Niek Kruijzen

About me

My name is Niek and I was born in Tilburg. During my vocational training in Sport and Exercise at Yonder (formerly ROC Tilburg), I chose the SCUB specialism: Sports Coordinator for Uniformed Professions. Within this specialisation, I was trained to teach target groups within the Ministry of Defence, the Police and the Justice system. The Ministry of Defence has always held a particular interest for me, and I would very much like to work there in the future.

During the second and third years of my course, I undertook work placements. On my own initiative, I set about looking for a suitable placement and ended up at Taus Gym. Although I wasn’t familiar with the gym at the time, their mission statement immediately appealed to me: to contribute to a healthy and safe society through Krav Maga and FIT classes. This vision aligned well with my own beliefs, so I decided to apply straight away. A few days later, I was told I’d been accepted.

During my work placement at Taus Gym, I was able to develop significantly, both professionally and personally. I mainly led FIT Circuit sessions and led the warm-ups for children and teenagers. I also assisted with other classes where needed. Whilst I previously had little knowledge of self-defence, I have learnt a great deal in this area over the past two years. What’s more, I’ve become part of a close-knit, motivated and inspiring community. After completing my vocational training, I therefore decided to stay at Taus Gym and continue as a stand-in instructor.

Once I have completed my current higher professional education (HBO) degree in Integrated Safety Science, my ambition is to progress to the Royal Military Academy (KMA), where I hope to train as an officer with the Royal Military Police or the Air Force.