that in a face to face confrontation or letter I would probably use Shihan to both - in fact my last letter to an Aikikai Shihan I did just that. Peter G. please tell me if I'm making a fool of myself.

Sensei itself is funny - at what point do you address people that are not teaching you directly as sensei. It's a lovely balance between age, experience, culture and familiarity - but that's topic for another poll.

Peter Rehse Shodokan Aikido
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