Stephen Tapilatu

Stephen Tapilatu (born 17 March 1972, Groningen) is one of the most successful and spectacular ITF athletes of the modern era - a fighter whose explosive, dynamic sparring style and ability to cross between different combat sports made him genuinely unique. In July 2022 he was promoted to 7th Dan Master (Sahyun). He comes from one of the most decorated Taekwon-Do families in the world. His father, Master Wijnand Tapilatu (8th Dan), was part of the iconic Dutch team that became World Champion in 1984 and founded Tapilatu's Sportcenter in Hoogkerk in 1994. His sister Bianca and cousins Django and Patiparu all won ITF titles. His sister Bianca is married to Slovenian ITF legend Tomaz Barada - an opponent Stephen himself faced in legendary bouts. He began training under his father at age eight. What followed was a career that made him one of the most feared fighters on the planet in not one but two styles of Taekwondo. He won the ITF World Championship in individual sparring in 1990 (Montreal) and defended it in 1994 (Kuala Lumpur). He took European titles in 1990 and 1992. Then in 1991, competing in the Olympic WT style, he won silver at the official WT World Championship in Athens - proving his fighting ability transcended any single ruleset. In 1995 and 1996 he won the King of Taekwondo knockout tournament in Tokyo back to back. After his Taekwondo career he moved to kickboxing and MMA, training at elite team Golden Glory alongside K-1 legend Semmy Schilt and competing at the highest level from 1999 to 2008, winning the Dutch championship. From 2012 to 2022 he served as national coach of I.T.F. Nederland, guiding the team to numerous European and world medals. Together with British Master Johann de Silva he travels the world on the Dragon Warrior Tour, delivering masterclasses in sparring to the next generation.