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.
Pioniers van Chakuriki vanaf 1972 Respect History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Top foto’s Sen. Ik ken ze allemaal nog. Osu
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The best of all the world ❤️
Geweldig Sensei. Super trots. OSU
Respect💪🏾
Osu 🙏🏻
Osu Legend Sen 🙏👊🙏
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Dank Cindy Venema voor je filmpje en ode aan Chakuriki.Geweldige tijd met je gehad en trots op je dat je in 2 verschillende gewichtsklassen Nederlands kampioen bent geweest.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Wat leuk!!! Op deze foto staan mijn zus Saskia Merk-van Rijswijk en ik!!!! 👊👊
Ik zag thom in de jaren 70 altijd met een ploeg rennen door de j.m Kemper straat richting zijn kleine sportschool chakuriki hoop dat ik het goed schrijf.mooie tijd was dat
Hier met mn eerste Chakuriki team die ook de eerste Europeanen waren die officieel tegen de Thaise kampioenen vochten in het Lumpini stadion in 1978 .We kregen een pak slaag mede dat we niets van de clinch elleboog en knieën naar het hoofd beheersten.Toen was er nog geen internet dat je dingen kon bekijken wat er speelde.Toen daar intensief getraind en de technische vaardigheden opgedaan en weer onderwezen aan mn pupillen.Gelukkig in 2 jaar tijd konden we ons revancheren.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Die donkere jongen, Ivan?Die helaas heel erg afgleed in de maatschappij, overleden een tijdje terug...hij was volgens mij de enige de niet neer ging en het 5 rondes vol hield?
De gladiatoren. Hierdoorzijn wij Chakuriki vechters geworden osu
Geweldige foto Jammer net voor mijn Chakuriki tijd had geweldige ervaring geweest Was geweldige afgelopen tijd in Thailand bij een paar scholen geweest oa Fairtex Pattaya met Chakuriki Shirt Altijd goed Oshhh
In 1972 trainden we al met gewichten ter ondersteuning van onze vechtsport.Sommige mensen keurden het af in die tijd.Heden ten dage traint bijna elke sporter met kracht attributen.Geen bulk training maar veel setjes met niet te zware gewichten.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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In de iron gym tot 30 kg dan werden je spieren krachtiger en niet kort en dik. En boksen met 2kg en handschoenen van 18 oz
In de dojo Van Halstraat had je een combi van krachttraining en de dojo. Regelmatig wilde de grote mannen met dikke armen even sparren in de ring.
Velen dachten dat je er langzamer van werd wat een echte onzin was. Osu
Vanaf de begin jaren Chakuriki 1972 veel jeugd mogen trainen met plezier.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Mooie tijden Sensei osu!👍💪👊🥊
Geweldig Sen. Osu
Osu
Hier wat foto’s uit de jaren ‘70 waar we keihard binnen zowel buiten trainden.History Osu ... See MoreSee Less
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Keiharde training. Osu