From Code to Weights: Interview with Marek Matula, Developer and Strength Coach

Marek, how did you get into programming? What secondary school did you attend before the University of Ostrava?

I went to an eight-year grammar school in Bílovec. I got into programming by starting a “clan” in an online game. Every clan needed its own website. 🙂

What do you enjoy about being a developer?

I have always been interested in problem-solving. I also like that every day at work is a little different, and I enjoy creating things.

What are you working on at ProRocketeers right now?

The my213 project for the RBP health insurance company.

How long have you been part of the RBP team?

I joined the team in September 2023, but the project had been running for a long time before I came along.

(Note: ProRocketeers has been developing software for RBP since 2019. Its my213 app was named App of the Year in 2021.)

Are you a backend or frontend developer?

I work on both the backend and frontend. Recently, though, I have mostly been doing frontend work because I am focused on redesigning the project.

Which technologies do you use?

Next.js, Node.js, PostgreSQL, Prisma, and GraphQL. For the mobile app, we use Expo.

What have you implemented on the project?

Over the past few months, I have mainly worked on redesigning the my213 app.

What have you enjoyed most about the project so far?

The redesign, because it helped me improve my styling skills.

What has been the biggest obstacle on the project?

I cannot say I have encountered any major obstacles.

We know that you do powerlifting professionally in your spare time. Could you tell us more about the sport? How long have you been involved?

I do it more as a hobby myself; my main role is as a coach.

Powerlifting is similar to Olympic weightlifting, but it consists of three events: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. The goal is to lift as much weight as possible, and the results are added together for the total.

These days, I am more focused on strongman training. The events usually involve lifting, carrying, pulling, or pushing extremely heavy objects. I have been training for about ten years, with a few longer breaks along the way, for example during COVID.

Did you do any other sports before?

Yes. I played football from the age of five and took part in a few amateur athletics competitions. I started playing basketball at lower secondary school, and that is actually what got me into working out. It was also where I had my first coaching experience, eventually leading to a position at NH Ostrava.

What made you become a coach?

I would say it was chance. While I was still in secondary school, I started coaching younger children at a basketball club, organising tournaments, and trying to create more sporting activities in the region. Then, by chance, the manager of NH Ostrava heard about me and made me an offer. Over time, I became the strength and conditioning coach for all the youth teams and naturally started doing individual training too.

What kinds of people do you coach?

Anyone who wants to work on themselves in some way. Their age, gender, or athletic level does not matter to me. I have coached children as young as nine in basketball classes, and my oldest client was a little over 50.

You recently started a powerlifting club in Ostrava. Can you tell us about it?

Yes, Twister Powerlifting Club is registered with the Czech Powerlifting Federation. We currently have ten members and two coaches. We are based at the Twister gym, where most members train, though some work out elsewhere, for example in Prague or at other gyms in Ostrava.

Your team has had some success in competitions. What are your latest wins?

Our most recent achievements include category wins at the North Moravian Championships and new national records.

In the past, I coached young basketball players who regularly got close to being selected for the Czech national team. As for the powerlifting club, our latest achievement was a new Czech deadlift record in the junior women’s category.

What are your own records?

I would much rather talk about my clients’ achievements than my own. 😀 I once ran 100 metres in 11.5 seconds and 400 metres in 55 seconds. My lifts are a 190 kg squat, a 125 kg bench press, and a 240 kg deadlift.

You even coach a few Rocketeers!

Yes, I coach a few Rocketeers. Rišty was my very first client, but he is taking a break now because of the new baby. Adam Bahr has been training with me as a sparring partner for a while. Then there is you, of course, and my newest client is Kuba Ševčík.

Are you planning to help us Rocketeers break records too? 😀

Haha. 😀 I would never push anyone into this sport, but if someone is interested, our doors are open.

You also helped inspire us to build a gym at ProRocketeers, which is getting ready for its grand opening. What will we find there?

Hopefully everything you need for a full workout: a few machines, dumbbells, benches, and so on.

For recreational powerlifting, all you need is a rack, a barbell, and plates. If you have competition ambitions, you will also need good shoes, a powerlifting belt, and wraps for your wrists, knees, and elbows.

This sport is demanding both physically and mentally. What does it take to achieve the kind of success your athletes have? Do you need a certain mindset to push past your limits?

Definitely. Above all, you have to listen to your coach. 😀 Consistency matters most, and you need to make time for training. You also have to put your ego aside sometimes and slow down to avoid injuries. After all, you cannot lift extreme weights all year round.

Have you brought anything from this sport into programming? Do sport and a developer’s job have anything in common? 🙂

I think my coaching career has taught me how to communicate effectively with a team. Sport can also teach you to work under pressure and make quick decisions. And I believe the saying “a healthy mind in a healthy body” is true. When you exercise and feel physically well, it carries over into your mental work too, for example, programming.

Thanks for the interview! We wish you every success as you take on new challenges in sport and programming!