Yesterday (June 26), I had the opportunity to represent SportheldenOpSchool at Ahoy Rotterdam during the Final Special – a vibrant sports day for primary school students from grades 5 to 8. A full day of movement, fun, and new discoveries. Several schools from Rotterdam and surrounding areas were present, and Ahoy was transformed into a giant sports playground with more than 22 different activities.

And me? I had the honor of leading taekwondo clinics – something I do with pride and passion, especially when it comes to getting kids excited about this beautiful sport.

New faces, new energy – every 20 minutes

Throughout the day, fresh groups of students joined me on the mat. Every 20 minutes, I stood in front of a new group of curious faces – sometimes a little nervous too: “What exactly are we going to do?” From basic kicks and stances to practicing freely on the pads – the reactions were fantastic. I often heard, “Can we spar already?”

The age range and group sizes varied, which brought a lot of variety and gave me the opportunity to adapt each session just a bit. From quiet, hesitant kids to those who jumped right in with full enthusiasm – everyone found their place on the mat.

From activity to passion?

What really moved me were the kids who were so enthusiastic they didn’t want to leave. Some stayed on the mat with me for almost an hour and a half – even though there were 21 other activities waiting for them! That says something about the power of taekwondo, but also about how important it is to give kids the space to discover what truly excites them.

The most touching moment? A boy who stood on the sidelines at first, unsure and a little reserved. But after just one exercise, he started to smile – and didn’t want to stop. That’s exactly why I do this.

More than just kicks and punches

One thing I always try to teach during a clinic is that taekwondo isn’t just a physical sport. It’s a practice in self-confidence, respect, and control. You learn about yourself. You learn to recognize limits – your own and those of others. And you discover that “fighting” in a sport context means something completely different than it does on the street.

Grateful and proud

Looking back, I feel nothing but gratitude. Thank you to SportheldenOpSchool and Sportbedrijf Rotterdam for the flawless organization. And of course, thank you to all the students, teachers, and supervisors – for your openness, energy, and enthusiasm. It was a privilege to share a piece of my world with you.

Until next time – on the mat or beyond!

– Aymen

Fighting and Still Being Friends – Clinic & Talk at Taalschool Westland

Last week, I had the honor of giving a workshop at Taalschool Westland – a special and inspiring place where students from all over the world come together to learn Dutch and slowly rebuild their lives here.

I gave a taekwondo clinic to nearly 55 students, followed by a presentation about my own journey: about elite sport, discipline, setbacks, and resilience – but above all, about the importance of connection.

What made this day truly special was the audience: many of the students are young refugees, coming from countries where violence and conflict have been part of daily life. For them, the idea that people can fight each other – and still be friends afterwards was almost impossible to grasp. That’s why we focused on this topic during the presentation.

Respect, Not Aggression

We spoke about the difference between aggression and control. About how martial arts – especially taekwondo – are rooted in respect, discipline, and self-control. You don’t train to hurt someone else. You train to develop yourself. To learn how to manage strength. To recognize boundaries – in yourself and in others.

For many of these young people, that was a new perspective. In their world, fighting is often linked to survival or danger. To see that it can also be a sport, a form of expression, and even a path to friendship was clearly eye-opening.

The Power of a Story

In the second part of the workshop, I shared my personal story in sport – from a young boy with a dream to an elite athlete who also faced injuries, setbacks, and doubt. But also someone who learned that mental resilience, focus, and community are just as important as physical strength.

I invited the students to reflect on their own stories – where they come from, where they are now, and most importantly: where they want to go. Whether you're on a taekwondo mat or in a classroom, you always have the choice to grow – consciously and with purpose.

Sport as a Bridge

What moved me most was the students’ openness, enthusiasm, and curiosity. And how a seemingly simple taekwondo exercise could spark so much joy. For a moment, sport wasn’t the goal – it became a bridge. Between cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.

A big thank you to Taalschool Westland for the invitation, to SportheldenOpSchool for organizing, and to all the students for their energy, questions, and open hearts. I hope I didn’t just show them a sport, but also a new way of seeing themselves – and each other.

Until next time – on the mat or beyond.
 Aymen

Today, I had the opportunity to attend a highly educational and inspiring networking event organised by the NOC*NSF Athletes’ Committee, as the athlete representative of the Taekwondo Federation. The event took place at Papendal and was hosted in collaboration with NL Sporter. It was a valuable occasion to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and connect with fellow athlete representatives from various sports federations.

In a dynamic college tour-style session, Adam Bakker from NL Sporter engaged in an open conversation with former top speed skater and experienced athlete representative Douwe de Vries. Their honest stories about their experiences, challenges, and achievements showed how you can truly make an impact as an athlete representative within your sports federation.

We also worked together to discuss how we, as athlete representatives, can better represent our athletes and how we can strengthen the connections between the different Athlete Committees. The event offered plenty of space for exchanging ideas on effective communication, sharing best practices, and further developing our roles as athlete representatives.

As a perfect conclusion to the day, we visited the BMX World Cup, where we enjoyed spectacular races from the VIP stand. During this sporting intermezzo, we continued our conversations and shared experiences in a relaxed setting.

All in all, it was a valuable and inspiring day that not only provided new insights but also helped strengthen the network of committed athlete representatives.