HE WHO IS NOT COURAGEOUS TO TAKE RISKS ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING IN LIFE
I was five years old when I had my first judo lesson. Jan Nagelkerke, a sports instructor at the Royal Military Academy, a Korean War veteran and judo teacher, helped me lay the foundations for who I am today as a fighter. At 25, I took my first Brazilian jiu-jitsu lesson, and my first steps towards MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts, were taken.
I am third generation, grandson of Paul Tuhumury.
My grandfather came from the village of Latuhalat on the island of Ambon.
My father passed on Moluccan norms and values to me. There were days when I hated my parents because I didn't want to go to judo lessons. There were also times when I couldn't stand my sensei, or judo teacher, because he made things hard for me. That's when I discovered that Moluccans are fighters through and through.
I can still get angry about what was done to my grandparents. But I'd rather use my fighting spirit to be successful and to persevere when things get tough.
Now I owe everything to my parents. But also to my trainers Antoni Hardonk, a former MMA fighter and kickboxer, and to Jan Nagelkerke. For a while I searched in vain for my Jan, hoping that, as a top athlete, I could finally greet my sensei again with respect. I really believe you can achieve anything you want, as long as you dare to be brave enough. And that's what I'm now passing on to my daughter Lana.
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Person portrayed
Niels Tuhumury
(1982, Waalwijk)
Personal trainer and owner of Sportschool RYU - Photographer Ed Leatemia
