The Ultimate Guide to Dutch Kickboxing

Dutch kickboxing is a style of kickboxing known for its strategic aggression and complex combinations. The Dutch fighters have become renowned for their fast-paced style, and many of them have reached legendary status in the world of kickboxing and Muay Thai. They have won prestigious Muay Thai and kickboxing championships and have fought at the highest level of great fight organizations. Join me as I unpack the story of Dutch kickboxing, its unique technique, and show you why this style of kickboxing has become so popular today.

The Three Musketeers of Dutch Kickboxing

Dutch kickboxing was first pioneered in the 1970s as a blend of Kyokushin Karate, Muay Thai, and Western boxing. This fusion of styles was discovered when three martial artists, Jan Plas, Peter van den Hemel, and Jan van Looijen, sought to integrate the Japanese martial art of Kyokushin Karate with the more fluid and dynamic techniques of Muay Thai.

In the early 1970s, the three Dutchmen traveled to Japan to learn Japanese martial arts. They began learning Kyokushin karate and Japanese kickboxing. Kyokushin Karate was similar to Japanese kickboxing, but kickboxing training had some adaptations to suit the competitive nature of the sport.

During their time in Japan, they learned new techniques from Kenji Kurosaki and his prodigy, Japanese kickboxing champion Toshio Fujiwara. Upon their return, they adapted their new knowledge to their own style, resulting in a unique fusion of Japanese kickboxing, Kyokushin karate, and Muay Thai. These innovative martial artists each had their own expertise and vision of what this new style of kickboxing should look like. They worked together and collaborated their efforts into forging a new fighting style that would leverage the strengths of both Japanese kickboxing and Muay Thai. The result was a fighting style characterized by nonstop aggression and high volume.

Jan Plas, a karate practitioner, was instrumental in laying the groundwork for what would become Dutch kickboxing. After observing the effectiveness of Muay Thai, he began incorporating its techniques into his karate training, thereby creating a type of hybrid style that uses the continuous movement of Kyokushin and the powerful strikes of Muay Thai.

Peter van den Hemel was known for his analytical approach to combat sports. He contributed to the newly founded Dutch kickboxing style by refining the training methods and combat strategies that would become the hallmark of Dutch kickboxing. His influence helped shape the aggressive yet strategic nature of the style.

Jan van Looijen, with his background in Western boxing, brought a new dimension to the fledgling sport by integrating the hand speed and punching combinations of boxing. This addition allowed Dutch kickboxers to maintain a relentless offensive pressure, setting them apart from practitioners of other styles.

Together, these three Dutchmen blended their knowledge to improve on the Japanese kickboxing methods they had studied overseas. They made it more dynamic, with better combinations and a type of forward pressure that was unrivaled in other martial arts styles. The outcome was versatile striking, great defense, and controlled aggression.

Rules and Judging of a Dutch Kickboxing Match

A Dutch kickboxing match is a testament to the sport’s high-octane spirit and intricate technique. Matches typically consist of:

• 3 rounds, each lasting 3 minutes
• Fighters use punches, knees to the body, and kicks to overpower their opponents
• The shorter fight duration encourages a faster pace than the longer 5 rounds of 5 minutes in traditional Muay Thai, leading to more intense and action-packed bouts

Scoring Strikes and Strategy

In Dutch kickboxing, scoring is heavily influenced by the display of powerful combinations, aggression, and overall damage inflicted on the opponent. Dutch kickboxers use a combination of both punches and kicks to maintain offensive pressure, create openings, and maintain a high pace consistent with their scoring system.

The powerful low kicks and heavy hands that characterize the style play a key role in the judging involved in a Dutch kickboxing fight.

Rules and Regulations

The rules and regulations of Dutch kickboxing differentiate it from other martial arts. In Dutch kickboxing bouts, the use of elbows is prohibited. Clinching is also limited and regulated in Dutch kickboxing. However, in Muay Thai, both elbows and clinch fighting are very common and score very well with the judges. This is an adaptation Dutch fighters have to get used to when they fight under Muay Thai rules.

The Influence of Dutch Kickboxing on Global Combat Sports

Dutch kickboxing has exceeded its original ambitions and reached far beyond the Netherlands, becoming a world-renowned kickboxing style. The influence of Dutch kickboxing on the international fight scene is undeniable.

Dutch fighters have dominated the kickboxing scene, winning numerous K-1 World Grand Prix championships and even winning Muay Thai championships. Some fighters with a Dutch kickboxing background have even gone on to fight in MMA and various other combat sports.

Glory Kickboxing and Beyond

Organizations like Glory Kickboxing have played a huge role in bringing Dutch kickboxing to the forefront of modern combat sports. Dutch kickboxing’s fast-paced, aggressive striking game is perfectly displayed in Glory and K-1 style rules. It has even proven to be a tough challenge for Muay Thai fighters transitioning to these rule sets.

Glory Kickboxing has many Dutch fighters and champions on its roster. They are purely a kickboxing organization, so it suits the rules of the Dutch style. Some organizations like One Championship offer both Muay Thai and kickboxing, meaning they will have cross-competition fights; however, Glory favors the Dutch with their kickboxing ruleset, and it is no wonder why they have done so well in this organization.

Dutch Kickboxers in MMA

The Dutch kickboxing style has not only proven successful in the ring but also in the cage. Legendary MMA coach Henri Hooft has trained under one of the pioneers of Dutch kickboxing, Rob Kaman. Henri Hooft was formerly a Dutch kickboxer himself; after years of experience, he now owns his very own MMA gym called the Blackzillians. This gym teaches Dutch kickboxing to MMA fighters, whereas many MMA gyms teach traditional Muay Thai kickboxing. The Blackzillians have been the home of many MMA world champions and great MMA fighters, which has proven the effectiveness of the Dutch style as a form of stand-up fighting.

Compared to traditional Muay Thai, the style offers an advantage in punching offense and defense, as well as in footwork patterns and movement in MMA. Some MMA fighters feel Dutch kickboxing suits their style more, as the combinations are more similar to their boxing training and they can incorporate it into their style better.

MMA fighters such as Semmy Schilt and Alistair Overeem have shown the versatility of the Dutch style of kickboxing. They have excelled in their MMA careers while originally coming from a background of Dutch kickboxing.

Famous Dutch Kickboxers

There is a long list of pioneering Dutch kickboxers, and many of them have earned prestigious championships. Dutch kickboxing has earned a name for itself as one of the most effective stand-up fighting styles, but this reputation comes hard earned by the fighters who have been through grueling battles in their careers. Some of the best Dutch kickboxers are:

• Ramon Dekkers
• Ernesto Hoost
• Rob Kaman
• Nieky Holzken
• Regian Eersel
• Peter Aerts
• Rico Verhoeven
• Badr Hari
• Andy Souwer
• Tyrone Spong
• Gökhan Saki

These are just a few of the most famous Dutch kickboxers who made a name for themselves fighting at the highest level of kickboxing and Muay Thai.

Dutch Kickboxing vs. Muay Thai

A notable difference between Dutch kickboxing and Muay Thai is the role of clinch work in each style. In Dutch kickboxing, the rules allow for brief clinches to deliver a single strike before fighters must disengage, while in Muay Thai, prolonged grappling in the clinch is normal and even encouraged.

This difference in approach not only distinguishes the two styles but also affects the pace of the fight. This means Dutch fighters need to adapt their strategy when fighting in Muay Thai, and Muay Thai fighters need to change their strategy when fighting with Dutch kickboxing rules. Let’s take a look at all the differences between the two kickboxing styles now.

The Role of the Clinch in Dutch Kickboxing

In Dutch kickboxing, clinches are brief and focused on delivering single strikes. The rules mandate that fighters release the clinch after a strike. It contributes to a faster-paced, continuous-striking battle that does not allow long rounds of clinching. This contrasts with the clinch-centric strategies often seen in Muay Thai and showcases the uniqueness of Dutch kickboxing.

Clinching Mastery in Muay Thai

In contrast, Muay Thai places significant emphasis on training in the clinch. Muay Thai fighters often train various drills to master clinching, kneeing, and overall control in the clinch. The Muay Thai clinch game is diverse and takes a great deal of training to perfect. It includes a variety of techniques like tie-ups, sweeps, throws, and the use of elbows and knees within the clinch.

The ability to control an opponent in the clinch and deliver effective strikes is a crucial scoring factor in Muay Thai. Clinching in Thai boxing really is an essential part of the style; however, in the Dutch style of kickboxing, it is not practiced much as the rules don’t allow Dutch kickboxers to clinch for more than a second. The rule is there to make sure the fighters do not land consecutive strikes in the clinch. Muay Thai fighters have very advanced clinch fighting techniques, and some Muay Thai fighters even base their whole fighting style around clinch fighting.

Knees and Elbows

Dutch kickboxers are allowed to knee, but as clinch fighting is not allowed, this makes knees less common in the Dutch style. Elbows are also not allowed in Dutch kickboxing, whereas in Muay Thai they are allowed, and it is very common to see elbows in a Muay Thai fight. Knockouts in Muay Thai are often caused by elbows; this means the Dutch kickboxing rules take away an essential part of Muay Thai.

The difference in knees and elbows makes it difficult for Dutch fighters to compete in Muay Thai and vice versa. However, thanks to cross-competition, more Dutch kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters are currently competing against each other than ever before. They are also becoming more accustomed to different rulesets because of this.

Head Movement and Footwork

Traditional martial arts like Kyokushin Karate do not have much head movement; this is where Dutch kickboxing borrows techniques from boxing. Unlike Muay Thai, which uses a high guard and little head movement, Dutch kickboxing uses a variety of dodging and slipping. This head movement can be very useful in a kickboxing fight; however, head movement needs to be used in moderation. Kickboxers usually don’t slip and dodge the same amount as boxers, as there is a threat of being kicked in the head or kneed in the face.

This means the Dutch style has to teach head movement in a different way than regular boxing head movement and adapt it to kickboxing. It is designed to have just enough head movement to slip punches and dodge kicks without being too much, so they don’t lean into a kick.

Footwork is another aspect of the Dutch style, which is slightly different from regular Muay Thai. Dutch kickboxers move around the ring more and use more circular movement. They will often move in all directions and are lighter on their feet than Muay Thai fighters. However, being too light on your feet is not always an advantage in kickboxing. This is why Dutch-style fighters need to balance good footwork while not wasting too much energy.

Head movement and footwork are two of the major differences in the Dutch style compared to Muay Thai. This does not mean that the Dutch style is better, though, as too much head movement and footwork can have major drawbacks, especially when not used correctly. Ultimately, head movement, slipping, and dodging skills have more to do with the fighter’s abilities than the style of kickboxing.

Sparring Culture

Dutch-style kickboxing is known for having sparring sessions. The idea behind this is to spar how you intend to fight, and this will ultimately make you more effective in your fights. Muay Thai, on the other hand, takes the opposite approach, as Muay Thai fighters have long careers, usually starting at a young age.

They fight frequently, and they do not want to injure themselves while sparring. The gym wars of Dutch-style kickboxing can be seen as a downside by some people; however, others believe sparring hard is the best way to learn.

Techniques and Signature Moves of the Dutch Greats

Dutch kickboxing has produced some legendary fighters who have showcased the power and effectiveness of the style’s signature techniques. Ramon Dekkers was a legendary Dutch kickboxer who had fast-paced punches and low kick combinations that overwhelmed his opponents.

Ramon Dekkers was so effective at this style of stringing powerful combinations together that he became known as the ‘Turbine from Hell.’ He epitomized the devastating power characteristics and fast combinations of Dutch kickboxing with an impressive 95 knockout victories out of his 186 career wins. He had such a successful career, even defeating legendary Muay Thai fighters. This makes him the perfect example of how effective the Dutch style of kickboxing can be.

The Dutch Low Kick Mastery

The devastating power of precise low kicks is a hallmark of the Dutch kickboxing style. Ramon Dekkers brought attention to the use of low kicks, and he used them particularly well at the end of punching combos. Rob Kaman, another legendary fighter known for his use of low kicks, attributed the power and effectiveness of his technique to precise timing. The low kick mastery of Dutch kickboxing seems to be down to constantly drilling the techniques in training and using them within combinations.

Punching Powerhouses and the Boxing Influence

Dutch kickboxing is also known for its incorporation of elite boxing techniques. Ramon Dekkers became one of the best representations of Western boxing influence in Dutch kickboxing. His fast and powerful punching techniques and combinations became renowned in the world of kickboxing. His influence on boxing even led to some Muay Thai and kickboxing gyms incorporating more boxing techniques into their training.

The Dutch Style

Dutch kickboxing is known for its powerful punches and low kicks. These form the basis of high-volume combinations that put opponents on the back foot. The integration of defensive and offensive maneuvers from boxing has also proven to be very effective.

An example of this would be checking distance with a jab and slipping punches or dodging punches to counterpunch. This is in contrast to Muay Thai fighters, who usually use a high guard instead of head movement. The low kicks of the Dutch style are used very often in combinations; this is borrowed from Muay Thai, but with the adaptation of being used a lot more frequently and at the end of combinations, making them less predictable.

Low kicks in the Dutch style are used more than they are in Muay Thai, whereas in Muay Thai they will use more of a variety of kicks, usually as single strikes. The Dutch kickboxing style is more low kick-heavy and integrates them into combinations.

Training the Dutch Way

Stepping into a Dutch kickboxing gym, you will immediately be immersed in an atmosphere of discipline, hard training, and teamwork. High-intensity sparring and repetitive drills aimed at enhancing practical fighting skills and tactical awareness are the norm.

The intensity of sparring sessions often exceeds what is seen in other martial arts. Some say these hard sparring sessions are what give the Dutch style an advantage; however, Muay Thai fighters usually do not spar hard and are just as tough.

The drills are also intensive, often consisting of up to six or more techniques, ensuring that fighters memorize patterns for their fights. Dutch kickboxing training sessions are high intensity and include a variety of training, such as sparring, hitting pads and bags, and drilling combinations. This helps fighters improve their cardiovascular abilities and mental toughness.

Choosing Your Path: Dutch Kickboxing or Muay Thai?

Choosing between Dutch kickboxing and Muay Thai is often a dilemma for beginners. Both martial arts offer a broad learning experience, but the choice largely depends on personal preferences, accessibility of facilities, and competitive aspirations. Both disciplines offer great fundamentals for any combat sport, and the decision will likely be influenced by the accessibility of gyms and the sparring culture.

Factors to Consider

When choosing between Dutch kickboxing and Muay Thai, personal fighting style preference, gym availability, and competitive goals should be considered. The availability of a Muay Thai gym or kickboxing gym is crucial for beginners, and the decision might be influenced by the accessibility of facilities as well as the sparring culture.

The Journey of Learning

Mastering a martial art is a long-term endeavor that can vary significantly depending on the discipline chosen. The journey to mastery in Dutch kickboxing versus Muay Thai offers distinct paths reflective of each art’s techniques, rules, and training styles.

Choosing between Dutch kickboxing and Muay Thai involves considering these differences to align with personal preferences for martial arts training.

Acessability of Dutch Kickboxing

Both Muay Thai and Dutch kickboxing are very effective, and fighters of each style have often competed against each other. Neither style is seen as particularly better by martial arts enthusiasts. This means the effectiveness of each style is down to the individual practicing it.

If you live in Asia, most of the kickboxing gyms will teach Muay Thai, and if you live in the Netherlands or some parts of Europe, you will find many Dutch-style kickboxing gyms. It is usually better to practice at the gym, which is more accessible to you, rather than pick between Muay Thai or Dutch-style kickboxing. This is because if you pick a gym that is accessible to you, then you are more likely to train often and improve your skills.

Summary

Dutch kickboxing, a distinctive blend of Kyokushin Karate, Muay Thai, and Western boxing, has left a sturdy footprint in the sands of global combat sports. Its relentless aggression, high-volume striking, and unique techniques have set it apart from other martial arts and styles of kickboxing. With powerful punches, devastating low kicks, constant forward pressure, and a no-nonsense approach to training, Dutch kickboxing has redefined the landscape of striking martial arts.

Whether you’re a beginner considering your first step into martial arts or a seasoned fighter exploring new styles, the Dutch kickboxing journey promises a path of resilience, discipline, and unmatched intensity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between kickboxing and Dutch kickboxing?

The main difference between kickboxing and Dutch kickboxing is that in Dutch kickboxing, athletes are allowed to use kicks to the legs, head, and body, while in traditional kickboxing, kicks below the waist are prohibited. This difference in kicking technique sets the two apart, while regular kickboxing is usually more bouncy and light on the feet and the movement of Dutch kickboxing is more controlled.

Is K1 the same as Dutch kickboxing?

Yes, K1 is a form of Dutch kickboxing with its own set of rules and restrictions.

Why are the Dutch so good at kickboxing?

Dutch kickboxers became exceptional at the sport by learning a mix of Kyokushin karate and Muay Thai in Japan during the 1970s. This formed the basis of the modern style of kickboxing in the Netherlands. It eventually became a very popular sport in the Netherlands, and the Dutch excelled in it, producing some of the best fighters in the world.

How does a Dutch kickboxing match typically unfold?

In a Dutch kickboxing match, fighters typically engage in 3 rounds of 3 minutes each, utilizing punches, knees, and kicks to secure points and potential knockouts.

What is the role of clinch work in Dutch kickboxing?

Clinch work in Dutch kickboxing is limited to brief periods, with fighters delivering single strikes before disengaging. It plays a crucial role in close-quarters combat and allows for quick strikes before creating distance for further attacks.