How did your first contact with sport come about, where did you start?
I started with vaulting. That actually laid the foundation for flexibility and flexibility back then.
How did you get from there to kung fu and martial arts, which is something like your "trademark"?
I was always there inside. As a child, I always wanted my parents to send me to a Shaolin monastery (laughs). Unfortunately, in the small town where I grew up, there was nothing suitable.
When I left home and moved to the big city at the age of 18, I finally had a lot of opportunities, I tried my hand and when I came to my first master’s school for the first time, I knew right away: I’m off here immediately every day.
Was that pretty late?
Yes, quite late, that's right. But I've really done sports all my life, seven years of volleyball at a high level, 6 years of rowing and this discipline, which has always fascinated me about Shaolin monks, also tried to implement, to practice, to train here.
Because I never neglected my ability to stretch or mobility and did fitness 5 times a week, I was able to apply this to Kung Fu quickly, so I only had to train myself the technical know-how.
What martial arts do you do now?
Mainly Wun Hop Kuen Do Kung Fu before it was Southern Shaolin style in Hannover. Because I moved to Hamburg, I had to start the system all over again. In it also weapons, preferably sabers. Escrima, Filipino stick fighting, is also integrated into my current system, and I'm also very interested in that. This year I started with Muay Thai, now I would like to expand it further in the future, also in competition form. Just before my injury I started Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and full contact.
As a woman, how did you come to martial arts, because unfortunately it is still less of a typical "women's discipline"?
Initially, it was the mindset that impressed me, but also the combativity itself. From my inner attitude, as you know me, I "bite" my way through everything and when it gets challenging, then even more so. It may not be a typical women's or girl's sport, but I don't care either.
I think if a woman understands certain things, whether it's fitness or martial arts and it makes that "click", then she's at least as dangerous as everyone else.
What is a typical training week like for you?
In Hamburg 5 times a week kung fu, 1 time Thai boxing and 2 times fitness. In fitness, mainly full-body training, compound movements, so that I get real added value from it. With kung fu, my units differ from very, very conditionally intensive to very technical training and then of course the weapon training.
How long does a workout usually last for you?
In kung fu, a unit lasts an hour, and I usually complete several in a row, but try to alternate the intensities. I'm usually a little over an hour at the gym.
Besides this time-consuming training, do you still have time for other hobbies or friends?
I live another passion through my business psychology studies and through my work in this area.
Friends are a difficult subject. To put it this way, I see most of my friends at training, so maybe you don't talk that much to each other during that time, but it's also an almost more intensive way of spending time together non-verbally.
In addition, there is usually enough time for conversation before or after training. It also requires good time management. But it's true, training and this "lifestyle", this life are my priority and that's why I appreciate my friends so much because they accept that too.
At this point, once again, a very big thank you to you.
What does sport mean to you apart from purely physical training?
Pure passion. There is nothing more essential to me than fighting. It trains so much more than just the body, especially on a spiritual, mental level. I love to constantly develop and expand myself. For me, every kind of skill that I can take with me on my way is needed for this.
For me, sport is passion, life, all rolled into one.
Is this also your motivation that keeps driving you forward: On the one hand, striving for higher things on a personal level, as well as the extremely deep passion for the sport?
Yes, in any case. It just means everything to me. And if one day they had to take my leg off, I wouldn't give up, I would just keep fighting.
What do you personally see as your greatest success?
When I was 16, I had an operation that completely knocked me out of everything for a total of 1 1/2 years, after that I had to go to rehab and then, at 17, was really emotionally broken. Having to experience this made me stronger, I came out of it changed. It just "clicked". After that I said: OK, from now on I'll arrange my life exactly the way I want it. Since then I feel much more intensively, everything feels much more colorful, more real, especially on an emotional and perceptual level.
Having to experience this at the age of 17 on the one hand, but then also "fighting myself free" from this state, that is the greatest achievement that I have made for myself. Everything I was able to learn during this time still has an impact today. That "kicked" my life into something positive.
I no longer live just to myself, but extremely intensely. Unfortunately, this is something that many people have not yet discovered for themselves.
My biggest low blow allowed me to really swing up.
On a sporting level, my greatest success was the Weser marathon in Olympic rowing at the age of 14 with a distance of 135 kilometers per day, which I completed several times. Now, in the last two years, the 24-hour kung fu training sessions have also been repeated.
Did martial arts help you to train this intense, conscious life and experience?
It was more the other way around. I didn't do any martial arts back then. I had to learn this mindfulness the hard way and was able to use it in Kung Fu as a result. However, this definitely made it even more refined.
How did you get your name "Prototype Alina"? Does this have a deeper meaning for you?
It just suits my attitude to life. Always evolving, never standing still. For me personally, life is about creating yourself, always expanding. You face so many challenges in life. You should always remain true to yourself, but also adapt a bit to the situation. My main concern is not to compare myself to others, but to create a complete individual. In my opinion, that should be the maxim for everyone.
In that sense, I am a prototype that will never be finished and finished. But he shouldn't. A constant growth
You recently suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. Of course, that represents another setback. But the way you are experienced as a person, you still don't give up, you keep going into training.
But how do you still ensure the balance, not to overwhelm yourself in this battered state?
That's correct. I usually have to slow myself down rather than motivate myself (laughs). I arrange it in such a way that on the one hand I try to listen to my body extremely intensively, but consider this in a combined overall picture with the feedback that I get from people who I consider competent.
We all know that, sometimes you just need an outsider's view, even if you think you can judge yourself well. I talk a lot with other athletes, get a lot of opinions, for example from Abu Ilias, who is also a member of Team Phantom Athletics . At this point also thanks to you, Abu.
I always think it's important to seek expert opinion, but also to consider your own opinion. And so far I've been back on my feet from every injury faster than the doctors predicted and not once has the injury gotten worse from training. So I'd say I've managed pretty well so far.
If you want to and find the balance, an incredible amount is possible.
You are also very active on social media, where you also have an extremely loyal and constantly growing number of followers. How did that start back then?
Actually, I got into it through my brother. When I was already undressed he was dying for me to sign up on Instagram so he could tag me under some pics. I then uploaded one or two pictures from the training and when I understood that there are people out there who are just as crazy as me, who tick in a similar way, have the same passion, I understood that this is a real community. For me, the number of followers has no value, I'm only interested in the connection to like-minded people that this makes possible for me.
Especially when I was injured, I noticed that it wasn't just followers, it was a real network. I've been messaged by so many people giving me tips, contact details for their specialists and, and, and. This community is really strong. Extreme.
How did you join Team Phantom Athletics ?
Then the name Abu comes up again.
That was on World Fitness Day. Shortly before that, Abu wrote to me that he would like to have me on the team. At that time I already had a cooperation with another brand.
For me it's like this: If I decide on something, I do it right. That's why I answered him: "Abu, thank you for asking, I think that's cool, but I want to get to know you personally first and if it fits, then I'll be behind you 100 percent."
We then met on World Fitness Day, I was convinced and since then Phantom Athletics has been part of my life and I am proud to be able to support you as one of your athletes.
What was your first impression of the Phantom training mask?
I wanted to try it, but wasn't quite sure what to think of it.
Your first training with her?
My thought when I put them on for the first time was just. "Great shit".
I went to the gym with a friend. I started deadlifting, then I went to the punching bag, and I did a lot of bodyweight training, just to see how my body reacts to the unfamiliar load, how does it feel. I really liked it because I felt like I could focus more on myself and the training. I felt everything far more intensely.
Then what?
I started using them for mountain biking, that's where I mainly use them. In terms of martial arts, I particularly like to use them when I train a lot of street fighting techniques. This makes the training much more intense and effective, the stress level is higher and I can train higher benefits.
What was your most extreme experience with the Phantom Training Mask?
That was at the second training session with her. I practiced street fighting and set myself a timer. If I do that, I'll stick to it. Suddenly I switched the mask to level 4 with a random movement, but I really wanted to go through with the timer. After that I thought to myself: Now I need a break.
Do you also notice a mental improvement with the Phantom Training Mask?
In any case. This psychological effect, this release of adrenaline, is also one of the main reasons why I train with the mask.
Do you already have goals about how to continue after the injury?
First, of course, "learn to walk" again, meanwhile a lot of upper body training, while sitting with weapons and the like. After that, to be honest, I have to see how I stand and where my passion is taking me. Whether I'm going to kung fu championships or stepping up muay thai, maybe I'll do full contact with weapons. I can't say that in detail yet.
What I guarantee though, I'll be back, is beyond question and stronger than before.
If you too, like Alina, want to improve your physical and mental abilities in order to push your body to peak athletic performance, you should take a look at our Phantom training mask!
Contact
Do you have any questions about the Phantom training mask? You can contact us here at any time:- mail: info@phantom-athletics.com
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