Jon Bluming

Johannes Cornelius Bluming (6 February 1933 – 17 December 2018) was a Dutch martial artist, instructor and actor. Known as a pioneer in a variety of martial arts, Bluming held 9th dan in Judo, 10th dan in Kyokushinkai Karate and 10th dan in Hapkido. He was also the coach of two-time Olympic champion Willem Ruska.

Career

Early life and training Born in Amsterdam, Bluming grew up in a Jewish neighbourhood during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. When he was 13 he started to train in Boxing, but three years later he applied for the Marines to escape poverty and was accepted to the bootcamp in Doorn in July 1949. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, Bluming was sent to Korea as part of the van Heutz regiment. He received several decorations and was wounded twice, having to be moved to Tokyo to recover.

Back in the Netherlands in November, Bluming trained in Judo under Eddy Roosterman and the renowned G. F. M. Schutte at the Tung-Yang Club, gaining his black belt in three years. In 1956, Bluming was appointed coach of the Dutch national team, which won the European championships in Bellevue. The following year he received the 3rd Dan from Tokio Hirano by beating 75 Judokas in 26 minutes, one of them being another 3rd Dan, in a tournament in Ermelo, in which Bluming also fought with an injured toe.

Career in Japan Upon his arrival to Japan, Bluming was accepted in the Kodokan Institute, where he trained under names like Toshiro Daigo, Yoshimi Osawa and Kazuo Ito. His tenure was successful, winning all of his matches and reaching a record of points only matched by French 5th Dan Maurice Quell. Bluming gained his 4º dan after beating Akio Kaminaga by choke and Isao Inokuma by uchi mata makikomi. He and Draeger also trained in Bojutsu, Iaijutsu and Kendo with Tokyo police instructors Takaji Shimizu and Ichitaro Kuroda. Also under Donn's tutelage, Bluming underwent training to move to a heavier weight class, ascending from his natural . This brought more success, as Bluming replaced Inokuma in a gonin gake (a Judo challenge against five opponents of 3rd Dan or higher) and accomplished a shocking record of four seconds. This decision was controversial enough among Asian karatekas to force Oyama to put a challenge in a magazine, challenging any of them to a fight against Bluming in a boxing ring and promising to strip him from his black belt if the Dutchman lost. Oyama was so confident that he also promised a hefty bounty and swore to retire himself from the Kyokushin school. Only the Korean champion Kwan Mo Gun accepted the challenge, and was swiftly knocked out by Bluming via shotei. founding his own school, Kyokushin Budokai. However, he remained a respected member of the association, being awarded the 9º dan in 1989.

Four years later, Bluming was contacted by Akira Maeda from Fighting Network Rings, a professional wrestling and mixed martial arts promotion which had a working agreement with both Oyama himself and Bluming's apprentice Chris Dolman. Through Maeda, Masutatsu offered him to return as a trainer and mediator with Rings, which Bluming accepted on the condition to expel another of his enemies, Loek Hollander, from the school.. In 1994, after Oyama's death, Bluming was awarded the 10º dan by Kenji Kurosaki.

Bluming died on December 17, 2018, in De Bilt, Netherlands.

Notable students Azuma Takashi - founder of Daidō Juku Kūdō. Chris Dolman - Sambo World Champion (‘69 & ‘85) and European silver medalist (‘74) in Judo. Wim Ruska - World Champion (‘67 & ‘71) and Olympic Champion (2x ‘72) in Judo. Otti Roethof -World Champion in Karate. Jan Kallenbach - Gold at the 1974 European Karate Championships. Representative of Taikiken in Europe. Jan Plas - introduced Kickboxing in the Netherlands, and coach of many World Champions in Kickboxing. Johan Vos - coach of many World Champions in Kickboxing. Lucien Carbin - Kickboxing World champion and coach of many World Champions in Kickboxing. Thom Harinck - Kickboxing/Muay Thai pioneer and coach of many champions. Semmy Schilt - K-1, Daidō Juku Kūdō and mixed martial arts champion. Gilbert Yvel - mixed martial arts champion

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1966 Modesty Blaise Hans 1971 De Worstelaar Leo Stefano Short 1972 De inbreker De Bonk 1973 Geen paniek 1973 Turks Fruit Beveiliging 1973 Naakt over de schutting Ed Swaan 1974 De 5 van de 4 daagse Cornelius Hoeding 1975 Zwaarmoedige verhalen voor bij de centrale verwarming Jon (segment "Zeeman Tussen Wal en Schip") 1981 Hoge hakken, echte liefde Molkenboer 1982 De boezemvriend Tavern patron 1984 Moord in extase Man in graveyard 1985 De ijssalon Partisan 1986 Field of Honor Sergeant 1987 De ratelrat Drunken driver 1990 Vicent et moi Hirodake's bodyguard