A combination of rigorous training and mastery of the technique took the calm martial arts specialist far. So far, in fact, that in the 1970s he twice became the Dutch national champion. In which years exactly, Meijer no longer remembers, but that doesn't seem to bother him. He is equally unconcerned by no longer knowing precisely when, in his role as national coach, he achieved success with the Dutch team in the 1990s. Asked which is the prize he is most proud of, he does not pick a national or world trophy. “I was impressed by the style award I received from Kono, which I was given by him because I was the best karate fighter at that time.”

For many years, he spent four evenings a week at TU/e running four-hour training sessions. As well as karate, he gave lessons in kempo-jutsu and judo. Meijer has always had a good relationship with his pupils. Indeed, various of them requested that he be interviewed. “In all those years, my groups were full and I kept things as individual as possible. For example, it was a habit of mine to greet my pupils by shaking their hand as they entered the dojo.”