Jon Bluming

Johannes Cornelius Bluming (born February 6, 1933) is a Dutch martial artist, instructor and actor. Known as a pioneer in variety of martial arts, Bluming holds 9th dan in judo, 10th dan in Kyokushin Karate and 10th dan in Hapkido. He was also the coach of two-time Olympic champion Willem Ruska.

Born in Amsterdam, he was 13 when 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. During the break out of the Korean War in 1950, Bluming was sent to Korea as part of the van Heutz regiment. He received several condecorations and was wounded twice, having to be moved to Tokyo to heal. It was there where he made contact with the Asian martial arts, witnessing a judo exhibition by Kyuzo Mifune at the Kodokan school in March 1953. Deciding to try judo when he returned to Holland, Bluming meanwhile trained in taekkyon in Korea.

Back to the Netherlands, Jon trained in judo under Eddy Roosterman and the renowned G. F. M. Schutte, and gained his black belt in three years. In 1957, Bluming was appointed coach of the Dutch national team, which won the European championships in Bellevue the same year, and also was invited to train at a police dojo in Berlin, Germany and at a private judo club. Immediately after he received the 3º dan from Tokio Hirano by beating 75 judokas in 26 minutes and while having an injured toe. After winning some tournaments, he moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1958, teaching judo at the Dalhousie University. After a time, he finally moved to Tokyo, Japan, where he complemented his judo training by learning karate; he first joined the Shotokan school, but soon switched to Kyokushin, more of his liking.

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