Hansei, Hanshi - I'm so confused :-[

Hansei and Hanshi mean approximately the same thing. Hansei is a title of a master, master of what is still to be determined unless it is generic and covers any discipline. Hanshi is geared toward karate and means a master or senior teacher or the headmaster of a ryu. It can also mean a "model teacher" as well. It can be so confusing but then again as I progress in my studies it seems that confusing is normal for Japan, Japanese and since they are subjects of the Emperor for over several hundred years, Okianawa - prefecture of Japan.

Hansei when specified characters are used also means:

反省（はんせい） / self-examination
模範生（もはんせい） / an exemplary student, a model student
師範（しはん） / a title of the Master

I can begin to understand why Mr. DeMente mentioned that Japanese often have to provide the actual character when talking because the spoken word can mean many things. He indicated they often find the words not corresponding with the conversation and the persons understanding of that word, ergo the need for the character.

"I'm so confused .... " said the character in the show, "Welcome Back Kotter." This usage of the language and its connections as to culture, form, and function within karate, martial arts, makes it difficult to achieve true and complete understanding yet we all still find it exotic and exciting to make use of it. At least those who do should take time to try and understand which is correct or more accurate.

If I used all the above examples I could make a case for all the characters. To be a master of karate one must be a model student, must perform a complete and open self-examination and then they actually can assume, one day, the title of the master.