THOM HARINCK
Thom Harinck (born 22 December 1943 in The Hague) is a Dutch 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.
In 1972, he founded the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam, originally teaching his own style named “Chakuriki”, a mixture of techniques from Kyokushin karate (in which he holds a 6th degree black belt), boxing, judo, jujutsu and wrestling which would later be known as modern contact karate or kickboxing in Holland.
Chakuriki later became a kickboxing gym as Harinck added Japanese kickboxing and Savate to his repertoire. Harinck founded the NKBB (Dutch Kickboxing Association) in 1976, the MTBN (Dutch Muay Thai Association) in 1983, the WMTA (World Muay Thai Association) and the EMTA (European Muay Thai Association) in 1984.
Harinck is one of the most famous trainers in the sport and has trained numerous world champions including Peter Aerts, Branko Cikatić, Jérôme Le Banner, Badr Hari and Hesdy Gerges.
He announced his retirement in April 2013 at the age of sixty-nine. In January 2016 Thom Harinck began coaching again. He trains a group of fighters daily, that includes Hesdy Gerges. In May 2016 Harinck published his memoirs in the English language. The book is called “Thom Harinck: Godfather of Muay Thai in The West” and is co-written with Julio Punch. An updated edition was released by Amsterdam Publishers in June 2020.
Harinck started training in judo and wrestling at 8 years of age. He ended up giving up on judo, after he wasn’t allowed to advance to the rank of black belt, due to his youth. Outside of martial arts, he partook in football, motorcross and Shooting. While working on a cruise ship he met a French sailor who was also a national champion of Savate. The sailor began training Harinck in the discipline, alongside others. Harinck continued practicing Savate after arriving in South Africa. He later took up boxing after he returned to the Netherlands and also started teaching Savate in Holland. While serving in the military as a teenager, Harinck started boxing at the competitive level. At the age of seventeen he worked as a bouncer at a local Club and began a partnership with Jan Stapper, a Kyokushin instructor.
His global journeys continued after he moved to Japan where he received the Uchi-deshi instruction under numerous masters in Tokyo, Nagano and Yokohama. He also received judo and traditional jujutsu instruction from Tokyo police department. He also spent plenty of time in Taiwan, where he entered to train Chinese Kenpo in addition to karate. Eventually he traveled to Thailand where he received the rank of the grand master in Muay Thai as one of the first foreigners ever.
Trained numerous world champions
Including
Kancho founder of Chakuriki style.
Chakuriki is a mixture of techniques from
Judo
Judo is a sport in which two people fight using their arms and legs and hands and feet, and try to throw each other to the ground.
Kyokushin karate
Kyokushin karate a sport, originally from Japan, in which people fight using their arms, legs, hands, and feet. The level of skill a person has is shown by what colour belt they wear.
Savate
Savate is a sport, originally from France, in which people fight with their hands and feet wearing special gloves and shoes.
Boxing
Boxing is a sport in which two competitors fight by hitting each other with their closed hands.
Jujitsu
Jujitsu is a type of self-defence from Japan that does not involve weapons and is done as a sport. Other similar sports such as judo and karate are based on it.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a sport in which two people fight and try to throw each other to the ground.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai, sometimes referred to as Thai Boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques.
Old generation fighters in Belgie Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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In Solin de geboorte en woonplaats van Branko Cikatic (R.I.P.)ontmoet ik deze lieve dame.Toen ze me zag moest ze even huilen,omdat haar herinneringen boven kwamen van Branko die ze als kind al had meegemaakt en dat hij te vroeg was gestorven.Haar zoon een bokstrainer had veel met Branko getraind.Lief toch.Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Heel mooi Sensei. Osu
Twee Legende Branco en Tom of Tom en Branco. 👍
Osu
Een van de vele podcast momenten Osu. ... See MoreSee Less
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Geweldige tijd met mn pupil Hesdy Gerges die al op zn 18 bij mij kwam trainen.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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In een interview voorspelde ik dat mn jonge pupil ooit in Japan zou komen te vechten,en aldus geschiedde.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Hesdy is niet moe te krijgen Sensei. Osu
De nieuwe podcast is uit .Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Mn jongens History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Top vechters Sensei. Osu
Leuk oud leerling Frank Munoz woont in Minorca en kwam weer even langs om me te begroeten.Frank thans werkzaam als politie agent heeft meer dan 5 jaar bij mij getraind en vochten samen in veel werelden met succes.Respect Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Toppers