Netherlands

Technique starts with stance and distance. A kickboxing class builds from footwork and balance to punches, kicks, and defense. On the heavy bag, you can practice rhythm and execution; pads require you to respond to a trainer’s cues. Partner drills add timing. Intensity varies by class, so ask in advance how much contact there is and what experience participants are expected to have.

This combination is what makes Dutch Style distinctive. Dutch competition gyms are often associated with boxing combinations that set up a low kick. It’s not simply about kicking harder: punches change an opponent’s guard and position, after which footwork, distance, and timing can create an opening. Rob Kaman’s low kick is a well-known example of this setup. Not every Dutch gym trains in exactly the same way.

Recreational training is a worthwhile option. You can work on technique and fitness without wanting to compete. A class with heavy bags or pads can feel different from technical partner drills; sparring is also not a given in every group. Tell a trainer what you’re looking for and ask how the club groups participants by level and supervises contact during drills.

A competition pathway requires more coordination. Those who do want to fight can benefit from step-by-step preparation with appropriate sparring, recovery, and attention to defense. Discuss with the trainer when a first bout would be appropriate and what rules and protective gear apply to the event you have in mind. This keeps the distinction between an intense training session and an official bout clear.

Amsterdam: the first Dutch hubs. The historical paths of Jan Plas, Thom Harinck and Johan Vos meet in Amsterdam. Their gyms, the early fight events and the fighters who moved between these training worlds make the city a place to explore the Dutch beginnings. Mejiro, Chakuriki and Vos each developed their own approach; they are not three names for the same gym.

Breda and Arnhem: different routes to the ring. Breda is closely associated with Ramon Dekkers and Cor Hemmers, and with the exchange between Dutch fighters and the Thai competition scene. In Arnhem, Fred Royers connects his competitive career with training and commentary. Both cities added their own lines of trainers and fighters to the national kickboxing story.

Rotterdam: choose the training that suits you. In a large city, the options can range from technique and fitness to partner work and competition preparation. A well-known gym name doesn't automatically tell you what an introductory class is like. Ask about the group, the coaching and the level of contact before deciding where to take a trial class.

From city to club. Whether you want to train close to home or visit a well-known gym, check the current class schedule and the experience required to join a group. A city's history can spark your curiosity; the class and the trainer determine what suits you..

Mejiro Gym: the link with Tokyo. Jan Plas named his Amsterdam gym after the Tokyo district of Mejiro, where he discovered Kenji Kurosaki’s dojo. The gym was founded in 1975 and moved to Lauriergracht in 1978. That distinction between founding and moving is important: the school’s history did not begin only at its well-known address in the Jordaan. Rob Kaman and Fred Royers are among the fighters associated with the Mejiro lineage. In that lineage, technical boxing, combinations and low kicks took on a distinctive role.

Chakuriki Gym: Harinck’s own path. Thom Harinck founded Chakuriki in 1972 , before Dutch kickboxing had become an established competitive sport. He brought together influences from karate and other martial arts and also looked closely at Muay Thai. A Chakuriki team’s trip to Thailand in 1978 was part of that exchange. The gym became known for its rigorous training and later produced fighters such as Peter Aerts. The rivalry with Mejiro helped advance Amsterdam’s competitive scene, though the two schools cannot be reduced to a simple opposition.

Vos Gym: a third Amsterdam lineage. Johan Vos had previously taught at Mejiro and opened his own gym in 1978. This gave the city another influential place alongside Mejiro and Chakuriki, where boxing and kicking techniques were trained in combinations. Ernesto Hoost, Lucia Rijker and Ivan Hippolyte are among the names associated with Vos Gym. The three schools were not isolated from one another: fighters, trainers and ideas moved through the same young Amsterdam martial arts scene.

The lineage extends beyond Amsterdam. Cor Hemmers and Ramon Dekkers connect Breda to the international competition story; Fred Royers forms a link to Arnhem. Later schools such as Mike's Gym and Bonjasky Academy belong to a different generation from the original Amsterdam pioneers. For training today, the current class schedule, coaching and level of contact matter more than a gym’s historical reputation.

Two paths before K-1. Rob Kaman and Ramon Dekkers were among the Dutch fighters who attracted international attention before the major K-1 years. Kaman came from Jan Plas’s Mejiro lineage and made his low kick a defining part of his fighting style. Punches, distance and timing helped him create space for that kick.

Ramon Dekkers and Breda. Dekkers trained in Breda with Cor Hemmers and fought Thai opponents frequently. His bouts with Coban Lookchaomaesaitong are among the best-known rivalries to emerge from that exchange. The connection between Breda and Thailand shows how Dutch fighters also developed beyond their own competitive scene.

Four different K-1 champions. Peter Aerts, Ernesto Hoost, Remy Bonjasky and Semmy Schilt each won multiple K-1 World Grand Prix titles. Aerts became known for his high kicks, Hoost for his combinations and low kicks, Bonjasky for his athletic attacks, and Schilt for his reach and karate background. Their individual styles differ, while their achievements together showcase the Dutch presence on this Japanese stage.

Then came other stages. Rico Verhoeven and Badr Hari later brought a new generation of fans to kickboxing. Jorina Baars is also part of Dutch combat sports history. The sport encompasses more than male heavyweights; other weight classes, women’s bouts and different organizations each have their own stories.

Jan Plas: From Japanese inspiration to Mejiro. Plas brought his introduction to kickboxing in Tokyo to Amsterdam and built with Mejiro a place where the first generation of Dutch fighters could develop. Lauriergracht became a familiar address, but the gym’s influence spread far beyond the Jordaan through its students and trainers.

Thom Harinck: the Chakuriki lineage. From his own gym, Harinck developed an approach in which physical preparation and diverse martial arts influences came together. His team’s encounter with Muay Thai in Thailand was part of its international education. His role was not limited to producing a single champion: he was also involved in developing governing bodies and the Dutch competition scene.

Johan Vos and the next generation. After his time at Mejiro, Vos started building his own gym in 1978 . Among the names associated with that gym are Ernesto Hoost, Lucia Rijker, and Ivan Hippolyte. Vos shows how quickly a young sport developed multiple training lineages, even within the same city.

Lucien Carbin, Cor Hemmers, and Fred Royers. Drawing on his experience as a competition fighter, Carbin moved into coaching in Amsterdam. Hemmers is inextricably linked to Ramon Dekkers’s development in Breda. Royers connects his own ring experience with Kickboxing Arnhem and his later role as a commentator. Together, they show that Dutch history is also a history of passing on knowledge, not just of champions.

A sport with multiple organizational strands. Dutch kickboxing developed through different gyms, federations, and competition formats. The NKBB and MTBN are part of the history of that development. Because rules and organizing parties changed over time, titles from different periods are not automatically directly comparable. So also look at the event and the rules under which a title was won.

Federations, oversight bodies, and organizers each have a different role. The Dutch Martial Arts Federation and the Dutch Martial Arts Authority are both involved in today’s landscape, but they do not do the same thing. A competition organizer also has specific responsibilities. The applicable rules depend on the specific competition and are important for anyone looking to progress from training to competing.

For fighters, the specific event matters. Anyone wishing to compete should discuss with their trainer which organization is involved in an event and which requirements apply at that time for registration, protective equipment, and medical checks. Good preparation starts before entering the ring with a clear understanding of the rules and the fighter’s coaching.

An early Dutch fight card. The kickboxing gala on 31 May 1976 at Amsterdam’s Jaap Edenhal was a milestone for the young sport in the Netherlands. It brought fighters, gyms and spectators together beyond the training room. That meeting in the ring gave Dutch competition culture a visible face.

Dutch fighters on international stages. With K-1 in Japan, Dutch heavyweights had an international tournament; GLORY later also became a stage for Dutch fighters. Aerts, Hoost, Bonjasky and Schilt each made a name for themselves with their own training backgrounds. The journey from gym to international gala connects the competition scene with Dutch martial arts gyms.

Every gala has its own story. The date, location, participants and rules differ for each event. A historic bout shows how fighters from different gyms met; for a current fight, check the specific fight card and rules. Results belong to the bout in question, not to a general picture of an era.

Start with the class, not a champion’s name. If you’re kickboxing for the first time, you don’t automatically need the same equipment as a competitive fighter. Ask the coach what’s required or recommended for the class you’ve chosen. Bag work, pad training and sparren put different demands on gloves; fit, wrist support and protection matter more than the name of a well-known gym on the packaging.

Partner work calls for coordination. For partner drills, shin guards and a mouthguard may be relevant, while the requirements for light technical work may differ from those for sparren. The gym can advise which protection and contact level are right for the group. Choose a model for your training instead of buying based solely on the product category.

Compare them by intended use. Kickboxing gloves, shin guards and training equipment serve different purposes. Compare models based on fit, protection and intended use. A glove for bag work isn’t automatically a sparring glove; the same care applies to the rest of your equipment.