Five questions for Philip Hansson...
... a Swedish Championship medallist in wushu and an RIU student studying the fourth semester of the Computer AvÐÔ°® programme.
1 What is wushu?
You can also call it kung fu. Wushu, just like other martial arts, has both a combat component and a form component – a display component. Taekwondo comes from Korea, karate comes from Japan, and kung fu is probably the martial art for which China is best known. The sport consists of three purely competitive disciplines: combat, form and tai chi, which is also part of kung fu.
2 Why did you start doing it?
I practised taekwondo when I was younger, but as a teenager I felt the urge to try something new. Of course, I started with what many teenage boys think is cool – Muay Thai, kickboxing and the like. But I realised pretty soon that I enjoyed the form parts of the sport much more, as they require more discipline and technique in the movements. I like acrobatics and things like that.
3 Elite sport and studies – how does it work?
For my particular programme in computer science, it actually works very well. I haven’t had to adjust my pace of study, since a lot of the material is available both online and through our lecturers. They’re very helpful, and they often post lecture materials and old lectures. Of course, combining competitions and training with studies requires a lot of self-discipline and planning.
4 What’s the best thing about your education?
It must be that it’s so broad. I’d also like to mention Alex Gerdes and Koen Claessen, who were our first lecturers at the beginning of the programme – they’re absolutely amazing! They inspire you, and motivate you to keep going. I also like the fact that the education is quite theoretical. Computer science was my first choice, and it was this specialisation that attracted me the most.
5 What are your plans for the future?
I definitely want to do a master’s. It’s hard to do everything you want in just three years. A master’s degree also opens up more opportunities for an international career. I’m interested in exchange studies, and I’ve applied to do a semester in Singapore. Hopefully, I’ll have the chance to study there and continue competing at the same time.
As told to: Erika Hoff
