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Between mat and matrices – about the compatibility of studies and competitive sports

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Media computer scientist and judoka Richard Fiedler competes internationally in July

Richard Fielder has just finished his media informatics bachelor’s degree at the HTWK and lives for his great passion: judo

Richard Fiedler has just defended his bachelor’s thesis in media informatics, and he also fights very successfully as a judoka in the first Bundesliga: At the end of June he came third at the German Championships in Stuttgart, and from July 17 he will be competing for the HTWK at the “European University Games” in Łódź. How he came to judo, how studies and competitive sport can work together and what inspires him about it.

He started judo at the age of six. The 24-year-old says that he was a “excited” child and sport has always given him the opportunity to work out. From then on, his passion for judo determined his life: From his home village of Gornau in the Ore Mountains, he first wanted to go to the sports school in Chemnitz. However, because judo was no longer offered there, he moved to Leipzig at the age of fourteen and has lived there ever since. After graduating from high school, he began studying media informatics at the HTWK.

“At first I wanted to do something with sports or nutritional advice, but I was a bit lacking in future prospects. That’s why I did various internships, for example at Siemens. This gave me the idea of ​​studying media informatics. When I’m programming, I’m good at thinking my way into problems and I don’t even notice how time flies,” says Richard, explaining his choice of degree. He has already written his bachelor thesis and defended it in May. So he finds more time to devote himself to judo. It wasn’t always that easy during my studies: “Especially at the beginning it was relatively difficult,” he reports. “Even though I extended my studies by a year to do the training on the side, it was pretty hard. In the early days I was only able to train once a day, otherwise I really had to concentrate on my studies and really keep at it. At the moment I’m just about able to train twice a day and work on the side. You always have to adapt that depending on the semester and modules.” During the Corona high phase, Richard trained a lot from home and via Zoom until it was again possible for senior athletes to train in smaller groups on site.

First Bundesliga for four years

Richard has been fighting in the first Judo Bundesliga for four years. He competes in the 90kg weight class for the Leipzig Judo Club in the southern relay. The special thing about the Judo Bundesliga is that it is a team tournament in which one fighter from each weight class belongs to the team. Judo can also be a team sport. “That also makes it more attractive for viewers, because you have a bit of a perspective,” says Richard. The training to get fit for the competitions is very varied: “For example, there are standard training units in which you only do strength training like in the gym or running. Then there is technique training with other judokas, where we go through different throws and try out how best to grab and throw the opponent on the back. Of course, you can also train techniques for holding on, levering or choking on the ground. Finally, there are intensive combat units, where you have to throw your training partner in a controlled manner despite resistance or defeat them with a technique on the ground.”

He doesn’t know exactly how long Richard will continue with judo on this scale. Although the peak of physical performance is reached at around the age of 25, one can still be successful up to the early 30s with combat experience. “Personally, I have planned this on a professional scale for maybe another two to three years. So that you train twice a week, pay attention to your diet and take part in competitions. Let’s see how long this will last alongside studies and working life. But I would like to continue because I enjoy it a lot,” he says.

Competitive sport and studies? Only with time management

And how should your career continue after your bachelor’s degree? He is already working as a student trainee in software development and programs cameras and video players for sports. The connection to sport and practice is very important to him in everyday work: “I wouldn’t find a pure computer science job so exciting without the practical relevance.” Richard is also planning to start a master’s degree in October, possibly a master’s degree in media informatics at the HTWK. But he can also imagine going in a direction where you work more with people, UX design, which is about optimizing the user experience in software development, is one possibility. And he definitely wants to stay in Leipzig.

Reconciling studies, competitive sports and work definitely requires very good time management. Richard takes on this challenge because he is passionate about his sport. What fascinates him about judo is the fact “that it is a martial art that is performed relatively elegantly and intelligently. Compared to other martial arts, in judo, translated as the gentle way, you can use a variety of very controlled techniques and strategies to win.” Structure, tactics, analysis and clarity play an important role not only in judo but also in computer science role – and so the two different disciplines are ultimately much more similar to each other than it appears at first glance.

“For the university sports center of the HTWK Leipzig, it is something very special if we can support such outstanding athletes and students as Richard at our university, even if the university sports itself is used for popular sports and top athletes like Richard rarely train in the HTWK sports hall. They are looking come into contact with us on our own initiative. Then we help organizationally and financially within the scope of our possibilities – and have great respect for how these students combine studies and competitive sport. They don’t get either for free: organizational talent, determination and perseverance are required Compatibility of both worlds is ultimately very individual. Teachers, study office, sports association and athletes have to pull together,” says Robert Schiffler from HOZ.

Richard has another sporting highlight in the summer: from July 17th to 30th, 2022, Richard will compete as a judoka at the “European University Games” in Łódź for the HTWK. We wish him many “waza-aris and ippons” in his favor for the competition and all the best for his future!

Helene Schlesier spoke to Richard Fiedler, she is a student assistant at the press office.

All photos were kindly provided by Richard Fiedler.

Results of the German Championships at the end of June in Stuttgart

To the University Sports Center (HOZ)

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