Featured School

Interview with Sensei Bert Van den Plas of Sobukai Estonia

1. Who is the dojo’s founder and what prompted him/her to build the school? Is there any rich history behind its making?

The founder of Sobukai Estonia was myself, Bert Van den Plas-sensei. It was and still is the first dojo of ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ in the Baltic States. The dojo was founded in September 2007 and called Sobukan Tallinn. At present day there are three dojo’s in Estonia; Sobukan Keila and Sobukan Viimsi have been founded in April of 2009. All three dojo’s are now under the supervision of Van den Plas-sensei and are part of Sobukai Estonia, the main organisation. The three Sobukan are direct member of Nippon Sobudo Rengokai (NSR), the main organisation of ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ in Japan, as registered by the current Head master Soke Nakamura Hisashi Minamoto no Hisamitsu.

The dojo was founded to give the people of the Baltic States the chance to discover ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ and Japanese culture in general. I was asked by double Olympic medallist in judo, Indrek Pertelson to teach and promote the values of modern and ancient Budo.

2. What forms of Japanese martial arts do you teach in your school? Can you please share with us the history behind them?

I am teaching four disciplines of ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ in my dojo, Aikido, Iaido, Jodo and Jukempo. ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ is a so-called Sobudo. This means that it is a complete martial art school. All disciplines are closely connected with each other. It was Soke Nakamura who divided the Takeda-budo in different disciplines to give the students the chance to learn easier the complete budo of the Takeda-ryu, because he knows that it has become very difficult to live and learn budo as a lifestyle. ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ also teaches Kendo, Shuriken-jutsu, Shugi-jutsu and Bu-jutsu-ido. These disciplines will be taught later in my dojo as this is for higher-level students.

3. What are the principles and concepts that you uphold and try to instill in your students?

The objective for the pupil in our dojo is to develop personalities that are capable of mastering with equanimity not only combat situations, but also the general challenges of everyday life by means of:

• A sturdy body, good physical shape and strong health.
• Perception of its own body.
• Recognition of the consequences of ones own actions.
• Fairness, Equality and Respect to all other people, regardless of color, race or social standing. This makes the student aware of the principle of Ying and Yang; one cannot exist without the other.
• Honesty, Honour and Morality, one must be honest to one’s self before they can be honest with anyone else. Cheating and lying is an acceptance of failure and creates a false environment for the student. It gives the ability to do things to the best of their ability.
• Courage, as the student progresses in rank and their skills become more fluent and based on reflex. The student gains confidence in their selves, to know they can handle any situation that presents itself.
• Generosity and compassion. Here the student is discouraged from using their new founded skills for domination; it prevents arrogance within one’s self.
• Success, Honour and Glory follows the student as they become better within themselves. This can only be achieved through Dedication, Devotion and a positive attitude.

Sobudo training does not replace parental education. On principle Sobudo is a most personal way for that person who is practicing and not the way of the others. That is why everyone, whether child or adult, should train because it is his personal decision. The Sensei (teacher) is more like a guide for the student.

‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ is carried out strictly according to the traditional methods including KATA (formal exercise), RANDORI (free exercise) and SHIAI (contest). It requires a great deal of discipline, concentration and stamina from the pupil.

4. Why do you think it is important for people to learn martial arts?

In the beginning when somebody starts to learn Japanese martial arts, it is mostly for the learning of self-defence or fighting skills in general.

If they are patient enough in their development and if they have the chance to have a good sensei, they will discover the true value of Japanese budo. The main fight is with oneself; the opponent is only helping you in your development to control not only the physics but also the mental strength of every martial arts practitioner. If somebody is able to reach this level it will enrich his personal and professional life enormously.

5. What difficulties and obstacles have you encountered so far with regards to teaching martial arts and how did you overcome them?

I encountered many difficulties and obstacles in the sixteen years of teaching budo. When I started teaching in my first dojo in Belgium I was only a first kyu in Aikido of ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’. Therefore it was very difficult to convince people the value of this magnificent school. I just didn’t have the technical package, neither the mental understanding of budo, due to my young age of 22. Nevertheless, I did get some students who were interested to learn about ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ as it didn’t exist in Belgium before I opened my dojo. I studied hard to improve my technical skills and my understanding of Japanese budo and history. As it is very difficult for all non-Japanese to understand there way of thinking many will fail to teach true budo.

Too often it happens that European teachers choose personal interest above the interest of the school. For this reason the ‘Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ has been damaged by the ego of higher ranks in Europe. People tend to believe that once they have a certain technical level that they have total understanding of the school, but it only shows the opposite. A true budoka you can recognise by his ‘kamae’, not by his techniques. Everybody can learn techniques, budo you need to understand and live.

By opening my dojo in Estonia I became professional at last and work hard to learn and teach my knowledge to my students. It is a poor life in financial way but a rich life in mental way. I am still far away from where I am going, but it is the pleasure of walking this road that makes me understand budo.  It is and will be an endless path, sometimes lonely, sometimes tough but always educating.

6. What advice and/or insights can you share with our readers who want to pursue their interest in the Japanese form of martial arts?

Don’t always take the easy way, but follow your heart. Important is to keep on going and don’t let people hold you back. A good sensei will try to help you find your own path and hope that his student becomes better then him instead of holding the student from developing.

7. Can you give a short biography of your instructor(s)?

Bert Van den Plas-sensei (1971-present)

1988-1994 ———— started Shotokan karate do (1992 – Open Flemish Champion)
1990-1993 ———— practised Bujinkan ninjutsu
1991-1993 ———— practised Aikibudo, Katori-Shinto-ryu Tenshin-Shoden
1993-1994 ———— practised Judo, Ju-jutsu, English boxing
1993-2001 ———— started to practise Takeda-ryu Nakamura ha’
This school is considered as a corner stone of many modern martial arts today. The school is a Sobudo, a complete martial arts system. I studied the different disciplines of the school: Aikido (4 dan), Iaido (2 dan), Jodo (2 dan), Jukempo (1 dan), Kendo (1 dan), Shugi-jutsu and Shuriken-jutsu and obtained the teacher grade of Shoden Kyohan in 1997.
1994  —————— Established my dojo Takeda-ryu Sobukan Olen
1996  —————— Established my second dojo Takeda-ryu Sobukan Bree
1997  —————— Became member of Hanshikai (Board of teachers, referees and technical commission) of ISTB (International Society of Takeda Budo)
1998  —————— Moved to Luxembourg where I became teacher in Budokan Arlon
2001-2006 ———-  Established my third dojo Budo Club Arlon, recognised by V.V.A. (Flemish Martial Arts Federation)
2006 ——————  Elected as the Vice President of European Sobudo Rengokai, the official federation authorised by Soke Nakamura Hisashi Minamoto no Hisamitsu of Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’
2007 –present —— Moved to Estonia where I established Takeda-ryu Sobukan Tallinn and started teaching professionally Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’
2009 ——————  Became official representative of Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ in Estonia
2009 –present —— Established Sobukai Estonia, a non-profit organisation with the goal to develop Takeda-ryu Nakamura Ha’ in Estonia and the Baltic States. Sobukai Estonia has currently three dojo’s; Sobukan Tallinn, Sobukan Keila and Sobukan Viimsi

Related posts:

1. Interview with Sensei Glenn Raus of Japan Karate Institute Daniel Island
2. Interview with Luis Morales of Budo Quest Martial Arts
3. Interview with Andree Kielholtz of Shorin Kan Dojo
4. Interview with Sensei Ronald Nilo of Shuseikan
5. Interview with Sensei George Rego of Florida Jukido Jujitsu Academies (FJJA)