Gml. drs. Mark W.J.M. Sterke (1958) 大師範 博士 素手礼九 丸空 (ステルケ マルク), is grandmaster-teacher, philosopher and educational psychologist. He is 5th generation headmaster (五代 宗家 godai soke) of Shin tai ryu 心泰流 and the only European who is member of the Nihon Kobudo Shinkokai (日本古武道振興会, Tokyo, 2000), received various mokuroku from the Sho sho ryu Yawara (諸賞流 和 oldest Japanese martial arts academy) and Muhen yogan ryu Bojutsu 無辺要眼流 棒術 and is allowed the use of the family kamon of the feodal Nanbu Han-clan (南 部 蕃, 盛岡 Morioka). He is the chairman of the Umekyokai foundation (梅協会; www.umekyokai.eu). He began training in the martial arts more than 50 years ago (1972) and received the 9th Dan 九段 from the Dutch Jujutsu Society オランダ柔術協会 and graduations of the Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei 全日本剣道協会 and Dutch Judo Association オランダ柔道協会. He is the president of the Dutch Academy of Traditional Martial Arts オランダ武術学会. He published many books and demonstrated the martial arts all over Europa and also during the Nippon Kobudo Embu Taikai ‘Meiji jingu’ (古武道 演武 大会 明治神宮; Tokyo, 2000). He published in Cultura Martialis, ‘Koryu Bujutsu’ and ‘Wudang Daoism and Wushu’. He is also known in Japanese magazines and books: ‘Budo’ (武道), ‘Hiden’ (秘伝), ‘Nihon no Kobudo’ (日本の古武道)), and ‘Morioka no bunka’ (盛岡の文化). In the year 2012 he was appointed by Queen Beatrix to Knight in the Orde of Oranje-Nassau. He travels yearly to Japan often to China. www.umekyokai.eu