Kickboxing in Amsterdam

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Introduction

History of this sport

The roots in karate. The most important precursor to Amsterdam kickboxing was Oyama’s full-contact Kyokushin karate, which had been practiced in Amsterdam since 1962 under the guidance of Jon Bluming.

The real beginning in 1975. Jan Plas then traveled to Japan with Jan van Looijen and Peter van der Hemel. In Tokyo, they trained under sensei Kurosaki, whose dojo was in the Mejiro district. The Amsterdam gym was named after that district. Back in the Netherlands, Plas began teaching at an old boxing gym: Boxing Gym Vermeulen provided a home for the new Mejiro Gym. In 1978, the club moved to its own premises at Lauriergracht 86. That’s why sources sometimes give 1975 and sometimes 1978 as the founding year.

Three major gyms. Amsterdam soon had three major gyms. The first big galas were held at Jaap Edenhal, and it was around this time that the rivalry between Mejiro Gym, Vos Gym, and Chakuriki began. Chakuriki is the oldest of them: Thom Harinck founded the gym in 1972, and it was considered one of the oldest and most established kickboxing gyms in the Netherlands.

It’s Showtime at the ArenA. In the late 1990s, Amsterdam also became home to major organizations. It’s Showtime was founded in 1998 by Simon Rutz and held its first show in 1999. The first events were in Haarlem, but in 2003, 2004, and 2005, the tournaments were held at the Amsterdam ArenA. In 2012, It’s Showtime was acquired and incorporated into GLORY.

A darker side, too. Early Amsterdam kickboxing also had a darker side. Because mainstream businesses did not sponsor the galas, sex clubs and coffee shops in the city center did. As a result, the sport became associated with that part of the city.

Local connections

Three major gyms in one city. Mejiro Gym, Vos Gym and Chakuriki grew into the big three of Dutch kickboxing in Amsterdam and became rivals. Events featuring their fighters were held at the Jaap Edenhal.

From gym to international organization. Amsterdam also became home to major organizations: It's Showtime was founded here in 1998 and grew into a tournament series whose biggest events were held at the Amsterdam ArenA, before it merged into GLORY in 2012.

Martial arts facts

A name from Tokyo: Mejiro Gym
Three large schools in one city: Mejiro Gym, Chakuriki and Vos Gym
A style of borrowed power: Chakuriki
House of Legends: Your Gym
Kickboxing in a football stadium: It's Showtime at the Amsterdam ArenA
The mecca of kickboxing: Amsterdam

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Clubs and training locations

Training in this city

Technique and coaching. Amsterdam offers several ways to get into kickboxing. Those who want to learn the sport work on footwork, punches, kicks, and defense. Mejiro Gym on Lauriergracht is the historic school founded by Jan Plas and is now run by André Mannaart, while Vos Gym in the city center has been led by Ivan Hippolyte since 1995.

Recreational or competition-focused. Ask each gym about the difference between a bag class, a technical class, and sparring training, and whether there are separate groups for beginners, youth, and competitive fighters. That way, you can find a class that suits your level and goals.

More than one discipline. Want to combine kickboxing with other martial arts? Chakuriki in Amsterdam-West adds Muay Thai and savate to kickboxing, and Vos Gym originally offered several contact sports alongside each other, such as thai boxing, boxing, jiu-jitsu, judo, and karate.

Choose a club

Start with your goal. Do you want to learn kickboxing technique, train for recreation, or eventually compete? Ask a gym which classes are for beginners, when sparring takes place, and whether you can train without sparring.

Choose a convenient location. Regular training is easier when the gym fits into your daily routine. So compare not only the atmosphere, but also the location and current class schedule. A gym on Lauriergracht can have a very different atmosphere from one in Bijlmermeer, even if they both offer kickboxing.

Try the training for yourself. Ask if you can take a trial class. Pay attention to the trainer’s instructions, how members interact, the guidance during contact training, and the condition of the equipment. Choose an environment where you can learn safely and enjoy coming back.

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Athletes with a connection to this city

Rob Kaman. Rob Kaman (1960-2024), "Mr. Low Kick", was born in Amsterdam. On September 23, 1983, he defeated John Moncayo in the third round with a low kick, becoming the first European WKA world champion in kickboxing. Kaman died on March 30, 2024, on Skopelos in Greece, aged 63.

Lucia Rijker. Lucia Rijker was born in Amsterdam in 1967 and began kickboxing at the age of fifteen at Johan Vos's gym. She built a kickboxing record of 36-0, with 25 knockouts, and won four different world titles. In October 1994, she lost an exhibition match at Sporthallen Zuid to male Thai boxer Somchai Jaidee. In 2019, she became the first Dutch boxer inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, as one of its first three women.

Badr Hari. Badr Hari was born in Amsterdam in 1984. He first trained at Chakuriki under Thom Harinck (2000-2005), then at Mike's Gym under Mike Passenier.

Ernesto Hoost. Ernesto Hoost, "Mr. Perfect", was not born in Amsterdam, but in Heemskerk. However, he fought for Amsterdam's Vos Gym from 1987 to 2006, under Johan Vos and Jan Plas.

Gilbert Ballantine. Gilbert Ballantine became a world champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai nine times. He was one of the first top fighters at Chakuriki Gym.

Don Sno. Don Sno was born in Amsterdam in 2001, trains at Vos Gym under Ivan Hippolyte, and competes in Glory's welterweight division.

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Trainers with a connection to this city

Jan Plas. Jan Plas (1945-2010) was born in Amsterdam and founded Mejiro Gym there. He is considered the father of kickboxing in the Netherlands. His notable students include Lucien Carbin, Rob Kaman, André Mannaart, Ivan Hippolyte, Ernesto Hoost and Peter Aerts. Mejiro Gym is still located on Lauriergracht, under the leadership of André Mannaart.

Thom Harinck. Thom Harinck was born in 1943 and founded Chakuriki Gym. He also founded the NKBB (Dutch Kickboxing Association) in 1976, the MTBN (Muay Thai Association Netherlands) in 1983, and the WMTA and EMTA in 1984. He called his style "Chakuriki," and Chakuriki later became a kickboxing school when he added Muay Thai and savate. In 1990, he was chosen as the only non-Asian representative on the IMTA (International Muay Thai Association).

Johan Vos and Ivan Hippolyte. Johan Vos opened a gym in central Amsterdam in 1978. Various contact sports were taught there, including thai boxing, savate, boxing, jiu-jitsu, judo and karate. In 1995, he stepped down as head, and Ivan Hippolyte has led the school ever since. Hippolyte also fought for Vos Gym and later became its chairman and trainer.

Lucien Carbin. Lucien Carbin came to Amsterdam in 1965 and was one of Jan Plas's first students. He later founded his own school, Fighting Factory Carbin, in Bijlmermeer. His students include Alistair Overeem, Tyrone Spong and Rob Kaman, among others.