He ended up giving up on judo, after he wasn't allowed to advance to the rank of black belt, due to his youth.

At the age of seventeen he worked as a bouncer at a local Club and began a partnership with Jan Stapper, a Kyokushin instructor.

His global journeys continued after he moved to Japan where he received the Uchi-deshi instruction under numerous masters in Tokyo, Nagano and Yokohama.

[3] Harinck is one of the most famous trainers in the sport and has trained numerous world champions including Peter Aerts, Branko Cikatić, Gilbert Ballantine, Jérôme Le Banner, Badr Hari and Hesdy Gerges.

The book is called "Thom Harinck: Godfather of Muay Thai in The West" and is co-written with Julio Punch.