Hendrik Ekema shares what it takes to get ready for an international martial arts championship.
Hendrik Ekema will be representing St. Maarten at the Taekwondo International World Championships at the Barclay Card Arena, Birmingham, on July 16 and 17. Not a stranger to the world of martial arts or championships, Hendrik has been earning world titles since he was just 12 years old. He is trained and experienced in boxing, karate, kickboxing and taekwondo on a high level. He was on the National Dutch team from the age of 11 to 24 years old and has represented the Netherlands internationally and has won several World and European titles.
In a short interview with Health & Beauty, Hendrik tells us what it takes to get to the Taekwondo World Championship where he will be representing Sint Maarten.
1. How long have you been training for the World Championship and what are you looking forward to as you represent Sint Maarten?
I have been training with my team now for four months. I train every day at high intensity followed by full body massages to relax my muscles. My team comprises head trainer Emanuel Richardson, who’s also the owner of Body Action SXM, and his assistant Louis. Together, they have been helping me to improve my strength and endurance. Jason Juliet is my taekwondo trainer; we work on strategies, foot work, sparring, kicks and tricks. My team pushes me to the limit and we still have four more weeks to go. We cannot wait to show the world what Sint Maarten can accomplish at this World Championship.
2. What sacrifices have you made to reach this level for the World Championship?
First of all, you have to live like an athlete, meaning, train hard, eat healthy, get rest and have total dedication to your training inside and out. You of course need to make sacrifices. Adjust your nutrition: nothing fried, if possible, steam everything like vegetables and fish, and drink lots of water. Adjust your time: staying out until late in the night is out of the picture. Adjust your laziness: no staying in bed in the morning, go straight to the gym.
3. What did you do with regard to nutrition and training to achieve the transformation that has occurred in your body?
Mr. Emmanuel Richardson collaborated with Antonio Gosilio from Incredible Nutrition & More SXM to provide me with my personalized nutrition plan which allowed for me to lose 10 kilos in six weeks without losing strength or endurance. This takes consuming six meals a day, every two hours, plus my sport nutrition, and I have to drink at least 5 litres of water throughout the day.
Emmanuel adjusted elements of bodybuilding exercises to my sport, but at a very high intensity, say one exercise: 10 sets of 30-40 reps, and every time a maximum of 30 seconds of rest. But now I’m on 15 seconds of rest. Every day I do 3km with the elevation mask, training at 16,000ft before my workout; in the beginning, you think you are going to pass out and die; but it helps your lung capacity grow fast and so does your recovery.
4. You will be wearing the St. Maarten flag proudly for this championship; please tell us more about that!
You only have one chance to make a good first impression! My fiancé had the brilliant idea to have my dobok custom-made with the flag of Sint Maarten. We wanted to have a special dobok because this is the first time that Sint Maarten will be represented at an official World Championship, the dobok was locally made.
Thanks to Hendrik, the world knows that SXM is coming with full power. We are wishing Hendrik the best of luck in attaining the belt he has worked so hard for!
Contributed by Claudienne Peterson
