Chris Dolman

Christiaan "Chris" Dolman (born February 17, 1945) is a Dutch retired martial artist and professional wrestler. He won a silver medal at the European championship in judo[3] and a gold at the world championship in Sambo, counting as the first non-Russian sambo world champion,[4] and has over 40 national and 10 international championships. He is known for his career in Fighting Network Rings and for his role training several Dutch mixed martial artists and kickboxers, among them Bas Rutten, Alistair and Valentijn Overeem, Gilbert Yvel and Gegard Mousasi.[5]

Chris Dolman
BornChristiaan Dolman
(1945-02-17) February 17, 1945
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Other names"Akaoni" ("The Red Demon")[1]
ResidenceAmsterdam, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight273 lb (124 kg; 19 st 7 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
StyleJudo, Sambo, Kyokushin Karate, Greco-Roman Wrestling
TeamDolman Gym
TrainerJon Bluming
Rank  10th Dan Red Belt in Judo
  10th Dan Black Belt in Kyokushin Budokai[2]
Years active1972–1996
Notable studentsBas Rutten, Gilbert Yvel, Valentijn Overeem, Alistair Overeem, Gegard Mousasi, Joop Kasteel, Dick Vrij, Hans Nijman, Willie Peeters
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: October 3, 2014 (2014-10-03)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
Men's Judo
European Championships
1974 London +93 kg
Netherlands Championships
1971 Haarlem +100 kg
Men's sambo
World Games
1985 London +100 kg
World Championships
1985 San Sebastián +100 kg
1981 Madrid +100 kg
World Cup
1969 Moscow +100 kg
1985 Sochi +100 kg
European Championships
1976 Leningrado +100 kg

Career

Dolman started training judo under Jon Bluming at the Tung-Yen dojo while in college.[4] He became a professional competitor shortly after.[1] In 1970, he extended his competition to sambo by taking part in an international tournament in Moscow. Reportedly, Dolman had no sambo experience, having watched his first practice session of the art two days before the event, and still he dominated the tournament with just his judo and wrestling training.[4]

His first visit to the Japanese rings was in 1976, backing Willem Ruska during his match against Antonio Inoki in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Inspired by this kind of competition, he celebrated a tournament of pankration in Holland in 1981.[1] In 1984, Dolman had his professional wrestling debut in Universal Wrestling Federation, wrestling Kazuo Yamazaki in a different style fight which Dolman won by armbar.

After UWF's demise, Dolman was contacted by Akira Maeda for his Fighting Network Rings promotion. Leading a stable of Dutch apprentices, which included Dick Vrij, Gilbert Yvel, Valentijn Overeem and other names, Dolman became Maeda's first rival in Rings. He would win the inaugural Rings Mega Battle Tournament in 1993 defeating Maeda in the finals, although the Japanese got revenge on him eliminating him from the 1993 edition. After being eliminated by Yoshihisa Yamamoto the next year, Dolman would stop competing in the tournament, dedicating himself fully to his stablemaster role. His final in-ring match was in 1995, defeating his underling Joop Kasteel.

According to Jon Bluming, Dolman challenged the Gracie family several times during his stint in Rings, but they never answered his letters.[6]

He currently teaches at the Chakuriki/Pancration Gym along with Thom Harinck and leads the RINGS Holland promotion.

Championships and accomplishments

Greco-Roman/Freestyle Wrestling
  • 1966 Benelux Championship
  • 1967 Benelux Championship
  • 1968 Benelux Championship
  • 1969 Benelux Championship

Judo
  • 1974 European Judo Championship 93 kg class silver medalist
  • 1966 European Youth Judo Championship
  • 1965 Netherlands Youth Judo Championship
  • Eight times Netherlands Judo Championship

Professional Wrestling

Sambo
  • 1969 World Sambo Championship gold medalist
  • 1985 World Sambo Championship gold medalist
  • World Games 1985 Sambo Championship 100 kg class gold medalist
  • National A.A.U. Sambo Championship (1978)

References
  1. Tadashi Takeuchi, The Vale Tudo Kyoku Kyo e no Chosen, Footwork Shuppan, 1998
  2. "Black Belts IBK". Internationalbudokaikan.com. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  3. "Profile at Judoinfo". Judoinfo.com. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  4. J. Dick Schilder, From Russia with Love: Dutchman Steals Sambo Crown, Black Belt Magazine, February 1970
  5. "Profile at MMA Hall of Fame". Mmahalloffame.com. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
  6. "Jon Bluming, Europe's first Mixed Martial Artist". Realfighting.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2014-09-21.
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