Chakuriki Gym

Last updated
Chakuriki Gym
Chakuriki Gym logo.jpg
Est.1972 (start)
2012 (defunct)
Founded by Thom Harinck
Primary trainersThom Harinck
Chris Dolman
Training facilities Amsterdam, Netherlands
Website http://pancration.net

Chakuriki Gym was a kickboxing gym and headquartered the International Chakuriki Association located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was also known as Dojo Chakuriki, Pancration Chakuriki, and Chakuriki Amsterdam. Founded in 1972, it was one of the oldest and well-established kickboxing gyms in the Netherlands. It has produced many top-level kickboxers and including K-1 world champions such as Peter Aerts, Branko Cikatić and Badr Hari. It also provided training in wrestling, as well as instruction in knockdown karate, judo, boxing and mixed martial arts.

Contents

History

Chakuriki Gym was founded in 1972 by Thom Harinck, who originally began teaching his own style named "Chakuriki". [1] The word Chakuriki is derived from the word "shakuriki” (借力 - "borrowing power")[ citation needed ], referring the original style being a mixture of techniques from boxing, Kyokushin karate, judo, jujutsu and wrestling. [2] Chakuriki later became a kickboxing gym as Harinck added Muay Thai and Savate to his repertoire.

Chakuriki found success early on in the "anything goes" full-contact fights organized by Charles Dumerniet. [3] In 1978, fighters from Chakuriki became the first Dutch people to fight at Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. However, the entire Chakuriki team lost all the fights. [4] [5]

During the late 1970s, despite their respective founders being both of the Jon Bluming lineage, Chakuriki became rivals of Mejiro Gym. While the Chakuriki fighters were known for their mental and physical toughness, Mejiro's had a reputation for their technical style. Kickboxing competitions were held regularly in the Jaap Edenhal Arena in Amsterdam and both Mejiro and Chakuriki fighters established themselves as the best in the country. This rivalry helped raise the standard of Dutch kickboxing and spawned some of the best fighters of the era. The 1980s and early 1990s saw a new generation of kickboxers rise from Chakuriki such as Peter Aerts and Branko Cikatić who helped form the history of K-1.

Chakuriki alumni Branko Cikatic founded "Chakuriki Tiger Gym" in his native Croatia, and also established a Japanese branch with Nobu Hayashi as the director.

In 1999, Harinck sold the gym and founded the new Chakuriki/Pancration Gym with Chris Dolman in 2002. [6] Thom Harinck and his son Tommy Harinck were the main coaches, while Wrestling and mixed martial arts were handled by Chris Dolman.

In 2012, Harinck left the gym and Dolman took over completely, rebuilding it as Pancration. [7] Harinck announced his retirement in April 2013 at the age of sixty-nine. [8] [9]

Notable fighters trained at Chakuriki

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kickboxing</span> Full-contact hybrid martial art and combat sport

Kickboxing is a full-contact hybrid martial art and boxing type based on punching and kicking. Kickboxing originated in the 1950s to 1970s. The fight takes place in a boxing ring, normally with boxing gloves, mouth guards, shorts, and bare feet to favor the use of kicks. Kickboxing is practiced for self-defense, general fitness, or for competition. Some styles of kickboxing include: full contact karate, Muay Thai, Japanese kickboxing, Lethwei, Sanda, and Savate.

Branko Cikatić was a Croatian heavyweight kickboxer, the first Croatian-born fighter to achieve international success. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight kickboxers of all time. He was the first K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. The tournament was held on April 30, 1993 in Japan.

Saskia Merk van Rijswijk is a Dutch Muay Thai champion and actress. Currently she works as a hypnotherapist, mental coach and psychologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remy Bonjasky</span> Surinamese-Dutch former kickboxer

Remy Kenneth Bonjasky 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. He is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time. Bonjasky has been known for his flying kicks, knee attacks and strong defense, hence the nickname "The Flying Gentleman".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Aerts</span> Dutch kickboxer

Peter Aerts is a Dutch 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd van Dams</span> Dutch–Surinamese kickboxer (1972–2021)

Lloyd Daniël van Dams, also known as The Tornado, was a Surinamese-born Dutch heavyweight kickboxer. He was a Dutch, European, and World Muay Thai champion. Known for his durability, van Dams was never knocked out in 84 professional fights. He held notable wins over Remy Bonjasky, Brian Douwes, Alexander Ustinov, Bjorn Bregy, and Brecht Wallis. Van Dams also competed in mixed martial arts.

Xhavit Bajrami[a] is a Swiss former kickboxer who competed in the heavyweight division. A Seido karate practitioner and Andy Hug student, Bajrami built up an undefeated record domestically before he was recruited by K-1 where he won the K-1 Braves '99 tournament and finished as runner-up in two other tournaments. He is also a two-time Muay Thai world champion, having won the ISKA World Super Heavyweight title in 2004 and the WKN World Super Heavyweight strap in 2010.

K-1 Grand Prix '93 was a martial arts event held by the K-1 organization on April 30, 1993, at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. It was the inaugural K-1 World Grand Prix, featuring an eight-man tournament fought under K-1 rules. The eight tournament qualifiers were all invited on the basis of their achievements in the kickboxing world. As well as tournament matches there was also a full contact karate bout between Andy Hug and Nobuaki Kakuda. The event featured ten fights with fighters representing seven countries. The winner was Branko Cikatić who defeated Ernesto Hoost in the final by first-round knockout, becoming the first K-1 World champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hesdy Gerges</span> Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter (born 1984)

Hesdy Gerges is a Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He held the It's Showtime World Heavyweight title between 2010 and 2012. Gerges has competed in the K-1, It's Showtime, SUPERKOMBAT and Glory promotions.

Andre Mannaart 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, Maurice Smith and Ray Sefo. He is now a trainer at the Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam, where he has coached fighters of the calibre of Peter Aerts and Remy Bonjasky.

Mejiro Gym is a kickboxing gym headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thom Harinck</span> Dutch martial artist

Thom Harinck is a Dutch kickboxer and kickboxing trainer and founder of the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam. He is married to Marjan Olfers, former member of the board of Ajax and from 1 May 2012 professor in sports law.

Amir "The Sphinx" Zeyada is an Egyptian-Dutch cruiserweight Muay Thai kickboxer currently fighting out of the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where he is trained by Thom Harinck. He is a former Dutch national champion who originally started fighting as a middleweight. Zeyada holds two notable knockout victories over the highly rated Tyrone Spong. He’s the former runner up for the Its Showtime 85MAX Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Plas</span> Dutch martial artist

Jan Plas 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.

Dennis Alexio vs. Branko Cikatić was a heavyweight kickboxing bout that took place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on March 16, 1992, which ended in a controversial technical draw.

Nobu Hayashi is a professional Japanese Heavyweight karateka and kickboxer. He is a two-time K-1 Japan tournament runner-up and holds notable wins over Ben Edwards, Sander Thonhauser and Faisal Zakaria. Hayashi fights out of Dojo Chakuriki Japan in Tokyo, Japan. Hayashi was diagnosed with Leukemia, but was recently able to recover and is now cancer free.

Gilbert Ballantine is a Surinamese-Dutch retired professional kickboxer and a nine-time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion. He also took part in mixed martial arts competition, winning three Rings Dutch championships.

Frank Muñoz is a Spanish heavyweight kickboxer, who has competed in the SUPERKOMBAT Fighting Championship, where he is a former 2013 SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix Tournament Champion. He is also the former WAKO-Pro K-1 European champion.

The World Muay Thai Association (WMTA) is one of the oldest amateur and professional sanctioning organizations of Muay Thai in the world for the sport.

Christiaan "Chris" Dolman is a Dutch retired judoka, sambo fighter and wrestler. He won a silver medal at the 1974 European Judo Championships and a gold at the 1985 World Sambo Championships, counting as the first non-Russian sambo world champion, and has over 40 national and 10 international championships. He is known for his career in Fighting Network Rings and for his role training several Dutch Mixed Martial Artists and Kickboxers, among them Bas Rutten, Alistair and Valentijn Overeem, Gilbert Yvel and Gegard Mousasi.

References

  1. ↑ Thom Harinck (2020). "Video: Interview with legendary kickboxing coach Thom Harinck". Bloody Elbow (Interview). Interviewed by Kostas Fantaousakis. Retrieved November 19, 2024. That is why I started in 1972 my own gym and called it Chakuriki.
  2. ↑ "US Muay Thai Association profile". Usmta.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  3. ↑ Arnaud Van Der Veere (2012). Muay Thai. Meyer & Meyer Sport, Limited. p. 16. ISBN   9781841263281. In Holland, Muay Thai was introduced through kickboxing and free fight competitions. Charles Dumerniet organized this "anything goes" full contact competitions that gamed international attention because of their new border-crossing fights. A trainer named Thom Harinck started his own style called Chakuri. Dressed in impressive red suits, fighters equipped with street fighting techniques competed and won most of the fights.
  4. ↑ Delp, Christoph (2013). Muay Thai Counter Techniques: Competitive Skills and Tactics for Success. North Atlantic Books. p. 15. ISBN   9781583945612.
  5. ↑ Gus Fanta. "Thom Harinck: Trainer of Champions". Fightingmaster.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  6. ↑ "Kickbokstrainer Erwin van der Meulen na overnamesoap sportschool Chakuriki: 'Ik vecht voor mijn leven'". Het Parool. 2022-11-15.
  7. ↑ "Welkom bij Pancration: sportschool en buurthuis onder één dak". Vice.com. 2019-03-04.
  8. ↑ "Legendary Trainer Thom Harinck Retires". Liverkick.com. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  9. ↑ "Thom Harinck of Chakuriki Amsterdam ends career". Fightstartv.com. 2013-04-27. Archived from the original on 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2014-06-29.

External

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.