Peter Smit
Encyclopedia
Peter "The Hurricane" Smit (December 24, 1961 – August 15, 2005) was a Dutch martial artist who mastered such different fight disciplines as kyokushin
karate
, kickboxing
and Muay Thai
.
Peter Smit in his prime was one of the best Dutch fighters, who never got enough fights to show his full potential. He had to retire early in his career because of a serious ankle injury.
. Smit got his nickname "The Hurricane" from a Dutch colleague Fred Royers
by "becoming a champion like a hurricane" when he beat six opponents on one day.
In 1987 he fought against Hiroki Kurosawa during the Open Championships Kyokushinkai in Tokyo
. Because of a debatable decision Peter Smit lost this fight after three extra rounds. This fight is known as an example of "true Kyokushinkai Fighting Spirit".
His fight against Changpuek Kiatsongrit in the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok
is legendary. Peter Smit knocked out a Thai Champion in front of his own public, the first time that had happened in the history of muay thai
. After a flurry of punches and knees Changpuek was knocked out in the 2nd round. Peter Smit became the world muay thai champion.
His first fight against kickboxing legend Rob Kaman
was also an upset. In the 10th round he won by a knockout, which was considered impossible against the "unbeatable" Kaman at the time. It was the highlight of Peter Smit's short career.
Peter Smit developed himself as an absolute top fighter in three of the hardest fight sports in the world. Unfortunately he had to end his career early because of a chronic ankle injury.
On August 15, 2005 he was shot to death, after he stood up for his friend.
Since his death fellow fighter Peter Aerts has worn "Peter Smit RIP" in his fight shorts, Aerts is a fan of Smit's career.
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...
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,...
, 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....
and Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
.
Peter Smit in his prime was one of the best Dutch fighters, who never got enough fights to show his full potential. He had to retire early in his career because of a serious ankle injury.
Biography
He fought his first international tournament, the Open Ocean Pacific Kyokushinkai championship, in 1985 on HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Smit got his nickname "The Hurricane" from a Dutch colleague 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...
by "becoming a champion like a hurricane" when he beat six opponents on one day.
In 1987 he fought against Hiroki Kurosawa during the Open Championships Kyokushinkai in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. Because of a debatable decision Peter Smit lost this fight after three extra rounds. This fight is known as an example of "true Kyokushinkai Fighting Spirit".
His fight against Changpuek Kiatsongrit in the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
is legendary. Peter Smit knocked out a Thai Champion in front of his own public, the first time that had happened in the history of muay thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
. After a flurry of punches and knees Changpuek was knocked out in the 2nd round. Peter Smit became the world muay thai champion.
His first fight against kickboxing legend 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...
was also an upset. In the 10th round he won by a knockout, which was considered impossible against the "unbeatable" Kaman at the time. It was the highlight of Peter Smit's short career.
Peter Smit developed himself as an absolute top fighter in three of the hardest fight sports in the world. Unfortunately he had to end his career early because of a chronic ankle injury.
On August 15, 2005 he was shot to death, after he stood up for his friend.
Since his death fellow fighter Peter Aerts has worn "Peter Smit RIP" in his fight shorts, Aerts is a fan of Smit's career.
Fight Record
| Kickboxing record | |
|---|---|
Legend: |
|
Titles
- Ocean Pacific Champion Kyokushin Karate 1985
- 2x Dutch Champion Kyokushin Karate Light heavyweightLight heavyweightIn boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
1985 and 1986 - Kyokushin Karate lightheavyweight European champion 1987
- WKA Kickboxing World Junior Lightheavyweight champion 1990
- IMF World champion Muay Thai 1990
- WKA Lightheavyweight European Champion kickboxing 1990
See also
- List of male kickboxers
- List of kickboxing organizations
- kyokushinKyokushinis 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...
karateKarateis 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,...