- Sports
- 23/06/2025
Sports spotlight | Samourais’ favorite number is 4
TU/e boasts a total of 38 student sports associations. And every one of them offers its own unique experience: from slamming aces to skimming across the water. At student sports center SSC, you get a wide range of options to choose from: gaming, jumping, running, cycling, rowing, flying, shooting, hanging, playing chess, surfing, punching and pushing. Cursor wants to put every one of these associations in the spotlight. The first question is “What is your favorite number?”
Warming up
Martial arts are so much more than just combat sports – they also teach you about your body and how to use it. At E.S.B.V. Samourais, this takes shape in four different disciplines, which is exactly why the association’s chairman – Computer Science student Ventsislav Koyumdzhiev – chooses four as his favorite number. These four disciplines are Aikido (which is what he practices himself), Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Karate.
If you want to do kicks, Karate is the way to go. If you prefer rolling around on the floor, BJJ is the discipline for you. Judo is all about grappling, and in Aikido, you try to neutralize your opponent’s attack by using their own energy against them. “In Aikido, it’s not about learning to fight, but about becoming a better person,” says Koyumdzhiev, who is from Bulgaria. He speaks from personal experience: “It feels amazing, it takes away all my stress.” He recommends it to everyone because “it’s healthy for both body and mind.”
“Of course you don’t hurt each other,” the chairman continues. “You want to keep practicing together, don’t you?” He practices Aikido as often as he can. And for that, you need a sparring partner, which is why – in addition to Samourais’ training sessions – he also attends classes at Samourais trainer Ad van Dongen’s Aikido school in Oosterhout. After 33 years of teaching at the SSC, Van Dongen is set to retire at the end of this season.
Scores
- Samourais offers 4 disciplines
- There are 110 members
- 80 percent of the members are non-Dutch
- The 57th board is currently in charge
- There were 25 participants at Ad van Dongen’s farewell
- Ad has been teaching for 33 years
- 4 evenings a week, Samourais offers training at the dojo in the SSC
Analyses
Caution and respect are of great importance in martial arts. There are many rituals you have to follow. “Otherwise, it turns into chaos,” says trainer Ad van Dongen. He is referring, among other things, to the custom of greeting one another. You bow slightly to each other, look each other in the eye, and then start the lesson. When you’re about to leave, you nod and bow again, and then thank each other.
Have you noticed that the letters “do” come up a lot in martial arts terminology? The Japanese word “judo” literally translates to “gentle way” or “the way of gentleness.” It is derived from the Japanese characters “jū” (“gentle”) and “dō” (“way,” “path,” or “method”).
The Japanese word “dojo” literally means “place of the way,” as “jō” translates to “place” or “hall.” “Ai” stands for harmony and “ki” refers to a person’s energy. Now take another look at the English words judo, dojo, and aikido.
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