Jan Plas
Encyclopedia
Jan Plas was a Dutch
kickboxing
trainer and founder of the Mejiro Gym
in Amsterdam
. He is considered to be one of the fathers of kickboxing in the Netherlands.
Plas began his career in martial arts
in karate
, learning Kyokushin
from Jon Bluming
. He founded the Mejiro Gym
in 1978 after learning kickboxing
from Kenji Kurosaki, a Japanese martial artist who founded the original Mejiro Gym in Mejiro, Tokyo
. In 1976, he founded the NKBB (The Dutch Kickboxing Association) with Thom Harinck
. He also went on the run Vos Gym and trained many world-class fighters including Peter Aerts
, Lucien Carbin, Ivan Hippolyte
, Rob Kaman
, Andre Mannaart
and Fred Royers
.
Plas was also a member of the Dutch organized crime
world. In 1986, he was involved in the kidnapping
of Gijs van Dam, jr., the son of hash
dealer Gijs van Dam, with a gang
known as "The Hakkelaar". He worked as a bodyguard
for well-known gangster Klaas Bruinsma
, and murdered kickboxer Andre Brilleman was also a student of his. In April 2008, Plas was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and his daughter and son-in-law, both police officer
s in Amsterdam
, were charged with fraud
and money laundering
.
On September 1, 2010, it was reported that Plas had committed suicide in his jail cell at the age of 65.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
trainer and founder of the Mejiro Gym
Mejiro Gym
Mejiro Gym is a kickboxing gym headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The gym is considered the "birthplace" of Dutch kickboxing.-History:...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. He is considered to be one of the fathers of kickboxing in the Netherlands.
Plas began his career in martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
in karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, learning Kyokushin
Kyokushin
is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Korean-Japanese karate master, who was born under the name Choi Young-Eui . Kyokushinkai is Japanese for "the society of the ultimate truth". Kyokushin is rooted in a philosophy of self-improvement, discipline and hard training...
from Jon Bluming
Jon Bluming
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSas5UGbfWewSi8q5DfzywF065UUqhGmIWUOksP4AOhttp://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSas5UGbfWewSi8q5DfzywF065UUqhGmIWUOksP4AOhttp://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSas5UGbfWewSi8q5DfzywF065UUqhGmIWUOksP4AO...
. He founded the Mejiro Gym
Mejiro Gym
Mejiro Gym is a kickboxing gym headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The gym is considered the "birthplace" of Dutch kickboxing.-History:...
in 1978 after learning kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
from Kenji Kurosaki, a Japanese martial artist who founded the original Mejiro Gym in Mejiro, Tokyo
Mejiro, Toshima, Tokyo
is an upscale residential district of Toshima, Tokyo, Japan, centered at Mejiro Station of Yamanote Line. The district's name is after Mejiro Fudō, which is one of the Goshiki Fudō....
. In 1976, he founded the NKBB (The Dutch Kickboxing Association) with Thom Harinck
Thom Harinck
Thom Harinck is a Dutch kickboxing trainer and founder of the Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam.Harinck began learning martial arts at the age of seventeen while working on a cruise ship, and also started boxing while serving in the military...
. He also went on the run Vos Gym and trained many world-class fighters including Peter Aerts
Peter Aerts
Peter "The Dutch Lumberjack" Aerts is a Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer. He is a three-time K-1 World Grand Prix and Muay Thai World Champion. Aerts is best known for his powerful strikes and high kicks.- Biography :...
, Lucien Carbin, Ivan Hippolyte
Ivan Hippolyte
Ivan "The Hydro" Hippolyte is a Dutch-Surinamese former kickboxer and Muay Thai World champion. He is currently a martial arts coach at the Vos Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the same gym he used to fight out of during his active career...
, Rob Kaman
Rob Kaman
Rob "The Dutchman" Kaman is a Dutch retired 9 time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion considered by many as the greatest kickboxer of all time. Often called "Mr. Low Kick" because of his feared low kicks which he used to set up his devastating offensive attacks.- Biography :In his early days...
, Andre Mannaart
Andre Mannaart
Andre Mannaart is a Dutch former kickboxer and mixed martial artist. He was a four-time world champion in kickboxing and Muay Thai, having fought against K-1 legends such as Ernesto Hoost, Branko Cikatić, Maurice Smith and Ray Sefo during his career...
and Fred Royers
Fred Royers
Fred Royers is an Dutch former kickboxer who competed in the middleweight division. He was known for his powerful low kicks, which is now a staple of Dutch kickboxing.-Biography and career:Royers began practicing karate at the age of 16...
.
Plas was also a member of the Dutch organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
world. In 1986, he was involved in the kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
of Gijs van Dam, jr., the son of hash
Hash
Hash may refer to:* Hash symbol, the glyph #* Hash mark , one of various symbols* Hash , a coarse mixture of ingredients* Hash chain, a method of producing many one-time keys from a single key or password...
dealer Gijs van Dam, with a gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
known as "The Hakkelaar". He worked as a bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
for well-known gangster Klaas Bruinsma
Klaas Bruinsma (drug lord)
Klaas Bruinsma was a major Dutch drug lord, shot to death by mafia member and former police officer Martin Hoogland...
, and murdered kickboxer Andre Brilleman was also a student of his. In April 2008, Plas was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking and his daughter and son-in-law, both police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
s in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, were charged with fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
and money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
.
On September 1, 2010, it was reported that Plas had committed suicide in his jail cell at the age of 65.