Also known as

Antonius Johannes Geesink

Description

Dutch judoka, the first non-Japanese to become World Champion (1961, again 1965) and Olympic Champion (1964, open class, beating Akio Kaminaga in Tokyo). Won a record 21 European Championship titles. Awarded 9th dan in 1986 (first European) and the 10th dan by the International Judo Federation in 1997 - one of only three 10th-dan judoka outside Japan. Quit competitive judo in 1967, spent 1973-1974 training for a professional wrestling career under the Funks in Amarillo, Texas, and later held top IJF and IOC positions.

Teachers (6)

• person
  Jan van der Horst

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Multiple independent Dutch sources (nl.wikipedia, Verhaal van Utrecht, Utrecht City archive) agree Geesink took his first judo lessons at Van der Horst's school in Utrecht from age 14.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onVan der Horst Judo Institute badge (1948)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Multiple independent Dutch sources (nl.wikipedia, Verhaal van Utrecht, Utrecht City archive) agree Geesink took his first judo lessons at Van der Horst's school in Utrecht from age 14.

  “Anton Geesink kreeg daar zijn eerste lessen.”

  — Jan van der Horst (judoka) - Wikipedia (Nederlands). Wikipedia (Dutch)link history info

  “Op 14-jarige leeftijd ziet Anton Geesink voor het eerst een judo-demonstratie. Hij is onmiddellijk verkocht en neemt les bij Jan van der Horst aan de Amsterdamsestraatweg.”

  — (2025). Anton Geesink: judoheld uit Utrecht link history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “N. Age and Ge Koning both got theirs soon after by telling the Kodokan that they were Geesink's teachers, which was not a little white lie, but a big black one because Geesink's sensei was Jan van der Horst from Utrecht.”

  — Bluming, Jon. (1999). Doing Judo at the Korean Yudo Association, December 1959. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info

  “De heer Jan van der Horst heeft met zijn judoschool in Utrecht vele nationale individuele titels en nationale teamtitels behaald en hij was de eerste leraar van Anton Geesink.”

  — Visser, Willem. (2009). Herdenking bij het overlijden van de heer Jan van der Horstlink history info
• person
  Michigami Haku

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Michigami served as arts director of the Dutch Judo Federation 1955-1968 and is credited with training Geesink during those years and again into the 1980s, most specifically for the 1961 World and 1964 Olympic titles. Sources are his own memorial site and official honors, so the wording reflects the Michigami side.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1955–1968) (1987)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Michigami served as arts director of the Dutch Judo Federation 1955-1968 and is credited with training Geesink during those years and again into the 1980s, most specifically for the 1961 World and 1964 Olympic titles. Sources are his own memorial site and official honors, so the wording reflects the Michigami side.

  “He also trained and led many masters and competitors including the famous Anton Geesink. [...] 1955, 43 years Becomes the director of arts of the Dutch Judo Federation. (for 13 years until 1968) [...] 1961: The Third World Championships (Paris) Winner-Anton Geesink 1964: Tokyo Olympics (first appearance of judo) Gold medal-Anton Geesink.”

  — (2007). Haku Michigami. USAdojolink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “There, he met Anton Geesink, who was under special training to vitalize Dutch judo. [...] Michigami taught everything he can. As a result, Geesink won the 1961 world championships and took the gold medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.”

  — Haku Michigami's Footsteps 3. Haku Michigami link history info

  “Returns to Japan every April. Trains graded judoists, including Geesink, to 9 Dan.”

  — (2007). Haku Michigami. USAdojolink history info
• person
  Matsumoto Yasuichi

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The Guardian obituary and JudoInside record that Geesink trained with Yasuichi Matsumoto at Tenri University in Nara as preparation for the 1961 World and 1964 Olympic titles; Geesink called it his finishing school.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onTenri University badge (1956–1964)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The Guardian obituary and JudoInside record that Geesink trained with Yasuichi Matsumoto at Tenri University in Nara as preparation for the 1961 World and 1964 Olympic titles; Geesink called it his finishing school.

  “Hij werkte intensief samen met leermeester Yasuichi Matsumoto, de veelgeprezen trainer en Japanse bondscoach, met wie de judoka een innige band smeedde.”

  — Stouwdam, Henk. (2014). 9.500 gulden, sportschool en twee benzinepompenlink history info

  “Geesink had previously trained with Yasuichi Matsumoto at Tenri University in Nara. Matsumoto put him up against Japanese judokas in training, in the hope that one of them would beat him, but in the knowledge that it was unlikely. Geesink would later say that this was his finishing school.”

  — Anton Geesink obituary, The Guardian, 6 September 2010link

  “Geesink spent three months in Japan at Tenri University in Nara, where he worked uniquely on his Ne-Waza, or ground technique, which he viewed as the judo of the future.”

  — Geesink paved his way at the 1961 World Championships in Paris, JudoInsidelink
• person
  Asami Sanpei

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Geesink's own 1961 Utrecht newspaper article quotes him receiving lessons at the police dojo from Sampei Asami, an 8th dan. Kodokan Review corroborates Asami Sempei as a Kodokan instructor of that era.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Private lesson location_onTokyo Metropolitan Police Department badge (1961)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Geesink's own 1961 Utrecht newspaper article quotes him receiving lessons at the police dojo from Sampei Asami, an 8th dan. Kodokan Review corroborates Asami Sempei as a Kodokan instructor of that era.

  “Want in de politiedojo krijg ik les van Sampei Asami, een achste dan en één van de beste leraren die er is.”

  — Utrecht 60 jaar terug: Anton Geesink traint in Tokiolink history info
• person
  Dory Funk Jr.

  sports_martial_artsCatch Wrestling Probable

  Probable

  English Wikipedia's Professional wrestling section states All Japan Pro Wrestling recruited Geesink in October 1973 and he trained about a month in Amarillo, Texas under Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Seminar (1973)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  English Wikipedia's Professional wrestling section states All Japan Pro Wrestling recruited Geesink in October 1973 and he trained about a month in Amarillo, Texas under Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk.

  “In October 1973, All Japan Pro Wrestling owner Giant Baba recruited Anton Geesink, sending him to Amarillo, TX, to train under Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk for a month.”

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
• person
  Terry Funk

  sports_martial_artsCatch Wrestling Probable

  Probable

  Same source and period as the Dory Funk Jr. entry: the training stint in Amarillo in late 1973 was under both Funk brothers.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Seminar (1973)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Same source and period as the Dory Funk Jr. entry: the training stint in Amarillo in late 1973 was under both Funk brothers.

  “In October 1973, All Japan Pro Wrestling owner Giant Baba recruited Anton Geesink, sending him to Amarillo, TX, to train under Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk for a month.”

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōJan van der Horst ← Jean de Herdt ← Kawaishi Mikinosuke ← Takahashi Kazuyoshi ← Yokoyama Sakujiro ← Kanō Jigorō · 6 generations

Ranks (2)

• sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech9 dan Probable

  Probable

  Dutch Wikipedia states he received the 9th dan in 1986 as the first European; the granting body is not stated.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1986)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Dutch Wikipedia states he received the 9th dan in 1986 as the first European; the granting body is not stated.

  “Als eerste Europeaan ontving hij in 1986 de 9e dangraad.”

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (Nederlands). Wikipedia (Dutch)link history info

  military_tech10 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The IJF awarded the 10th dan in October 1997 at its Paris congress; recognised by the IJF but not by the Kodokan. Wikipedia (NL + EN) and the IJF Hall of Fame confirm.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (1997)

  granted by International Judo Federation

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The IJF awarded the 10th dan in October 1997 at its Paris congress; recognised by the IJF but not by the Kodokan. Wikipedia (NL + EN) and the IJF Hall of Fame confirm.

  “in 1997 he was awarded the coveted 10th Dan by the IJF.”

  — Anton Geesink - IJF Hall of Famelink history info

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Anton Geesink is gisteren tijdens het congres van de internationale judofederatie (FIJ) benoemd tot tiende dan.”

  — (1997). Tiende dan link history info

  “In oktober 1997 verkreeg hij de 10e dan, waarmee hij een van de hoogst gegradueerde judoka's ter wereld werd”

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (Nederlands). Wikipedia (Dutch)link history info

Honours (1)

• receipt_longOrder of the Sacred Treasure Probable

  Probable

  Awarded by the Japanese government, reported by English Wikipedia.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Title (1997)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Awarded by the Japanese government, reported by English Wikipedia.

  “He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government in 1997.”

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Identifiers