Mejiro Gym is a
kickboxingKickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
gymThe word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
headquartered in
AmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The gym is considered the "birthplace" of Dutch kickboxing.
History
Mejiro Gym was founded in 1978 by
Jan PlasJan Plas was a Dutch kickboxing trainer and founder of the Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam. He is considered to be one of the fathers of kickboxing in the Netherlands.Plas began his career in martial arts in karate, learning Kyokushin from Jon Bluming...
, a Dutch kickboxer who learned kickboxing from Kenji Kurosaki, a Japanese martial artist who founded the original Mejiro Gym in
Mejiro, Tokyois an upscale 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....
.
With its well-known fighters including
Peter AertsPeter "The Dutch Lumberjack" Aerts is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix and Muay Thai World Champion. Aerts is best known for his powerful strikes and high kicks.- Biography :...
and
Rob KamanRob "The Dutchman" Kaman is a Dutch retired 9 time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion considered by many as the greatest kickboxer of all time. Often called "Mr. Low Kick" because of his feared low kicks which he used to set up his devastating offensive attacks.- Biography :In his early days...
, Mejiro Gym has become one of the most famous and accomplished kickboxing gyms in the world.
Fighters
Peter AertsPeter "The Dutch Lumberjack" Aerts is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix and Muay Thai World Champion. Aerts is best known for his powerful strikes and high kicks.- Biography :...
Remy BonjaskyRemy "The Flying Gentleman" Bonjasky is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer of Surinamese descent. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion, who has won the title in 2003, 2004, and 2008...
Sem BraanSem "Semtex" Braan is a Dutch Muay Thai super middleweight kickboxer fighting out of Amsterdam, Netherlands for Mejiro Gym...
Erhan DenizErhan "Pitbull Attack" Deniz is a Turkish heavyweight kickboxer, who fights out of Mejiro Gym and Global Gym . His nickname comes from his passion on pit bull dogs.-Career:...
Rodney GlunderRodney "The Silent Assassin" Glunder is a Dutch-Surinamese mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He has fought for M-1 Global, Cage Rage, K-1, PRIDE Fighting Championship, RINGS, It's Showtime and Art of War Fighting Championship, and holds notable wins over top contenders Cheick Kongo, Melvin...
Brice GuidonBrice Guidon , also known as "Nectar", is a French Muay Thai kickboxer, currently fighting in K-1 and It's Showtime. He is the W.P.M.F. European Heavyweight and World Super Heavyweight Muaythai Champion.-Biography and career:...
Rob KamanRob "The Dutchman" Kaman is a Dutch retired 9 time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion considered by many as the greatest kickboxer of all time. Often called "Mr. Low Kick" because of his feared low kicks which he used to set up his devastating offensive attacks.- Biography :In his early days...
Andre MannaartAndre Mannaart is a Dutch former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a four-time world champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai, having fought against K-1 legends such as Ernesto Hoost, Branko Cikatić, Maurice Smith and Ray Sefo during his career...
Paula MataelePaula Mataele is a Tongan-New Zealand super heavyweight kickboxer and heavyweight boxer fighting out of Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He fighting was the K-1 Fighting Network Romania finalist in 2007 .-Biography and career :...
Bob Schrijber
Andy SouwerAndreas "Andy" Souwer is a Dutch welterweight shoot boxer. He is two time K-1 World MAX champion as well as a three time Shootboxing World tournament champion, fighting out of Mejiro Gym, Amsterdam, Netherlands....