Lucien Carbin (born 7 September 1952)[1] is a Surinamese-Dutch former kickboxer, karateka and trainer. He was the first European Kyokushin karate champion, a world kickboxing champion and a European Savate and Muay Thai champion.[2] As a trainer, he raised 49 world champions in different versions of martial arts.[3]
Biography
Carbin was born in Para District, Suriname. In 1965, he moved to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. At the age of 18, Carbin joined the military where he took on unarmed combat training. He advanced quickly and after his military duty, two years later in 1972, he enrolled in the martial arts school of Jon Bluming for a Kyokushin karate class. After one year, Carbin mastered the brown belt.[4] He also practiced pencak silat.[5]
In 1976, Carbin was introduced to kickboxing by Jan Plas, a fellow student of Bluming and one of the teachers at the Bluming dojo. Plas went to Japan and learned about kickboxing, and when he returned to the Netherlands, he founded the Mejiro Gym, while Carbin became one of his first students. He became a professional and had a very successful career, winning several world and European titles. He lost only once in his career.[6][3]
In 1978, Carbin competed in London at the first European Kyokushinkai Championship at Wembley Stadium. There were two categories at the tournament. The first - from 65 to 75 kg, the second - over 75 kg. Carbin weighed 62 kg. During the weigh-in, he had to wear heavy clothes to be allowed to fight. He won the tournament and received the prize from Mas Oyama. According to Carbin, he could not walk after the tournament for several days.[3]
In 1987, Carbin retired from fighting and continued as a trainer. He developed his own kickboxing style, which he named "Carbin All Style". Some of his early students included future champion Rob Kaman and Jordan Lutalo Evora. He founded his own gym Fighting Factory Carbin in Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam, which is considered one of the best martial arts gyms in the Netherlands.[7] Carbin brought up multiple world champions, such as Tyrone Spong, Alistair Overeem, Gilbert Yvel, Ilonka Elmont, Andy Ristie and Sergio Wielzen.[8] He also trained Fedor Emelianenko for his fight against Mirko Cro Cop, who came to the Netherlands to prepare for the fight.[2]
Titles and accomplishments
Karate
1978 Kyokushin European Championship Lightweight Winner[9]
