21-04-2024
It first started as a nice idea, but it has grown to a beautiful large project.
On Sunday, March 31, the taekwondo shoot took place in the Powerhouse 040 space. The goal was to shoot a story of how we as taekwondo athletes experience the sport from the inside and outside. This has been taken to a higher level by enthusiastic sponsors. In collaboration with 3 athletes from the National selection (me, Joep and Ceyhun), 3 videographers (Tom, Emiel and Rob), photographer Harry (NihonSport) and Powerhouse who facilitated the space, we made it a successful shoot. NihonSport also provided us with the necessary equipment that allowed us to shine even better on screen. Rob brought his drone which resulted in great videos. The video is online visible through this link in which we attempt to portray Taekwondo from different perspectives with input from our personal experiences.
Keep an eye on the socials! In the meanwhile, enjoy the small edits of the shoots!
05-10-2025
Yesterday, I officially received my Bachelors Degree in Laws (LL.B.). Despite having had my diploma since January, this ceremony felt like a special occasion to reflect on everything I have achieved. It was a day full of pride and joy, and I look forward to what the future will bring me!
24-08-2025
From August 21 to 24, 2025, I took part in the very first Sportwerk Champions Camp in Düsseldorf (Germany)—an exceptional Taekwondo event organized by Sportwerk Düsseldorf.
The camp consisted of four intensive training days, with a total of seven sessions. These sessions were led by an impressive line-up of Olympic and World Champion coaches, including Rosendo Alonso, Bianca Cook, Aaron Cook, and Erdal Töre.
In addition to technical and tactical training, we had the opportunity to truly test our skills during match simulations using KPNP’s next-generation electronic scoring system.
The sessions were both educational and exhausting, filled with valuable insights, motivation, and team spirit. The perfect blend of challenge and enjoyment turned this training camp into not only a highly instructive event but also an unforgettable experience.
A big thank you to Sportwerk Düsseldorf for the invitation, the flawless organization, and the opportunity to train under such outstanding coaches. You truly made this camp a success!
Pictures shot by: Julia Ronken
27-07-2025
I’m incredibly proud and grateful to have represented Tilburg University once again on one of the world’s biggest student-athlete stages — the FISU World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region, Germany.
This unforgettable event brought together over 8,500 student-athletes from more than 100 countries. Competing at this level is already a privilege — but I was especially honoured to be chosen as flagbearer for the Netherlands 🇳🇱 during the spectacular opening ceremony in Duisburg. That moment, standing under the lights and carrying our flag, is one I will carry with me for life.
The atmosphere, the sportsmanship, and the friendships built during these 12 days made it a truly enriching experience. I embraced every moment — both on and off the mat.
In my opening match, I faced a strong opponent from Thailand. It was an intense, back-and-forth fight that went the full distance. After three hard-fought rounds, I lost 1–2. While it was disappointing to miss out on progressing further, my opponent went on to win the gold medal, which underlines the level of competition at this tournament.
Huge thanks to Studentensport Nederland for their outstanding organisation, and to Rafik Zohri and Hamza El Baroud for their great coaching.
And of course, thank you to Tilburg University, CurrentWerkt, UnitedConsumers, and Nihon Sport Nederland for their continued, sponsoring, support and trust. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to create another unforgettable chapter in my combined academic and athletic journey.
With this, the 2024–2025 season comes to an end — but my motivation is as strong as ever.
Here’s to new challenges, new goals, and more growth ahead!
A proud taekwondo athlete with Olympic ambitions who represents the Netherlands at international tournaments. Besides the passion for sports, Aymen is also a Master student of International Law & Global Governance at Tilburg University.
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