Muay Thai and Kickboxing pioneer Jan Plas passed away

I just heard one of the pioneers of muay Thai and Kickboxing in Europe, Jan Plas, passed away. If you never heard of him, shame on you.

Jan Plas training K1 legend Peter Aerts

He was at the birth of full-contact rings sports in Europe and largely responsible for the “Dutch school” of fighting. He founded the famous Mejiro Gym and trained a truckload of European, world champions and other great fighters: Rob Kaman, Peter Aerts, Fred Royers, Lucien Carbin,  and a lot more. Today, Mejiro gym is still one of the best gyms worldwide, training fighters like Andy Souwer amongst others. 

Every time I read or heard about Mr. Plas, the feedback was always the same: he was an exceptionally gifted trainer and teacher. But he was also able to analyze a fight and coach fighters to victory by telling them exactly what they needed to do to beat their opponent. So it’s a terrible shame he passed away.

Unfortunately, it seems he was also involved in criminal activities and he died in jail. I won’t comment on that as I really don’t have much information on it. Regardless of what he did, the sport loses one of it’s pioneers.

The legendary Fujiwara (left) training with Jan Plas (right).

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