Coaching Staff

Coaches


Luuk de Haan:
Head coach at Klaas Vaak for the last thirty years, the elderly Dutchman is a former MT-1 champion, and started up the gym due to his dislike of the general attitude towards kickboxing in the Netherlands. Renown for his ability to get the best out of his fighters, he is said to be able to turn anyone into a world class striker, given time. He usually corners his fighters, a calm, collected motivator who demands respect from every fighter in his gym.


Benjamin Asfar:
Infamous in the Muay Thai world, the now retired Dutch-Algerian fighter was notorious for his bad boy antics in and out of the ring. He still has his fiery personality, but he has developed into a fine coach who spars like a man possessed. If you can survive training with this man, then the FFL will seem like a reward.


Stijn Bakker:
Another former Kickboxer turned trainer, Bakker did not have much of an impact in his fighting career, but he was always a smart fighter and de Haan enjoys working with him as a business associate. He generally works with strategy, diet and mentally preparing those in the gym but he is still a skill full fighter, something he will often remind the younger members of in the ring. Usually corners the fighters with de Haan.


Vasily Gorokhov:
The gyms resident Combat Sambo specialist, now a full time member of staff, he was convinced by de Haan to make the move permanent after a string of impressive lectures and sessions that had fighters at the gym clamouring for more. Gorokhov tends be the loud mouth at the gym, outside of Asfar, and with his strong Russian accent, most of the time nobody knows what he is saying. But he is one of the best in his field and a prized asset at the gym.


Polat Akdeniz:
A giant of a man, this Turkish behemoth says little, but in the ring he will batter anybody in his path. An unfortunate spinal injury saw an end to his competitive days as a wrestler, but he is more than capable of sparring. Often commented on as being a gentle giant, de Haan wanted him in the gym to work the takedown defence of every fighter in the gym regardless of the weight class, and so far, it has had some effective results.


Kasem Wichasak:
Kasem is not seen much at headquarters, as he manages the gyms out in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. These gyms are still predominantly focused on Muay Thai and Kickboxing, but with the ever growing popularity of the sport, the coaching staff there is expanding with coaches in Wushu, Sanshou and other specialised combat sports in the region. When he is the Netherlands, he is most likely running a seminar on Thai Boxing and the role of Thai Chi and mediation in a fighters preparations.