Tag: Philip Ricardo Jr.
Philip Ricardo Jr: How To Become A Successful Pro Natural Bodybuilder
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Philip Ricardo Jr. discusses the INBA/PNBA and how bodybuilding lovers who do not want to use drugs can become successful as a pro natural bodybuilder.
Philip Ricardo Jr. has his own promoted INBA/PNBA natural bodybuilding competition coming up this month. The Pro/Am Philip Ricardo Legends International is set for April 30, 2022 and will be the first major event in the INBA/PNBA 2022 season. That’s why we decided to reconnect with Ricardo Jr. and discuss his upcoming show and other trending topic sin both natural and untested bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. goes into detail on how become a successful pro natural bodybuilder.
For many fans in the bodybuilding world, it’s seen that an actual bodybuilding career or success can only happen in the IFBB Pro league. That in order to become a successful bodybuilder, one will have to use PEDs such as steroids to become a bodybuilding superstar. But Philip Ricardo Jr. wants bodybuilding lovers to know that this isn’t true. The leading league in natural bodybuilding, INBA/PNBA, is taking strides to make pro natural bodybuilders super stars in their own right.
That’s why we reconnected with Philip Ricardo Jr. – to discuss the tactics and paths that aspiring natural bodybuilders can take to find success and a career in bodybuilding without having to resort to PEDs. With Ricardo’s very own Pro/Am show around the corner kicking off the INBA/PNBA season – there was no better time to inform those on the fence how they can go from aspiring bodybuilder to natural bodybuilding champion.
The INBA/PNBA Pro/Am Philip Ricardo Legends International is set to be the first major show of the INBA/PNBA season. Not only is this the first pro/am show of 2022 for the league, Philip Ricardo Jr. has personally worked to ensure that some of the biggest names in the INBA/PNBA will be competing. Former Mr. America and Natural Olympia champions will be in attendance to make for a superstar weekend (that Generation Iron will cover and provide a full recap later this month).
But how does one become an INBA/PNBA superstar? Is it possible to make a full time career out of being a pro natural bodybuilder? Philip Ricardo Jr. took some time with us to detail how the INBA/PNBA qualification system works and how the major pro shows handle prize money and promotion.
The INBA/PNBA is not unlike the IFBB/NPC. The INBA league (International Natural Bodybuilding Association) is the amateur division of the league. The PNBA (Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association) is the pro division of the league. Amateurs compete in INBA shows to eventually earn their pro card.
But unlike the IFBB Pro league, once a natural bodybuilder receives a pro card – they can continue to compete in the INBA amateur league as long as they want. This allows for flexibility in the bodybuilder’s career – they can continue to compete until they feel their physique is prepared for the pro level. Yet, while they prepare they can still gain experience (and cash prizes) by competing in the amateur league as they transition into pro.
The Pro/Am Philip Ricardo Legends International is the first pro/am of the season and a perfect showcase for what kind of success a pro natural bodybuilder can really achieve. In addition to this – you can witness the INBA amateur league strive for the next round of pro card qualifications.
Check out Philip Ricardo Jr.’s full tips and info on how to become a successful pro natural bodybuilder by watching our GI Exclusive interview segment above! And for more information on the Pro/Am Philip Ricardo Legends International – visit the official INBA/PNBA website right here.
Philip Ricardo Jr: How Mr. America Will Help Him Reclaim The Natural Olympia Title
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Philip Ricardo Jr. was a last minute entrant into the Mr. America 2021 – but he’s confident the experience will help him be better prepared for this month’s Natural Olympia competition.
In 2019, Philip Ricardo Jr. became the new champion of the Natural Olympia competition. The event is an all-natural WADA compliant version of the Mr. Olympia. They have no direct affiliation – but the prestige is the same for the natural athletes who compete in the INBA/PNBA bodybuilding leagues. Ricardo Jr.’s victory also came the same year Generation Iron produced Natty 4 Life – the fourth film in the Generation Iron documentary series.
Now in 2021, Philip Ricardo Jr. is ready to reclaim his title at the Natural Olympia happening in November. And he believes that the Mr. America might just be the linchpin to help him bring his best physique to the stage. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. discusses the challenges of being a late entrant into the Mr. America 2021… and how it will ultimately help him win the Natural Olympia later this year.
Philip Ricardo Jr. is one of the most iconic natural bodybuilders currently competing in the division. He won the Natural Olympia in 2019 and has remained one of the most skilled and impressive competitors in the league. So it was exciting when he was announced last minute to compete at the Mr. America 2021 competition earlier in October. While the announcement was exciting for fans and helped bring an even bigger spotlight on the historic competition – this wasn’t a secret announcement that Ricardo Jr. had been prepping for.
In fact, the decision was just as much a last minute call for Philip Ricardo Jr. as it was for the fans. This meant that his contest prep was shortened. It wasn’t ideal and it was a true struggle for him in the weeks leading up to the show. Ultimately, Ricardo Jr. did not win the Mr. America competition. He’s not concerned though – as he saw this event as a key strategy in preparing for the biggest natural bodybuilding event of the year. The Natural Olympia.
It’s a strategy that is equally risky as it is rewarding. IFBB Pro competitor Iain Valliere committed to the same sort of tactic when he competed at the Arnold Classic just two weeks before competing at the Mr. Olympia. On one hand, it can throw off timing and cause the athlete to be “off peak” when he or she steps on stage. On the other, it can keep the athlete in full preparation weeks before – and then adjust any small issues noticed in the first competition just in time for the second.
Philip Ricardo Jr. seems to believe that the prep for Mr. America will push him harder – giving him an advantage when he steps on the Natural Olympia stage this month. So perhaps the goal wasn’t to put all of his eggs in the basket of winning Mr. America. Instead, it pushed his contest prep harder than ever before, took the Mr. America placing in stride, and is now confident he will be in the best shape of his life when he steps on stage in Las Vegas for the Natural Olympia.
Only time will tell. But as a previous Natural Olympia champion – we know he has it in him to present a championship-winning physique. Will the Mr. America prep do him more harm than good? That remains to be seen. We wish him the best as he battles to reclaim his title as Natural Olympia champion.
You can watch Philip Ricardo Jr. talk in more detail behind the scenes of the Mr. America 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Philip Ricardo Jr: Why It’s A Big Deal Mr. America Is Being Televised
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Pro Natural Bodybuilder Philip Ricardo Jr. talks competing in the Mr. America and why it’s a big deal that CBS Sports will televise it.
This weekend holds the Mr. America 2021, the return of a historic bodybuilding event whose history goes all the way back to 1939. Before the Mr. Universe and before the Mr. Olympia – there was the Mr. America. Natural bodybuilding Olympia champion Philip Ricardo Jr. is set to compete in a last minute surprise. Not only that but the Mr. America will be televised by CBS Sport at a later date. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. explains why the Mr. America’s continued return and it being televised is such a big deal for bodybuilding as a whole.
The last time we spoke with Philip Ricardo Jr. – it was during our promotional run for Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life. Our cameras went behind the scenes of the PNBA/INBA natural bodybuilding league to uncover the reality of this openly natural league of bodybuilding. Ricardo Jr. ended up defeating the returning natural bodybuilding Olympia champion – Rob Terry. It was an epic moment that capped off an in-depth exploration of an often misunderstood sport.
Now the new Natural Olympia champion, it seems Philip Ricardo Jr. has another accolade in his sights. The Mr. America 2021. As we stated above, it’s a long running competition (on and off) that is now coming back in full force. In fact, it’s going to be televised on CBS Sports this year.
We spoke to Philip Ricardo Jr. about the Mr. America, his prep, and why it’s so important that the competition will be televised. Despite the IFBB and Mr. Olympia being a massive PPV event – it has been quite some time since the show was broadcast on mainstream television. The Mr. America’s broadcast will be the first time in a very long time that any form of bodybuilding will be on TV.
This may, in part, be due to the Mr. America being completely natural with proven WADA drug testing before the event. While that might put off some bodybuilding fans – Philip Ricardo Jr. believes this is an important distinction. He thinks this is proof that natural bodybuilding can become larger – it can become mainstream and beloved by millions around the globe.
“No only is it drug free and drug tested but it’s televised,” Philip Ricardo Jr. states in our interview. He continues:
“So it’s showing a new movement that it’s becoming mainstream… it’s really showcasing what anyone can really attain to or aspire to if they want to get some notoriety or noticed for being athletic or in good shape.”
Philip Ricardo Jr. is being somewhat modest with his words. It must be noted that it’s been decades since pro bodybuilding in any form has been available to watch on mainstream television. To be connected with such a history competition as the Mr. America is a match made in heaven.
The return of the Mr. America is happening this weekend in Atlantic City, NJ October 8-10. Generation Iron will be reporting on the events and results as they become available. So don’t miss it!
You can also watch Philip Ricardo Jr.’s full comments, including his Mr. America prep, in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!