50 years of Mejiro Gym, 50 years of kickboxing in the Netherlands

This year marks fifty years since a number of pioneers introduced the sport of kickboxing in the Netherlands. The first gym where kickboxing was trained specifically was Mejiro Gym in Amsterdam. Last weekend the fiftieth anniversary of this institution was celebrated.

One of the pioneers who brought kickboxing from Japan to the Netherlands was Jan Plas, founder of Mejiro Gym . The baton was later taken over by André Mannaart, who once started there as a pupil and grew into an icon of the sport. Later his daughter Sharon and son Roël followed in his footsteps, both in competition and in running the gym.

At the tenth lustrum, during the festive afternoon in the heart of the Amsterdam Jordaan district, many other kickboxing icons were present. Thom Harinck also came to congratulate the Mejiro clan. For decades, his Chakuriki Gym was Mejiro Gym's main rival. In this sporting rivalry, the fighters and trainers of these institutions pushed each other to great heights. In doing so, they played leading roles in the development of the Netherlands as a kickboxing country.

On behalf of the city of Amsterdam, alderman and deputy mayor (wethouder en locoburgemeester) Alexander Scholtes came to convey his congratulations. This martial arts enthusiast, who is also a board member of the Vechtsportautoriteit (Dutch Martial Arts Authority), briefly addressed the guests and underlined the significance that Mejiro Gym has had, and still has, for the city.

Among the illustrious names who fought under the Mejiro flag was Remy Bonjasky. He described how he arrived as a young boy who could not pay the membership fee. Partly thanks to his training at Mejiro Gym, he became world champion and grew as a person into who he is today. For him, this afternoon was above all a fine opportunity to express his gratitude for that.

The Vechtsportautoriteit was also present with a delegation to bring flowers and congratulations to what is not only the first kickboxing gym, but also the first holder of the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit (the quality mark of the Dutch Martial Arts Authority).