Various Sports

After our military service (1984–1985), Fred and I started training at Sportcentrum Hollander, which was still a small space at the time with Nautilus® equipment. We trained three times a week, working very hard.

After a year, we were asked to become instructors. Our head instructor was Jan, followed by Ruud. In 1995, all instructors had to pass a Nautilus exam and were ranked into levels: assistant, B, A, or head instructor. Fred and I both became A-instructors and quickly moved up to head instructors after that.

Over the years I trained many new instructors — from assistant level up to A-level — not only for Thursday evenings, but for other evenings as well. The last ones I personally trained were Debby and Stephan.

In 2012, Jimmy Peek took over the sports centre and I became coordinator on Thursday evenings, responsible for the entire evening shift.

Unfortunately, the sports centre went bankrupt in early 2015 and was taken over by Basic-Fit, who do not work with Nautilus® equipment or fitness instructors. After 29 years, that chapter came to an end.

On 4 January 1989, my brother and I started karate. After two years of weight training, it turned out to be not as easy as we had expected — high kicks were quite challenging at first with those stiff muscles!

After about a year of training, we took our first exam. The kyu ranking:

Grade	Date	Note
10th Kyu	29 April 1989
9th Kyu	26 June 1989	⭐ International Summer Camp
8th Kyu	29 September 1989
7th Kyu	21 December 1989
6th Kyu	13 July 1990	⭐ International Summer Camp
5th Kyu	13 December 1990
4th Kyu	12 June 1991	⭐ International Summer Camp
3rd Kyu	17 June 1992
2nd Kyu	13 December 1993

⭐ Grades achieved during the International Karate Summer Camp at Sportpark Papendal in Arnhem — a week full of training, exams, and great fun.

From 8th Kyu onwards, I began competing, first locally, then nationally — including a 3rd place at the Open Championships of Rotterdam.

A video of a championship match in Rotterdam in 1990, where I finished third

All things come to an end. A serious injury to my big toe ended my karate career — I discovered that I had broken it twice without knowing. In April 1997, I had to give up one of my favourite sports. Those years taught me discipline and gave me an enormous amount of self-confidence.

Back in Gi — Croatia 2015

In May 2015, Terry and I were invited by my former karate teacher Shihan Vlado Haljer and Sensei Jenny Scholten of Katsu Heiwa Dojo to attend a week-long karate camp in Samobor, Croatia. After 18 years, I put on my karategi again! Unfortunately I suffered from a heel spur and could not participate in everything. Terry earned her orange belt — she trained the entire week. A truly memorable experience.

Osu.

After my karate injury in 1997, I needed a new challenge. When the sports centre acquired 32 spinning bikes in 2005, my passion for indoor cycling was born. From the very first trial classes, I was hooked on the spinning bug.

From early 2006, I followed the Indoor Cycling Instructor course. On 11 June 2006, I became a certified Indoor Cycle Instructor. After a few substitute classes, I received my own regular slot on Wednesday evenings from January 2007.

When Henk left in April 2008, I took on two more hours on Monday evenings — bringing my total to three spinning classes per week.

From 2007 onwards, I organised the annual Christmas Spinning Marathon — three hours of non-stop spinning each year for a good cause at the sports centre.

On Sunday 5 June 2011, Jimmy and I started the AALO Cycle Master Course, which we successfully completed on 24 June — becoming certified AALO Cycle Masters.

When the sports centre was taken over by Basic-Fit in 2015, I was able to continue on their bikes. After 10 years of spinning, I decided to stop teaching and pursue new challenges.

2 December 2015 — I gave my final class. Thank you for all those wonderful years!

24 August 1996 — my brother and I departed for Mieussy, France, with the Paragliding Club of André Wieringa from Utrecht.

The first day: a hill behind the campsite to run down and feel a paraglider above your head for the first time. The theory covered eight chapters: Equipment Knowledge, Practice, Aerodynamics, Meteorology, Regulations, Advanced Flying, Navigation, and Flying in the Netherlands.

Day three: we drove up to 1,400 metres for the first time — walkie-talkies in hand, paraglider on our backs, climbing the final 200 metres on foot. Standing on the launch site at 1,600 m, looking down at the tiny cars and houses in the valley far below...

"Run, run, run — feel the paraglider rising above your head — keep running until your feet leave the mountain — hang until you are completely free — sit back in your harness — look around calmly. 1.6 km is still high..."

The flight pattern: Downwind along the landing area → Base leg towards the midpoint of the landing area → Final landing into the wind. We flew in the morning and late afternoon to avoid thermals.

After the week we had enough flights to complete the practical part of the A-licence. Theory exam: passed with a score of 8.

A year later we returned to France for the B-licence, to learn flying with thermals. Longest flight: three and a half hours.

A new challenge in August 2022 that I took on at Terry's encouragement: CrossFit at Eudokia CrossFit in Rotterdam.

What is CrossFit?

CrossFit is a high-intensity fitness programme that combines elements of weightlifting, aerobics, gymnastics, and other functional movements. The workouts — also known as "WODs" (Workout of the Day) — are typically short and intense.

CrossFit is about improving your quality of life and having a great time. It is empirically driven, clinically tested, and community developed. It enables effective and safe training for everyone.

Unfortunately I had to stop CrossFit in January 2024 due to an old/new hand injury — a tendon is stuck and restricts full movement of my hand. A setback, but on to the next challenge!

6 September 2024 — I went boxing with Terry at Lucie in Rotterdam.

High Intensity Training (HIT) with the boxing discipline in a motivating 'club' atmosphere. No fighting — a cool Party! Train to a great beat and achieve super-fast results with Lucie's six-punch formula.

Boxing on an Aquabag

Instead of traditional sand or textile boxing bags, Lucie uses aquabags — bags filled with water. The water absorbs the impact, reducing the load on joints and muscles, while also providing more realistic feedback that mimics the resistance of a real opponent.

Started cycling in May 2015. In June 2024, in addition to my mountain bike, I also bought a road bike.

The bikes

Mountain bike: 2015 Cube AMS 100 — with the renowned AMS 4-Link suspension system with 100 mm travel front and rear. Rock Shox Reba SL 100 mm front fork with Motion Control and PopLoc. Lightweight, responsive, and great for trails.

Road bike: Cube Attempt 105 — Carbon fork, aluminium frame, Shimano 105 groupset (3×10), Fulcrum Racing 7 wheelset. Frame size 58.

We often go cycling in different groups with family and friends in a 'club' atmosphere. I usually plan the route and then we give it everything! Wonderful and relaxing on the bike.

All rides — both on the mountain bike and on the road bike — can be found (* only for my contacts) on * Strava ↗

January 1991 — Fred, Vlado, Jenny and Laureanne (aged 0.6 years) and I went skiing together for the first time in France, at Val d'Isère Espace Killy.

The first time on skis, Jenny taught us the basics of skiing during the first few days on a green slope right next to the apartment.
A small hill by the Savonnette ski lift.

Through trial and error we got through the first days, after which we tackled the real mountains and did many blue runs, which usually went well.
The only trouble was that to get back to the apartment quickly and easily we had to come down via the "Coupe du monde" 🤬 a very dark Red piste.