After some Judo experiences during my childhood I became seriously involved in martial arts at the age of 14 when I witnessed a demonstration of the Indonesian art of self defence, Pentjak Silat (PS). After that I became a student of one of the most famous PS teachers in the Netherlands, Guru C.D. Kessing of the Manyang Style. I trained this art intensively for four years.

In 1982 I moved to Amsterdam to study at the Free University of Amsterdam. At the University’s Martial Arts Club Wing Chun crossed my path. After trying out different WC lineages, between in1995 and 2003 I started training WT on a regular basis with Gordon Cheung.

In 2003, thanks to Sifu Benno Westra (IUCTA), I got in contact with the Escrima Concepts as taught by Master Steve Tappin. His vision on single combat in all of his aspects really took me by surprise because this was completely different compared to the Escrima/kali/Arnis styles I had witnessed before. Lucky for me Master Steve was willing to teach and also to share his experience/knowledge.

I’m one of the people who is now representing Master Steve in the Netherlands and together with my fellow Escrimadors I’m working hard to give Escrima Concepts a solid place in the Dutch martial arts scene. A lot of hard work has been done, but the best is yet to come. Escrima Concepts is a complete martial art that has so much depth in it that the learning will never stop. It’s simply a life long journey.

I teach Escrima Concepts 2 times a week at my club in Zaandam. Besides that I travel through Europe frequently to attend open and private seminars of Master Steve to develop my skills and to keep the friendship within the EC-family going.

Thanks everybody, especially Steve, Wayne, Ivo, Big Paul, Peter W., Ulli and my students, for making my journey so much fun!