Also known as

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)

• Ja
  Jan van der Horst

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  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.

  sports_kabaddiVan der Horst Judo Institute badge (1948)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  4 sources

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Anton Geesink kreeg daar zijn eerste lessen."

  — Jan van der Horst (judoka) - Wikipedia (Nederlands). Wikipedia (Dutch)linkinfo

  "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 linkinfo

  "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 Sportlinkinfo

  "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 Horstlinkhistoryinfo
• Mi
  Michigami Haku

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Michigami served as arts director of the Dutch Judo Federation 1955-1968 and is credited (USAdojo, the Michigami memorial site) 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.

  (1955-1968) (1987)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  fact_check

  Michigami served as arts director of the Dutch Judo Federation 1955-1968 and is credited (USAdojo, the Michigami memorial site) 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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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. USAdojolinkinfo

  "There, he met Anton Geesink, who was under special training to vitalize Dutch judo. Michigami taught him everything he can. As a result, Geesink won the 1961 World Championships and took the gold medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics."

  — Haku Michigami - Personal History and Mononofu Serieslinkinfo

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

  — (2007). Haku Michigami. USAdojolinkinfo
• Ma
  Matsumoto Yasuichi

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  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. NRC adds that from 1956 he trained several months each year in Japan at the invitation of the Japanese national coach Matsumoto.

  sports_kabaddiTenri University badge (1956-1964)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  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. NRC adds that from 1956 he trained several months each year in Japan at the invitation of the Japanese national coach Matsumoto.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 benzinepompenlinkinfo

  "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
• As
  Asami Sanpei

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  Private sports_kabaddiTokyo Metropolitan Police Department badge (1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Tokiolinkinfo
• Do
  Dory Funk Jr.

  linkCatch Wrestling 3

  Confirmed

  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.

  Seminar (1973)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In October 1973, All Japan Pro Wrestling recruited Geesink. He relocated to Amarillo, Texas, to train for about a month under the guidance of Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk before his professional wrestling debut in early 1974."

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• Te
  Terry Funk

  linkCatch Wrestling 3

  Confirmed

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

  Seminar (1973)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In October 1973, All Japan Pro Wrestling recruited Geesink. He relocated to Amarillo, Texas, to train for about a month under the guidance of Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk before his professional wrestling debut in early 1974."

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Ranks (2)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech9 dan 3

  Confirmed

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

  Dan-Kyu System (1986)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

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

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  military_tech10 dan 3

  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.

  Dan-Kyu System (1997)

  granted by International Judo Federation

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  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.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

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

  — Anton Geesink - IJF Hall of Famelinkinfo

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

  — (1997). Tiende dan linkinfo

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

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Honors (1)

• receipt_longOrder of the Sacred Treasure 3

  Confirmed

  Awarded by the Japanese government, reported by English Wikipedia.

  Title (1997)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Awarded by the Japanese government, reported by English Wikipedia.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Geesink was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Japanese government in 1997."

  — Anton Geesink - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Sources