Mike Passenier | |
---|---|
Born | Michael Percy Passenier April 9, 1969 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Other names | Big Mike |
Team | Mike's Gym |
Years active | 2002–present |
Occupation | Kickboxing trainer |
Michael Percy Passenier (born 9 April 1969) is a Dutch kickboxing trainer who owns Mike's Gym in Oostzaan. He is also known by the nickname "Big Mike".
Passenier was born in Amsterdam to a Dutch mother and a Surinamese father. He was raised in the neighborhood Betondorp by his mother and stepfather. [1] Passenier played football in his youth. At the age of 15, he attended a kickboxing event for the first time, and became impressed by the visitors and the atmosphere. While working in a bar, he met kickboxing world champion Gilbert Ballantine. Passenier sparred with Ballantine, who appreciated Passenier's skills and invited him to work as an assistant coach. Passenier never entered the professional ring himself. [2]
Passenier began teaching martial arts in 2002. A year later, he opened his own gym, named Mike's Gym. [3] Passenier became more known in the world of kickboxing when he trained Joerie Mes, who was considered one of the best combination specialists in kickboxing. The silhouette of Mes was made part of the Mike's Gym logo. [2]
Mike's Gym became one of the biggest martial arts gyms in the Netherlands. [3] Passenier's pupils are distinguished by their willingness to win by knockout during a bout. They do not use points-oriented tactics. [2] Passenier trained many world champions, including Melvin Manhoef, Badr Hari, Murthel Groenhart and Sahak Parparyan. [4] At certain stages of their careers, he coached top contenders such as Gökhan Saki, Artur Kyshenko, Alistair Overeem, Freddy Kemayo, Björn Bregy, Sergey Adamchuk and Sergei Lashchenko. [5]
On November 26, 2009, a fire broke out in the building next to Jim's Gym, and burned down the Gym. [6] [7] The gym was reopened on March 29, 2010.
In February 2019, Mike's Gym partnered with the well known Vos Gym, led by Ivan Hippolyte. Both gyms temporarily operated under one building. [8]
Alexey Ignashov is a Belarusian former Heavyweight kickboxer. He is a four-time Muay Thai World champion, K-1 World GP 2003 in Paris and K-1 World GP 2001 in Nagoya tournament champion. As of 2011 he is living in Auckland, New Zealand and training at Balmoral Lee Gar Gym under Lollo Heimuli.
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".
Ruslan Savelyevich Karaev (Karayev) (‹See Tfd›Russian: Русла́н Саве́льевич Кара́ев, romanized: Ruslan Savelyevich Karayev; Ossetian: Хъараты Савелийы фырт Руслан, romanized: Qaraty Savelijy fyrt Ruslan; born May 19, 1983) is a Russian kickboxer. He is K-1 World GP 2005 in Las Vegas and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Taipei tournament champion. He joined the Golden Glory's K-1 stable, training under Cor Hemmers.
Badr Hari is a Moroccan-Dutch professional kickboxer. He is a former K-1 Heavyweight World Champion (2007–2008), It's Showtime Heavyweight World Champion (2009–2010) and K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 and 2009 finalist. Known for his aggressive and explosive fighting style, Hari is widely considered one of the greatest kickboxers of all time.
Stefan Leko is a German heavyweight kickboxer. He is the current WKA Super-Heavyweight world champion in kickboxing, and former Muay Thai world super-heavyweight champion and Kickboxing world super-heavyweight champion, WMTA, WKN, IKBO, IKBF, and WKA world champion, K-1 European Grand Prix 1998 champion, 1999 K-1 Dream champion and two time K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas tournament champion. He fights out of Team Golden Glory in Breda, Netherlands under Cor Hemmers. Since 2011 Stefan Leko is coached and managed by Tom Trautsch and won two Heavyweight World Champion Titles.
Björn Heinrich Walter Bregy is a Swiss heavyweight kickboxer, European Yoseikan Budo champion and K-1 Europe 2006 in Amsterdam tournament Champion. He holds notable wins over Gokhan Saki, Ray Sefo, Alexander Ustinov, Freddy Kemayo (twice), and Alexey Ignashov.
Artur Kyshenko is a Ukrainian middleweight kickboxer, fighting out of Kyshenko Gym. He is the 2015 Kunlun Fight 80 kg Tournament World Champion and K-1 World MAX 2008 Finalist.He was ranked as the #1 Welterweight in the world by Combat Press from September 2017 until February 2020, when he transitioned into boxing. He had been continually ranked in the welterweight top ten by Combat Press since September 2014. On 24 July 2019, Kyshenko was suspended for 4 years by National Anti-Doping Agency of France (AFLD) after testing positive for prohibited substances.
Freddy Kemayo is a French heavyweight kickboxer. He is a three-time French Kickboxing Champion.
Dzhabar Askerov is a Russian Welterweight kickboxer fighting out of Melbourne, Australia and representing Russia. He is the World Muay Thai Council's Welterweight European Champion and K-1 MAX Scandinavia 2008 Tournament Finalist.
Gökhan Saki is a Turkish-Dutch kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He is a Dutch, European and World Muay Thai champion, K-1 World GP 2006 in Amsterdam tournament finalist, K-1 World Grand Prix 2008 in Hawaii champion and former Glory Light Heavyweight Champion. Saki also competed in the light heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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.
Murthel Cyrill Dwyth Groenhart is a Dutch-Surinamese kickboxer and mixed martial artist. Groenhart is the 2012 K-1 World MAX World Championship Tournament Champion and former Glory Welterweight Champion.
Sahak "Hak" Parparyan is an Armenian kickboxer, who is sometimes referred to as Sahak "Hak" Avetisyan. He’s a former It's Showtime 85MAX world champion. Sahak was ranked number one in the world in 2012 before fighting Franci Grajš.
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Cédric Doumbé is a Cameroonian-born French professional mixed martial artist and former kickboxer, currently fighting in the Welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
The year 2021 was the tenth year in the history of Glory, an international kickboxing promotion. Glory 77: Rotterdam was available on Pay-per-view through Glory and official distribution partnerships with FITE TV, Spike Netherlands, Sport Extra and La Sueur,. Later events were streamed on the Glory Fights Pay-per-view platform.
Said El Badaoui is a Moroccan-Dutch Kickboxing and mixed martial arts coach who owns SB Gym in Utrecht, Netherlands. He is best known for training multiple MMA world champions. El Badaoui has trained numerous world class fighters including Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef,Donegi Abena, Hamicha, Ilias Bulaid, Ilias Ennahachi, Tayfun Özcan, Serkan Ozcaglayan, Germaine de Randamie, Ottman Azaitar, Nordine Mahieddine and Jahfarr Wilnis, among many others. In 2021, he was nominated for Best Sportcoach prize in Utrecht.
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