Also known as

Description

Dutch martial artist, 9th dan judo, 10th dan Kyokushin karate and 10th dan hapkido, founder of Kyokushin Budokai. Trained at the Kodokan in Tokyo under Toshiro Daigo, Yoshimi Osawa and Kazuo Ito, and a close associate of Donn F. Draeger and Masutatsu Oyama. National coach of the Dutch judo team who won the 1957 European championship, and coach of Wim Ruska during his 1960s-70s title run as well as of Chris Dolman and Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro-Wrestling associate Otti Roethof.

Teachers (7)

• Ge
  Gerhard Schutte

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Bluming's own official biography (jonbluming.nl) records that Dr G. Schutte, the founder of the NAJA dojo in Amsterdam, gave him his 1st dan after only 12 months of training at the Tung Jen club; corroborated by the Realfighting interview and the Dutch Wikipedia article on Schutte.

  (1953-1958)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Bluming's own official biography (jonbluming.nl) records that Dr G. Schutte, the founder of the NAJA dojo in Amsterdam, gave him his 1st dan after only 12 months of training at the Tung Jen club; corroborated by the Realfighting interview and the Dutch Wikipedia article on Schutte.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Back in Holland he found by accident the judo club witch would really change his life from that on. When he brought home his girlfriend he saw in a little street a poster of the Tung Jen judo club in November 1953. So he went to that dojo and joined up. ... his Sensei, Dr G. Schutte gave him his 1st Dan only after 12 months."

  — Ruhe, Bert. Biography of Jon Bluming - jonbluming.nllinkhistoryinfo

  "I found a dojo in Amsterdam of the "Neth Amateur Judo Association" of the famous Dr. Schutte (affectionately called OPA by the students)."

  — Mann, WR. Jon Bluming, Europe's First Mixed Martial Artist - Realfightinglinkinfo
• 
  Donn F. Draeger

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Multiple primary sources agree that Donn Draeger trained Bluming in judo in Tokyo from March 1959 until 1961, including managing his weight gain from 79 to 102 kilos, and proposed him for the Kenshusei class.

  (1959-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Multiple primary sources agree that Donn Draeger trained Bluming in judo in Tokyo from March 1959 until 1961, including managing his weight gain from 79 to 102 kilos, and proposed him for the Kenshusei class.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "when Draeger (Donn Draeger) started training me, in March 1959, by November I was a solid 102 kilos. ... He was the best; he could run circles around all the top Judoka in the Kodokan, all the 8th and 9th and 10th dans."

  — Mann, WR. Jon Bluming, Europe's First Mixed Martial Artist - Realfightinglinkinfo

  "Back in Tokyo he started under the guidance of the famous Donn Dreager again with weight training for judo and karate and became finally what he always wanted heavyweight at 102 kilo solid from 79 kilo in Canada."

  — Ruhe, Bert. Biography of Jon Bluming - jonbluming.nllinkhistoryinfo
• 
  Mifune Kyūzō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Bluming's official biography identifies the Kodokan master he first saw in March 1951 and who later became head teacher of the Kenshusei class he joined in November 1959 as the same elderly red-belt master, Kyuzo Mifune; the EJMAS article confirms Mifune gave special seminars to Kenshusei members.

  (1959-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Bluming's official biography identifies the Kodokan master he first saw in March 1951 and who later became head teacher of the Kenshusei class he joined in November 1959 as the same elderly red-belt master, Kyuzo Mifune; the EJMAS article confirms Mifune gave special seminars to Kenshusei members.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1959 November that elderly man would become his head teacher in the new Kodokan when he became a member of the famous Kenshusei the 25 best fighters of Japan."

  — Ruhe, Bert. Biography of Jon Bluming - jonbluming.nllinkhistoryinfo

  "members also got to attend special seminars given by teachers like Mifune and Samura."

  — Bluming, Jon. (2000). The Beast of Amsterdam - Journal of Combative Sport (EJMAS). Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo
• 
  Daigo Toshirō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  The EJMAS first-person account names Daigo as one of the regular instructors of the Kodokan Kenshusei training program while Bluming was a member, and English Wikipedia lists Daigo among Bluming's teachers; Bluming elsewhere calls him "my old teacher Daigo Sensei".

  (1959-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The EJMAS first-person account names Daigo as one of the regular instructors of the Kodokan Kenshusei training program while Bluming was a member, and English Wikipedia lists Daigo among Bluming's teachers; Bluming elsewhere calls him "my old teacher Daigo Sensei".

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "The first Olympic training for the Kenshusei took place in August 1960. ... While the regular instructors included Daigo, Kawamura, and Osawa. ... the next day I was summoned to the office of Risei Kano, where he and Daigo Sensei told me that as a member of the Kenshusei I had to adhere to the honor code."

  — Bluming, Jon. (2000). The Beast of Amsterdam - Journal of Combative Sport (EJMAS). Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo

  Jon Bluming - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo
• 
  Ōsawa Yoshimi

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 2

  Probable

  The EJMAS first-person account names Osawa as one of the regular instructors of the Kodokan Kenshusei training program while Bluming was a member, and English Wikipedia lists Osawa among Bluming's teachers. Not a direct "my teacher" claim, so rated probable rather than confirmed.

  (1959-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The EJMAS first-person account names Osawa as one of the regular instructors of the Kodokan Kenshusei training program while Bluming was a member, and English Wikipedia lists Osawa among Bluming's teachers. Not a direct "my teacher" claim, so rated probable rather than confirmed.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "While the regular instructors included Daigo, Kawamura, and Osawa."

  — Bluming, Jon. (2000). The Beast of Amsterdam - Journal of Combative Sport (EJMAS). Journal of Combative Sportlinkinfo

  Jon Bluming - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo
• 
  Hirano Tokio

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Bluming's official biography records that Tokio Hirano awarded him his 3rd dan at a 1957 summer camp in Holland after he threw 75 judoka in 26 minutes; the same source states Schutte himself held 4th dan from Hirano.

  (1957-1957)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Bluming's official biography records that Tokio Hirano awarded him his 3rd dan at a 1957 summer camp in Holland after he threw 75 judoka in 26 minutes; the same source states Schutte himself held 4th dan from Hirano.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1957 he got his 3th Dan from Tokyo Hirano at a summer camp in Holland when he throw 75 judoka from 4e kyu until 4th Dan in 26 minutes."

  — Ruhe, Bert. Biography of Jon Bluming - jonbluming.nllinkhistoryinfo
• Ka
  Kazuo Itō

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 1

  Uncertain

  English Wikipedia names Kazuo Ito among the teachers Bluming trained under at the Kodokan, but the claim is not corroborated by any primary source reviewed (official biography, Realfighting interview, EJMAS first-person accounts all omit him). Rated uncertain.

  (1959-1961)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  English Wikipedia names Kazuo Ito among the teachers Bluming trained under at the Kodokan, but the claim is not corroborated by any primary source reviewed (official biography, Realfighting interview, EJMAS first-person accounts all omit him). Rated uncertain.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Jon Bluming - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo

Ranks (2)

• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech3 dan 3

  Confirmed

  Bluming's official biography records that he received his 3rd dan from Tokio Hirano in 1957 at a summer camp in Holland after throwing 75 judoka in 26 minutes.

  Dan-Kyu System (1957)

  granted by Hirano Tokio

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Bluming's official biography records that he received his 3rd dan from Tokio Hirano in 1957 at a summer camp in Holland after throwing 75 judoka in 26 minutes.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In 1957 he got his 3th Dan from Tokyo Hirano at a summer camp in Holland when he throw 75 judoka from 4e kyu until 4th Dan in 26 minutes even when he had broken his big toe."

  — Ruhe, Bert. Biography of Jon Bluming - jonbluming.nllinkhistoryinfo

  military_tech9 dan 2

  Probable

  English Wikipedia records 9th dan in judo for Bluming, without a granting body or date.

  Dan-Kyu System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  English Wikipedia records 9th dan in judo for Bluming, without a granting body or date.

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  Jon Bluming - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English) linkinfo

Students (1)

• Wi
  Wim Ruska

  linkKōdōkan Jūdō 3

  Confirmed

  Multiple independent sources corroborate Bluming as Ruska's judo teacher: English Wikipedia; Bluming's own 2017 USAdojo/Realfighting interview naming Ruska among his students; the NOS obituary (2018); the Ons Amsterdam profile calling Bluming "Ruska's judomeester" and describing his training at Bluming's club Tung Jen; JudoInside's 2022 retrospective; and Robert W. Smith's "Martial Musings" (1999).

  (1960-1972)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  7 sources

  fact_check

  Multiple independent sources corroborate Bluming as Ruska's judo teacher: English Wikipedia; Bluming's own 2017 USAdojo/Realfighting interview naming Ruska among his students; the NOS obituary (2018); the Ons Amsterdam profile calling Bluming "Ruska's judomeester" and describing his training at Bluming's club Tung Jen; JudoInside's 2022 retrospective; and Robert W. Smith's "Martial Musings" (1999).

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "In the 1960s and 1970s, under the training of Jon Bluming, he won seven European titles, five in the +93 kg category (1966-67, 1969, 1971-72) and two in the open category (1969 and 1972)."

  — Wim Ruska - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "Wim Ruska - World Champion ('67 & '71) and Olympic Champion (2x '72) in Judo."

  — Jon Bluming - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  "Jon Bluming nodigt hem uit om bij Tung Jen te komen trainen... Na drie maanden krachthonk en trainingen in overnametechnieken en grondgevechten vernedert de leerling de meester met zes ippons."

  — de Brock, Peter. (2017). Judoka Wim Ruska: 'Ik kan geen baas boven mij voelen' - Ons Amsterdamlinkinfo

  "Wim Ruska was een van zijn leerlingen."

  — (2018). Veteraan, vechtsporter en filmacteur Jon Bluming overleden - NOSlinkinfo

  "He is a former coach of the Belgian and Dutch national karate teams, and his internationally known students include Olympic judo champion Willem Ruska, world sambo champion Chris Dolman."

  — Mann, WR. (2017). Jon Bluming Interview - USAdojo (by WR Mann). USAdojolinkinfo

  "He moved to a strong club of Jon Bluming who was in that time the biggest challenger of World Champion Anton Geesink."

  — (2022). 50 years after Willem Ruska won his second Olympic title in 1972 - JudoInsidelinkinfo

  "Bluming stopped competing and turned his energies into training future Dutch hopefuls, among them judo champion Willem Ruska and three-time world sambo champion Chris Dolman."

  — Smith, Robert W.. (1999). Martial Musings: A Portrayal of Martial Arts in the 20th Centuryinfo

Sources