Tenshin Buko-ryu Heiho

School representative

Born in Denmark in 1963, he became a permanent resident of Japan in 2000. He began his martial arts career in 1978, first in karate and later in taekwondo. He came to Japan in 1987 and has lived here ever since, studying numerous koryu (classical martial traditions) as well as qigong. In 1989, he enrolled in the honbu (headquarters) dojo of the 19th soke (headmaster) Nitta Suzuo in Nakano, Tokyo and in 2001 he was granted shihan (instructor) status. Since 2008, he was in charge of the honbu dojo under Nitta soke and after his junior and 20th soke, Nakamura Yoichi left the honbu dojo, he remained in charge teaching its students. In 2012, soke Nakamura entrusted him with the task of training and nominating the next generation Japanese soke , and he assumed the position of soke dairi (acting headmaster).

To be passed on to the Japanese people

This was Nakamura sensei’s mandate, his last “will and testament”: for me to lead the school after his passing and to teach and groom its next soke. I have the powers of a soke, but it was his wish (as is ours) for the school’s center to remain in Japan. Our intention is for the next soke to be Japanese [...] I promised him to do this on his deathbed and it’s a promise I intent to keep. He is not with us anymore but his legacy is and I intent to keep his legacy by keeping my promise to him.
(Excerpt from an interview with Kent Sorensen in the April 2014 issue of the magazine “Gekkan Hiden”)

Note

Tenshin Buko-ryu Heiho representative, soke dairi Kent Sorensen, has been living in Japan for more than 30 years, studied under Nitta Suzuo, the 19th soke of Toda-ha Buko-ryu Naginatajutsu since 1989, was awarded a shihan license and later, he was entrusted by the dying wish of Yoichi Nakamura the 20th soke of the school and his junior, to be the soke dairi of the school and to train its next headmaster. However, after Nakamura soke passed away, the name “Toda-ha Buko-ryu Naginatajutsu” was registered as a trademark by a third party. (See Reference Link below). In order to uphold the legacy of Nakamura soke and to preserve the history of the school for future generations, we have chosen to change the school’s name to "Tenshin Buko-ryu Heiho" and to continue our activity; the name "Tenshin Buko-ryu Heiho" has been registered as a trademark by the Japan Patent Office.

We, the students of Tenshin Buko-ryu Heiho, are not affiliated with any organization currently operating under the name Toda-ha Buko-ryu Naginatajutsu. We would appreciate if those who know us from documents, video etc. of past martial arts demonstrations and other events, and contact us with inquiries, were aware of this.

Reference link
Trademark Trial Decision Database
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