“Well, the most important difference to know is that we don’t punch or kick judoka. Furthermore, ground fighting is an element that is fundamentally different from martial arts such as karate or boxing. Where in boxing there is a break after falling on the ground, in judo the fight continues so that points can still be scored – through choking and locking techniques or by pinning the opponent on their back. Also a key difference is the main way of scoring: throwing at the opponent’s back through various turning techniques, counter techniques and foot throws. For example, the Seoi-nage is a very popular technique here as it can be thrown from pretty much any hold, and the O-goshi which is very popular with beginners. What must also not be forgotten is the respect that prevails in judo towards both the opponent and the referee on the mat. In judo, any unsportsmanlike behavior is immediately punished with a penalty, but in most cases also with disqualification.”
You are not only known in the district and your home club – the MTSV Aerzen – for your skills on the mat. With the JT Hannover you are represented in the 1st Judo Bundesliga on the German stage and you have already caused a sensation at international competitions. Where does your passion for this sport come from?
“Our passion for sport in general became apparent very early on through our childhood urge to move. We came to judo relatively early on through our father, who himself practiced martial arts for years. That was at the age of six and since then we’ve been on the mat every day. The versatility of the sport and the values that are conveyed have always been a reason for us to stay on the ball and constantly improve.”
Sebastian, you secured the gold medal at the North German Championships at the end of September. Previously, you had already won the state championship title in the U21 age group and also did well in the comparison tournament with the best German athletes in your age group. Why are you doing so well at the moment?
“I have to say in advance that I have built up a big backlog with my Abitur, since competitive sports and good academic performance at a ‘normal school’ can hardly be reconciled. That’s why I focused a lot more on the exams this year, which of course meant that the performance in judo went downhill significantly. After graduating from high school, I decided to give my all for sports again, which of course means hard and continuous training and the right diet. Discipline is the point through which you can achieve anything if you’re willing to give it your all and that’s how I’ve managed to get back to my top form and even beyond.”
Nicolas, you were last at the Junior European Championships in Prague. In May you also secured the silver medal at the Junior European Cup in Malaga. Not to be forgotten is your performance at the World Championships debut in Almaty (Kazakhstan), where you immediately worked your way into the top ten. How do you reconcile the many national and international trips with school or work and private life?
“I would be lying if I said that everything always runs smoothly. I had a lot of problems, especially when I was at school. Being abroad for several weeks at a time at competitions and training camps all over the world often meant boisterous holidays for classmates, but for me the absence meant catching up on all the schoolwork I missed and preparing for upcoming class tests in addition to hard training. Moving to the boarding school made things a lot easier for me. In this way, I was able to save myself a lot of training and use the time I gained to get help. In addition, the school, which works in cooperation with the boarding school, offered me the opportunity to do a training session in the morning instead of classes. Even if my everyday life is very stressful and exhausting, it always helps me to keep my goals in mind so that I can see what I am training for every day and it makes me aware that the hard work will eventually pay off.”
The opponent firmly under control: Sebastian Kunze. Photo: Sportfotos24.
You both fight in the lightweight weight classes. While you, Sebastian, compete in the class up to 60 kilograms body weight, you, Nicolas, start for the 66 kilogram fighters. What role do diet and fitness play in maintaining the weight classes?
“Both fitness and nutrition are of course incredibly important. The workouts that are spread out throughout our day basically help us not bulk up and maintain a baseline weight. Nutrition is then the most important point in reaching the weight limit, especially in the period before the tournaments. Especially up to 60kg it is a very hard time the last two weeks before the scale. As an example, before the North German championship I had to lose 8.5kg to reach my weight class, so the diet consisted mostly of salad and diet shakes. For the last three days I hadn’t eaten and drinking was also kept to a minimum, which included the sauna and running in a winter jacket and sweat suit as part of my everyday life. As a result, I managed to reach my fighting weight of 60 kg in just under ten days. I have to say that such a diet combined with water loss is extremely unhealthy and is not a method that will result in long-term weight loss.”
On October 16th you will both go to Frankfurt/Oder. There you will compete with the best U21 judo fighters in the whole country as part of the German junior championship. What are your ambitions and goals for the tournament?
“We know that we are favorites in our weight classes. But it is clear to us that the goal is not to win. Our goal is to stay focused on the mat and not let any pressure get to us. If we get those points, the title isn’t the goal, it’s the result we deserve. The medal would of course be a very nice reward that we would like to see. We know how hard we’ve trained and that we’re well prepared, so we don’t have any doubts either.”
