Mejiro Gym Amsterdam
Mejiro Gym - How it all began
On his visit to Japan in 1975, Jan Plas, founder of Mejiro Gym Amsterdam, met with sensei Kurosaki at his dojo in Tokyo. The dojo of Kurosaki was situated in the "Mejiro" district so this is where the name originated from. Jan Plas, impressed by the level of skill at Mejiro Gym Tokyo, decided to stay and train with famous champions like Fujiwara and Shima.
Still impressed by all he experienced in Japan, Jan Plas, together with some other Muay-Thai pioneers, founded the N.K.B.B. (The Dutch Kickboxing Association). Boxing Gym Vermeulen provided accomodations for the newly formed Mejiro Gym Amsterdam. Among the first Mejiro Gym fighters were men like; Lucien Carbin, Johan Vos, Aris Koopman, Bert van Os, Thijs Veldman.
It was 1978 when they all moved to their own location at Lauriergracht 86 in Amsterdam. It was there that the now famous "mejiro style" was further developed and perfected. This resulted in the first of many national and international titles for Mejiro Gym. Muay Thai Kickboxing became more and more popular in Holland. The first big events were hosted at the Jaap Edenhal in Amsterdam and it was in this period that the rivalry between the Amsterdam dojo’s; Mejiro Gym, Vos Gym and Chakuriki started.
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