Mejiro Gym is a

kickboxing Kickboxing is a combat sports, combat sport focused on kicking and punch (strike), punching. The combat takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouthguards, shorts, and bare feet to favour the use of kicks. Kickboxing is pract ...

gym A gymnasium, also known as a gym, is an indoor location for athletics. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasium". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learning spaces in educational ins ...

headquartered in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. The gym is considered the "birthplace" of Dutch kickboxing.

History

Mejiro Gym was founded in 1978 by

Jan Plas Jan Plas (16 March 19451 September 2010) was a Dutch professional kickboxer, trainer and founder of the Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam. He is considered to be the father of kickboxing in the Netherlands. Career Plas began his career in martial arts i ...

, a Dutch kickboxer who learned kickboxing from

Kenji Kurosaki is a Japanese martial arts instructor, specializing in Full-Contact Karate and Kickboxing. He is a 7th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Karate and operates various martial schools focusing in different arts. He is most well known as a pioneer of Fu ...

, a Japanese martial artist who founded the original Mejiro Gym in

Mejiro, Tokyo is a residential district of Toshima, Tokyo, Japan, centered at Mejiro Station of Yamanote Line. The district's name is after ''Mejiro Fudō'', which is one of the ''Goshiki Fudō''. Mejiro is home to the prestigious Gakushuin University. Th ...

. Vos Gym founder Johan Vos and FFC founder

Lucien Carbin Lucien Carbin (born 7 September 1952) is a Surinamese-Netherlands, Dutch former kickboxer, karateka and trainer. He was the first European Kyokushin, Kyokushin karate champion, a world kickboxing champion and a European Savate and Muay Thai champi ...

were among the founding members of Mejiro Gym Amsterdam. With its well-known fighters including

Rob Kaman Rob "The Dutchman" Kaman (born 5 June 1960) is a Dutch retired 9-time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion. He is often called "Mr. Low Kick" because of his feared low kicks which he used to set up his devastating offensive attacks. Biogr ...

and

Peter Aerts Peter Aerts (born 25 October 1970) is a Dutch semi-retired kickboxer. Known for his devastating high kicks, which earned him the nickname "The Dutch Lumberjack", he is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time ...

, Mejiro Gym has become one of the most famous and accomplished kickboxing gyms in the world. Mejiro is regarded as one of the "big three Kickboxing Gyms" in Netherlands, alongside Chakuriki and Vos Gym. Later, the

Leeuwarden Leeuwarden (; fy, Ljouwert, longname=yes /; Town Frisian: ''Liwwadden''; Leeuwarder dialect: ''Leewarden'') is a city and municipality in Friesland, Netherlands, with a population of 123,107 (2019). It is the provincial capital and seat of the ...

branch in

Friesland Friesland (, ; official fry, Fryslân ), historically and traditionally known as Frisia, is a province of the Netherlands located in the country's northern part. It is situated west of Groningen, northwest of Drenthe and Overijssel, north of ...

, Netherlands was also established. In 2020, Mejiro Gym opened a new branch in

Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...

, Indonesia.

Notable fighters

Ashwin Balrak Ashwin Balrak (born 17 May 1975) is a Surinamese-Dutch professional kickboxer and lawyer. Career and recent arrest Balrak was a former WPKL European Kickboxing champion who also competed in K-1. He made his K-1 debut in 2007 at K-1 Fightin ...

Remy Bonjasky Remy Kenneth Bonjasky (born January 10, 1976) is a Surinamese-Dutch former kickboxer. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix heavyweight champion, winning the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008. Bonjasky has been known for his flying kicks, knee atta ...

* Sem Braan *

* Erhan Deniz *

Cédric Doumbé Cédric Doumbé (born August 30, 1992) is a Cameroonian-born French professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, currently fighting in the Welterweight division. In kickboxing, he is a former two-time Glory Welterweight Champion. Do ...

Rodney Glunder Rodney Glunder (born as ''Rodney Faverus'', March 1, 1975) is a retired Dutch professional kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler and boxer, current actor, entrepreneur and bodybuilder. He has fought for M-1 Global, Cage Rage, K- ...

Brice Guidon Brice Guidon (born July 16, 1985), also known as ''"Nectar"'', is a French Muay Thai kickboxer. He is the W.P.M.F. European Heavyweight and World Super Heavyweight Muaythai Champion, and the 2011 United Glory World Series runner-up. He has compete ...

Leo de Snoo Leo or Léo may refer to: Acronyms * Law enforcement officer * Law enforcement organisation * ''Louisville Eccentric Observer'', a free weekly newspaper in Louisville, Kentucky * Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Arts an ...

Andre Mannaart Andre Mannaart (born November 2, 1960, in Krommenie) is a Dutch former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was four times world champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai, having fought against K-1 legends such as Ernesto Hoost, Branko Cikatić, ...

Bob Schrijber Robert Schrijber (born 3 March 1965) is a Dutch former mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He currently runs his own MMA and Muay Thai team in Krommenie, Netherlands called Sports Academy Schreiber. His most famous students at the moment are UF ...

Andy Souwer Andy Souwer (born 9 November 1982) is a Dutch former welterweight kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a two-time K-1 World MAX champion (2005, 2007) and four-time Shootboxing World tournament champion as well as former It's Showtime 70MA ...

Michael Duut Michael Duut (born 22 January 1990) is a light heavyweight kickboxer from the Netherlands. He is known for his aggressive fighting style. He is the 2017 Glory Light Heavyweight Contender Tournament Winner,fight of the year 2016 winner. He is ...

Fred Royers Fred Royers (born March 15, 1955) is a Dutch former kickboxer who competed in the middleweight division. He was known for his powerful low kicks, which is now a staple of Dutch kickboxing. Biography and career Royers began practicing karate a ...

Dick Vrij Dick Vrij is a retired Dutch professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. A professional competitor from 1995 until 2003, he competed in the Heavyweight division for RINGS and It's Showtime. Professional wrestling career A former bodybuilde ...

* Maurice Smith

References

External

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mejiro Gym 1978 establishments in the Netherlands Kickboxing training facilities Kickboxing in the Netherlands Sports venues in Amsterdam