Jerry Morris

Jerry Morris born (1970) in Aruba, Dutch Antilles, is a professional fighter, author, motivational speaker, and personal coach and trainer. He competed in various championships and earned numerous titles and accolades along the way.
==Early life and education==
Jerry Morris was born in 1970 in Aruba, Dutch Antilles, as the second child of Jacqueline Morris. When he was just five months old, he moved with his mother and elder brother Renaldo to Holland. At the age of thirteen in 1983, Jerry started Muay Thai kickboxing under the guidance of the then-renowned World Champion, Luciën Carbin, and his senior pupils, Paul Pengel and Cor Marengo. In 2008, he graduated as a Sports-manager from the CIOS sports academy. In 2010, Jerry received his instructor’s license from Krav Maga Worldwide Europe, an Israeli self-defense form he found to be a good addition to his existing fighting knowledge. In 2011, Jerry graduated as a physical education teacher and received his bachelor's in Sports and Education.
==Career==
===Kickboxing career===
Jerry Morris began his kickboxing training at thirteen under the supervision of the renowned World Champion Luciën Carbin and his senior pupils, Paul Pengel and Cor Marengo. After winning his first three amateur fights, he moved to the semi-amateur category, where he won six muay thai fights, losing only one by close majority decision.
In 1991, with only nine fights to his credit, Jerry turned professional and shocked everyone by knocking out the then-current World Kickboxing Champion, Andre Masseur, in the second round. He trained at the famous Mejiro Gym from 1992 to 1993, sparring with top fighters like Rob Kaman, Andre Manaart, Bob Schrijber, Leo Snoo, and Tommy van de Berg. He teamed up with Cees van der Velden from Gym International in 1993 and won his first European and first World title in Thai kickboxing by defeating the reigning champion, Nung Moon Khot from Thailand.
Jerry took full control and responsibility of his own training preparations from 1995 to 2006, winning no less than five World Shidokan full-contact karate titles and four more World Thai kickboxing titles. Jerry left Holland in 1998 and relocated to the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Maarten, where he opened a fitness and kickboxing gym and successfully promoted several boxing and kickboxing events, including a World Thai Boxing Championship title fight in which he was the main event, earning him his ninth world title. In 2002, Jerry returned to Holland after living in St. Maarten for nearly four years.
Jerry had been a champion in one or another style of fighting for ten years. He decided to get a degree in Sports Management and a bachelor's in sports and education, preparing for life "after" his professional fighting career. In 2006, he became World Muay Thai Champion for the fifth time.
===Career as an Author & Innovator===
Jerry Morris earned his bachelor's degree in Sports and Education in 2011, graduating as a physical education teacher. Following his graduation, he chose to remain in Holland to continue his professional kickboxing career. However, after a six-year layoff, the abrupt intensity of his training led to a ruptured Achilles tendon, forcing him into retirement. During his recovery, he began writing his memoirs, leading to the publication of his first book, Dream Catcher (2016). The Dutch translation, Dromenvanger, followed in 2018. 
Encouraged by the positive reception of his first two books, Jerry decided to expand on his winning mindset by writing Mindset is the Difference Between the Best and the Rest (2019), a book detailing the mental strategies that helped him achieve ten World Championship titles. The Dutch version, Mindset is het verschil tussen de beste en de rest, was published in 2020. 
Building on his passion for personal growth and transformation, he wrote Beyond Achievement: A 12-Step Framework for Self-Actualization (2024), a structured approach to self-development inspired by Abraham Maslow’s theories. Following this, he wrote 45 Keys to Unlocking Your Dreams and its companion workbook, The 45 Keys Workbook (2024), offering practical tools for goal-setting and success.
Currently, Jerry is working on the second installment of the Dream Catcher series, Embracing My Destiny, continuing his journey of sharing knowledge, experiences, and the mindset required for excellence.
==Achievements==
Year	Championship 	Fight Style 	Weight Class
1992	Dutch Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Middleweight
1993	European Champion 	Thai Kickboxing 	Super Welterweight
1994	European Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Welterweight
1995	European Champion 	American style Full c. kickboxing 	Middleweight
1995	World Champion 	Thai kickboxing Contact Karate 	Welterweight
1995	World Champion 	Shidokan Full Contact karate 	Lightweight
1996	North American Champion 	American style full c. Kickboxing	Welterweight
1996	World Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Super Welterweight
1996	World Champion 	Shidokan Full Contact karate 	Lightweight
1997	World Champion 	Shidokan Full Contact karate 	Lightweight
1998	World Champion 	Shidokan Full Contact karate 	Lightweight
1999	World Champion 	Shidokan Full Contact karate 	Lightweight
2001	European Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Super Welterweight
2001	World Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Super Welterweight
2003	World Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Super Welterweight
2003	Intercontinental Champion	Shidokan karate 	Middleweight
2006	World Champion 	Thai kickboxing 	Super Welterweight
==Books==
Year	Book title 	Picture	Note
2015	Dream Catcher 	 	ISBN: 978-94-6345-677-7
2016	Dream Catcher “The Special Edition” 	 	ISBN:978-94-6386-106-9
2017	Dromenvanger 	 	ISBN:978-94-6345-678-4
2019	Mindset is the difference between the best and the rest (Included 128 page workbook) English	 	ISBN:978-94-6481-715-7
2019	Mindset is het verschil tussen de beste en de rest. (included 128 workbook) Dutch 	 	ISBN:978-94-6481-728-7
2024	45 KEYS TO UNLOCKING YOUR DREAMS - Strategies for Turning Ambitions into Reality 	120px 	ISBN:NR. 978-94-6511-500-9
2024	THE 45 KEYS WORKBOOK - Your Companion to Unlocking Goals and Dreams 	 	ISBN:NR. 978-94-6511-499-6
2025	Beyond Achievement - A 12 Step Guide to Self- Actualization 	120px 	ISBN:978-94-6481-729-4
==Gallery==
==References==
==External links==
* Official website
* Jerry Morris on Facebook
* 
* Jerry Morris on YouTube
Category:1970 births
Category:Dutch Antillean martial artists
Category:Dutch boxers
Category:Dutch authors
Category:Motivational speakers
Category:Life coaches