Tag: Video
Berry De Mey Clarifies His Critical Comments: “Bodybuilding In Total Is Becoming Insane”
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Berry De Mey debates Vlad Yudin in deep analysis of his previous critical comments of modern bodybuilding physiques.
Berry De Mey found himself in some hot water when he made a post on Instagram criticizing modern bodybuilding physiques. His comments came immediately after the Arnold Classic and Nick Walker’s massive win. In the aftermath, a controversial barrage of comments flooded De Mey’s post. Some defending and many criticizing his take on modern bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey deeply explains and clarifies his comments criticizing bodybuilding physiques of today.
There’s nothing new about the old guard of bodybuilders criticizing the modern physiques of bodybuilding athletes currently competing. We’ve seen the likes of Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and more throw shade at the current state of bodybuilding. Now we can add former bodybuilder and now coach Berry De Mey into this category.
Berry De Mey took to Instagram swiftly after Nick Walker’s big Arnold Classic win. Though not directly pointed at Walker – De Mey had some critical words about the current state of the sport.
We had the opportunity to connect with Berry De Mey and discuss at length his comments about modern bodybuilding. More than can be explained in a simple Instagram post or in comments – the discussion and debate between Vlad Yudin and Berry De Mey goes into the deep details of De Mey’s criticism. De Mey has a particular criteria for what he thinks bodybuilding should look like – he doesn’t think the judges today are on that same page.
Berry De Mey admits that he is likely biased beyond his control. He believes if he was born into this era – he would see no problem with today’s physiques and push himself to the massive size we are seeing on the stage today. It’s the exact thing he did during his prime competing. The only difference is that the limit was far lower than it is today. That’s what worries him.
He understands that no single person or entity is to blame. But he thinks each passing generation of bodybuilders is pushing the limit of the human body further. With each new limit being crossed – the new normal becomes more dangerous and also less pleasing (to Berry De Mey’s eyes). His main criticism is that each passing decade focuses more on size and conditioning over lines and aesthetic. De Mey thinks aesthetic should be valued equally to size.
But Barry De Mey is at a loss on how to properly fix it – or even on how to fully express himself. He feels trapped in the same bias that all individuals in bodybuilding are. It’s impossible to escape the bias of your generation. When he tries to take a step back to the bigger macro picture – he becomes worried. If we are all unavoidably a victim of our own upbringing and bias – how can we fix the dangerous size that bodybuilders are pushing towards?
Ultimately, he traces the problems he sees with modern bodybuilding all the way back to the Golden Era. He finds the totality of bodybuilding to be too extreme.
“The reason that I’m saying this all is not about that I don’t like the aesthetic that much anymore. You know, it’s not about that result,” Berry De Mey states in our interview. He continues:
“I’m at the point willing to say not today, back in the day, same for me, that bodybuilding in total is becoming insane. Because what guys have to do today, what I would have done if I was an 18 year old kid today, so it’s not a finger to point, but bodybuilding in total has become insane.”
It’s interesting that Berry De Mey includes himself in this category. He admits that he would fall victim to the same trap if he was young and competing today. He goes on to say that he can’t blame one specific group, person, or entity. He doesn’t know who to blame. But he’s concerned – and he’s seeing more young bodybuilders dying or going to the hospital. He doesn’t know what it will take – but he hopes that something changes the sport of bodybuilding.
Do you agree with Berry De Mey? Watch his full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and decide for yourself!
Derek Lunsford Reflects On Olympia Win And Details His Battle With Shaun Clarida
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Derek Lunsford gives us insight into his mindset winning the Men’s 212 Olympia 2021 and a play-by-play of his face-off with Shaun Clarida.
The Men’s 212 division was one of the most thrilling competitions of the Olympia 2021. This is due to the pure impressiveness of the top athletes in the division. A battle between Shaun Clarida, Derek Lunsford, and Kamal Elgargni could have fallen in any direction by the time finals hit. That lack of clear winner made the event electric. Ultimately, Lunsford earned his first ever Olympia victory in a stunning showcase. We connected via video chat with Lunsford to follow up on his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford dives deep into his Olympia win and gives and inside look into his neck and neck battle with Shaun Clarida.
It’s always exciting when a new bodybuilder earns an Olympia trophy for the very first time. Derek Lunsford is a competitor that has long since been hyped as the next coming of Men’s 212 Olympia greatness. In 2021, he finally fulfilled that hype with a close call – but well deserved win. We linked up with Lunsford to congratulate him on his win as well as go into detail about his mindset from prejudging through to finals and his victory.
During our interview, it quickly became clear that Derek Lunsford is a very humbled and appreciative champion. In many ways, he’s still riding on the waves of excitement and shock from the win. He claims that he feels like he was “made for this.” But emphasized that this is not meant as a cocky statement. It’s simply what feels right – and he acknowledges that victory came through patience and confidence rather than cockiness and rushing towards the goal.
He also notes that he it is surreal to now be a champion interviewed by the very network that inspired him as a young bodybuilder. The original Generation Iron film was a major inspiration for Lunsford to become a bodybuilder. Now all of these years later, not only is he a champion, but he’s speaking with the very director of the film that helped him head down this path.
We asked Derek Lunsford to give us an inside play-by-play of his battle on the Olympia stage from prejudging to finals. What was his mindset like during such a close call match? Lunsford claims that he walked out of the prejudging feeling very confident. But the more he reflected back – the more he recognized just how close the battle would be during the finals. He “went back and forth” on whether or not Shaun Clarida had the edge over him. That razor thin tightrope walk remained throughout the entirety of the finals.
Derek Lunsford acknowledges that his physique is very different that Shaun Claridas. Both of their physiques were in top form – but their aesthetics were very different. The title win might have very well come down to personal preference of the judges. Do they prefer a denser physique like Clarida? Or would they go for a more streamlined look in Lunsford?
It’s this very fact that Derek Lunsford makes sure to speak clearly about in our interview. He is so impressed by Clarida’s physique – and was so honored to see Clarida smiling upon Lunsford winning the Olympia trophy. In Lunsford’s eyes – both of them are top brass bodybuilders. He is proud to now share the distinction of Olympia champion with the likes of Clarida – while also sharing the stage with him.
You can watch Derek Lunsford’s full comments on his Olympia 2021 win in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
INTERVIEW: Will Jujimufu Continue Competitive Bodybuilding?
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Jujimufu talks about his competitive bodybuilding journey and if it will become his focus moving forward.
Jujimufu is known for his incredible stunts and acrobatics alongside an impressive muscular physique. He had dedicated his life to gymnastics and acrobatics – but has slowly built a bodybuilding fanbase because of his physique and personality on display in viral videos. This past year he decided to make a change and seriously focus on bodybuilding competitively. His first show was at this past week’s Olympia Amateur show. In our GI Exclusive interview, we talked to Jujimufu about his competitive bodybuilding prep and what he expects to do moving forward.
This past week, Jujimufu competed in the Olympia Amateur 2021 competition. He ultimately placed fifth in the super heavyweight division. We had a chance to connect via video call just before his competition to talk about his contest prep, why he decided to start competing, and what his future holds. Jujimufu is dedicated to his passion for stunts and acrobatics – but that might need to be sidelined somewhat if he maintains a competitive Men’s Open bodybuilding physique. Is it the kind of sacrifice he’s willing to make in the long term?
Jujimufu is unsure. He knows he will always allow himself to do some form of acrobatics. He mentions that his flips and splits can be done no matter how large he becomes. Though he also admits that other more complicated maneuvers might not be doable as his legs grow in size specifically. That being said – he also understands that his prime gymnastic years are behind him. Whereas bodybuilding and strength building blooms in later years through into a person’s 40s.
So will he continue to compete in bodybuilding? Will he go pro and stand amongst the greats on major stages such as the Olympia? Jujimufu states that it all comes down to his experience at the Olympia Amateur. His placing won’t determine his future – but rather his experience. If it was an enjoyable experience that promises realistic success and growth down the line – he’s 100% open to focusing on bodybuilding. He’s excited by the possibility of just starting his growth in this arena – whereas his acrobatic life is in the early stages of being past his prime.
That’s just a simple fact about gymnastics – it’s a young man’s game. Bodybuilding favors time, experience and muscle maturity. He’s excited by that notion and if he feels empowered by his Olympia Amateur show – he’ll continue.
We’d imagine Jujimufu’s fifth place finish was ultimately promising – he was up against dozens of competitors all hungry for a pro card. Jujimufu also comments about how lucky he feels to have so much attention put on his physique only being in an amateur show. He feels like he was able to skip the line in terms of attention. He’s simply grateful to have that kind of attention and opportunity.
You can watch Jujimufu talk about his competitive bodybuilding prep and his thoughts of going long term in the sport by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
Victor Martinez Warns: All It Takes Is One Bad Injection To Collapse A Muscle
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Victor Martinez opens up about the threat of nerve damage caused by badly performed injections.
Victor Martinez is a legend in the sport of bodybuilding. He was a top tier competitor in the early aughts and also a featured subject in the original Generation Iron documentary. While he may no longer compete today (for now), he is a highly skilled and respected modern bodybuilder. That’s why he hopes his words in our latest interview segment are heeded carefully – as he brings up a topic often overlooked in the bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains how bad injections can lead to nerve damage and collapsed muscles.
Though best known for his heated face-offs with Jay Cutler during the 2000s, Victor Martinez also had the experience of going toe to toe with Ronnie Coleman. Known for his unbeatable physique and a world record matching eight Olympia wins – we asked Martinez what it was like to (mentally and physically) to prepare to battle against Ronnie.
Martinez’s answer was an interesting one – “I stayed in my lane.” He knew that he couldn’t train the same way Ronnie could. Martinez also admits that nearly everyone competing during that time wouldn’t talk about actually winning the Olympia – they would know the battle was for second place. That is – until Ronnie’s physique started noticeably declining.
This then pivoted our conversation into something unexpected but very vital in the bodybuilding world. Victor Martinez notes that Ronnie Coleman’s later years competing started showing signs of his nerve damage and injuries (that were then later documented in more detail in Ronnie Coleman: The King). This sprung us into a conversation about the dangers of nerve damage for bodybuilders.
Victor Martinez goes into detail on how nearly all pro bodybuilders are on a slow and steady path towards nerve damage. It can be prevented – but it’s not nearly talked about in public as Martinez thinks it should be. He even gets candid about how nerve damage can come from the constant injections many bodybuilders undergo throughout their career.
“When you have a muscle and you can’t flex it and you can’t feel it – a lot of people don’t know they think it’s something simple. No, it’s just nerve damage,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He continues:
“People don’t realize when you take an injection it’s a form of acupuncture. You can take a bad injection and collapse a muscle without even noticing by hitting a wrong nerve. I hope people are listening to this because people think they can just poke themselves and be fine the next day. It only takes is one bad angle, one injection, and one bad part of hte muscle and it will collapse a bicep, a tricep, a shoulder, a lat, a quad – it will just collapse it without you noticing.”
Victor Martinez then mentions that he knows someone personally who suffered through this. A friend who took a bad injection that killed his triceps permanently. Of course, we all know that muscle is the most vital aspect to a bodybuilder’s career. That’s why Martinez wants this information to be more spoken about publicly. Bodybuilders will be injecting substances into their body – they should know the warning signs before it’s too late.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into full detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
The Anabolic Doc: The Truth About Sex Problems Post-Steroids
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The Anabolic Doc doesn’t mince words when it comes to sexual problems after coming off steroids.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, also known as the Anabolic Doc, has dedicated his life to working with strength athletes and bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids. He’s been very clear about the dangers these drugs hold but has also provided an empathetic viewpoint as to why athletes turn to PEDs in the first place. Beyond serious health concerns of long term steroids use – the Anabolic Doc went into detail about the realities behind sexual performance and steroids. What is true? What is a myth? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc gets real about what happens to your sex life after coming off steroids.
Beyond roid rage, the second most overplayed stereotype about steroids is enhanced sexual performance. It makes sense – blast your body with testosterone and give your private parts a boost. But just how true are these claims and how much is fiction? We turned to Dr. Thomas O’Connor – aka the Anabolic Doc – for answers.
First things first, the Anabolic Doc makes it clear that increased sexual performance is 100% a side effect from using steroids. In many ways, this is an additional appeal to using these drugs. Beyond the improved athletic performance and muscle building – private life between the sheets sees a dramatic boost in “energy.” That being said, there is also a downside – it just might not rear its ugly head until many years down the line.
As with many things in long term steroid use – over time health complications begin to arise. This is even more true when coming off steroid use permanently after decades of cycles. It’s well documented that long term steroid use will lead to a permanent decrease in testosterone within your body. This can affect many things. It can make you feel depressed. It can make you feel weak and lethargic. It can also diminish your sex drive and performance.
But for those who think it’s not that big of a deal – the Anabolic Doc has some grave news for you. Without treatment such as Testosterone Replacement Therapy, it’s almost guaranteed that your future sex performance will dry up after coming off steroids. The Anabolic Doc has often talked about the “suffering” of steroid users during older age. This isn’t just medical pain and suffering – it’s also psychological.
The Anabolic Doc receives many patience who are mentally suffering due to a diminished sex life and worsening sex performance. We’re not talking about 80 year olds here. We’re talking 50 year old men who should still be able to function well enough. But due to low levels of testosterone production from steroid use – their “ability” falls apart.
Even worse, this can happen at a much younger age as well. If a person goes through multiple cycles of steroids – when they are off cycle, their sexual performance will be diminished as well. The Anabolic Doc specifically states many men in their 20’s who can’t date women whenever they are off cycle. When they come back on steroids – everything works fantastic. But at such a young age – without the continued use of these drugs – they become lame ducks.
“You’re going to come off this shit and you’re going to crash like a lead balloon,” Dr. O’Connor states in our interview. He then goes on, “And you’re going to be with a girl and if you’re 20 or 23 or 27 and you can’t date… that’s the new thing now… the new lexicon. It’s ‘can’t date.’”
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments on steroid use and sexual performance in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Chef Rush Reveals The Reality Behind Racism & Death Threats Online
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Chef Rush opens up about his PTSD and dangerous comments he has received online.
This past week, Facebook has been on blast after a whistleblower revealed the alleged dangerous tactics behind the company. Namely, that the company cares more about profits than huma beings – and purposefully allows toxic behavior to continue and is even sometimes pushed by their algorithms. Toxicity online is something nearly all people are aware of – especially those with large followings. Chef Rush is a viral bodybuilder who has faced some of the worst of it. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Chef Rush opens up about death threats and racist comments he’s received online.
Chef Rush is best known as the “Bodybuilding White House Chef.” He went viral upon photos released online showing his jacked physique while working at the White House. Since then, Rush has used that momentum to spread awareness about veteran PTSD and start his own businesses. As such, he’s become a bit of an online celebrity with a massive following.
As with most people in the spotlight, having a following often means receiving mass criticism as well. Often times, influencers and celebs simply ignore the comments. But we are all human – and people’s words, no matter how anonymous, can do damage. Then there’s the step above that – when online users take the next step to make direct attacks on influencers and iconic figures. This can be done through direct messages, death threats, racist comments – and also all bolstered by programmed bots to flood online pages with hate.
Chef Rush has experienced these kinds of attacks. In general, he tries to keep an open and positive mind about the internet. He understands that many toxic comments online are simply anonymous individuals looking for likes, clicks, and attention. But in a certain specific moment, Rush started to feel unsafe for himself and his family.
This moment came out of a strange extrapolation of an online post. Chef Rush made a comment about how much sleep he gets at night. He talked about getting very little (he states it was about 4 hours at the time). Somehow, this comment became so controversial that an online user programmed bots against him.
At this point Chef Rush would not even care. He knew that the swarm of comments were not real people. The problem came not due to the bot attack in and of itself – it was what they were saying. A comment about how much sleep to get suddenly turned into a swarm of comments throwing racial slurs on Rush’s posts. Not only that – but he was receiving death threats.
The barrage was so constant and cruel – that Chef Rush started to worry about his safety and the safety of his family. Posting your personal life as a viral influencer can open you up to online sleuths determining where you might physically be located – where you live, where you are on a trip, etc. What if this online hate turned into something in the real world?
That’s why Chef Rush did what he normally doesn’t do – he responded to the comments. He made it clear that if any single person were to approach him aggressively in public, he would take matters into his own hands. He kept it vague – but the implications were clear. If he felt that himself or his family were threatened in person, he would fight back.
Eventually the entire situation blew over. But the experience revealed just how out of control attention on social media can become. A comment about sleep turned into racism and death threats. It’s a level of extremism that seems propelled by the instant gratification and anonymity of social media.
You can watch Chef Rush’s full comments about the entire experience in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Big Ramy Looks Back In Detail About His First Ever Bodybuilding Competition | GI Vault
The current Mr. Olympia champion, Big Ramy, shares his experience competing in bodybuilding for the first time.
In December 2020, Big Ramy finally achieved what fans had been hoping for the past decade – he won the Mr. Olympia. Earlier in 2017 during the filming of Generation Iron 2, we sat down for an hour long interview with Big Ramy going through his origins through to the present of his bodybuilding career. Majority of this was not able to make it into the final film. That’s why to celebrate Ramy’s big Olympia victory, we are releasing uncut segments of never before seen footage. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details the first time he ever competed in a bodybuilding competition.
Everyone has to start somewhere – even Mr. Olympia champions. Big Ramy is a bodybuilder who has had hype behind his name for quite a few years now. But his story goes even further back into the early 2000s. In the extended clip above, Big Ramy details his origins from the son of fishermen through to his first ever bodybuilding competition.
When we interviewed him for Generation Iron 2, it was just before his epic display at the Olympia 2017. This is the year he placed second just behind Phil Heath. He was on top of the world and ready to prove his massive size can be matched with equally matched conditioning. While he fell short – he eventually made good on his promise last year with his big win.
But his experience starting out in bodybuilding was very different than the mammoth athlete we know today. He threw himself into the sport as an opportunity to find bigger success. While training and building muscle is a great first step – you learn a lot from actually stepping on stage and seeing the competition.
Big Ramy was ready to become a pro bodybuilder but he realized that he had a lot of improvements to do after standing beside other competitors. Specifically, he was embarrassed by his thin legs.
Instead of discouraging him, it drove him to try harder. He saw a real future in going pro and making bodybuilding his main career. Of course, his path towards learning and success would require a roller coaster path of twists and turns. Discovering Kuwait and Oxygen Gym provided him with basically a bodybuilding bootcamp.
While this help provide a foundation and extreme growth over his career, he ultimately moved on to try other coaches and other gurus in perfecting what works best for his body. Adapting and reacting is key towards improving and moving up amongst the top athletes in bodybuilding. That’s exactly what Big Ramy did and it paid off in full.
With all of that in mind, watching Big Ramy reflect on his first every bodybuilding competition just reminds us how far he’s come. How nothing is guaranteed. How only a select few through incredible hard work (and a little bit of luck) become the legends we see today.
Some believed that Big Ramy was too inconsistent to ever really win the Mr. Olympia. Others thought it was inevitable for him to reign as Olympia champion. If Ramy decided to play it safe and stick with being a fisherman, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
You can watch Big Ramy reflect back on his early years and his first ever bodybuilding competition in our GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also watch Generation Iron 2 on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!
Big Ramy Answers: Do Genetics Play A Big Role In His Physique?
Big Ramy talks about his competition mindset and the power of genetics.
Ever since Big Ramy won the Olympia 2020, we’ve been pouring through our unreleased footage of Big Ramy from Generation Iron 2. Specifically, our sit down interview that only had a few segments make it into the film. There’s no doubt that Ramy’s massive physique lives up to his name – but how much of that is a product of genetics vs hard work? In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy discusses how big a role genetics play into his physique.
When Big Ramy appears on the pro competition stage, he’s immediately noticeable. This is not only due to his massive size but also his massive height. Big Ramy often stands tall as the biggest bodybuilder on stage from every angle. While bigger does not always equal a victory – it’s a powerful tool to have if conditioning can be kept under control.
The conditioning element was Big Ramy’s hardest challenge throughout his career. He finally nailed it in 2020 when he wowed judges and finally earned an Olympia win. Now he’s dead set on keeping that win streak going into 2021 and beyond. But until we see him compete again this year, we are rewinding back to 2017. It was years before his big win when we sat down to interview Ramy.
During that interview, we asked him about the importance of genetics in bodybuilding. How good genetics can provide the edge needed to beat someone out at the Mr. Olympia. Unfortunately, you can’t choose your genetics. That’s why we asked Ramy how big a role genetics play into his physique.
Does his massive size come natural to him due to his genetics? Or does he have to work extra hard through an uphill battle to become true to his name? Based on his answer, it seems that Big Ramy doesn’t think about it much. He simply isn’t quite sure. He does admit that his massive growth happened pretty fast. That his body reacted instantly to his bodybuilding training.
At the same time, he acknowledges that his mind is always focused on one thing – to win the Olympia. This drives him to work harder than he ever has in his life before bodybuilding. His massive physique is a result of that hard work.
Ultimately, Big Ramy doesn’t want to make it seem like he’s naturally the powerhouse bodybuilder folks see on stage. Like every other pro bodybuilder, Big Ramy puts in the work to stand tall as one of the top tier athletes of the year.
Fast forward back to today and we can certainly see the results of that hard work. Big Ramy not only maintained his massive size but was able to bring in his conditioning for an iconic physique. There was no controversy or second guessing. It was clear to the fans and the judges. Big Ramy was the clear Olympia 2020 winner. Whether it was genetics that helped him get there remains to be seen – but underneath it all the hard work always remains.
You can watch Big Ramy talk about his mindset and genetics in our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview above. You can also see Ramy in Generation Iron 2 – available on digital today! Click here or the banner below to stream or download.
Big Ramy: How Working With Different Trainers Was Important To Long Term Success | GI Vault
Big Ramy discusses the differences training in in the USA vs the Middle East and the benefits of trying multiple trainers.
GI VAULT – is an extension of our GI Exclusive interviews. The difference? These interviews come straight out of the Generation Iron vault from the cutting room floor of our feature film documentaries. With over hours of interview footage that doesn’t make it into our final films, we’re now releasing them out into the world.
It’s no secret that Big Ramy had tried working with multiple coaches and trainers throughout his career. For some time, he was best known for working with Oxygen Gym. But over the years he also jumped in and out of Kuwait to train with the likes of George Farah and Dennis James. Ultimately, in 2020, he settled back with Dennis James and Chad Nicholls and ultimately earned his first Olympia victory. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details how working with different trainers was vital to his success.
The interview clip featured here is from 2017. This is before he won the Mr. Olympia and before he ultimately left Oxygen Gym for good. But the conversation here, from the cutting room floor of Generation Iron 2, is still a very insightful moment despite how things have changed.
In this clip, Big Ramy discusses the differences of training with Oxygen Gym versus other trainers such as Dennis James and George Farah over in the United States. While Ramy was currently still prioritizing Oxygen Gym at the time – his answer still rings true to potentially how he ultimately found success and won the Mr. Olympia.
While there is value put on loyalty, there is also value in constant growth and education. Big Ramy wanted to always be learning. By experiencing different trainers and coaches, especially big name coaches, he is able to open is mind and education to different training tactics and beliefs.
Big Ramy would take everything he learned into consideration to his ultimate training plan. Many times, he felt ultimately that it was best for him to return to Oxygen Gym. But surely he also took small details of what he learned and applied them to each next step.
That thirst for growth and knowledge is an important lesson for any aspiring pro bodybuilder to learn. Constant adjustments and always challenging your own knowledge of training and dieting is key to success in bodybuilding. One small difference can ultimately be the key to getting an edge over another competitor in the top six on stage.
Years after this interview took place, Big Ramy ultimately left Oxygen Gym for good. He tried out a few more trainers and ultimately, for now, settled with Chad Nicholls and Dennis James. Due to Ramy’s Olympia 2020 victory, we assume this team up will remain.
But the years after this interview showcase that Big Ramy stuck to his words here. He continued to challenge himself, try new trainers, and continue his learning. This lead to his victory and will continue to help him stay dominant in the future.
You can watch Big Ramy break down his answer in full detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also see Big Ramy in Generation Iron 2 – available on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!
Johnnie O. Jackson: Big Ramy Will Comeback Sharper To Be The Clear Olympia 2021 Winner
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Johnnie O. Jackson shares his reaction to the Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging and his predictions for the finals.
One of the most talked about moments of the Mr. Olympia 2021 so far was the Men’s Open prejudging. Specifically, that Big Ramy was looking off compared to last year – possibly giving Brandon Curry an opening to take the title. Ramy’s conditioning has always been his weakest point until last year. Was it just a fluke? Johnnie O. Jackson doesn’t think so. In fact – he thinks the finals will show a very different Ramy. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Johnnie O. Jackson shares his predictions for the Mr. Olympia finals expecting Big Ramy to improve and win the show.
Brandon Curry has been one of the more consistent bodybuilders over the last few years. Each Olympia he has shown small but important improvements. This eventually led to his big win in 2019 – only to have that taken away by a shockingly improved Big Ramy. Fast forward to the Olympia 2021 and we have quite a battle on our hands.
Big Ramy, in the prejudging, looked noticeably worse in conditioning than he did last year. Brandon Curry, on the other hand, has showcased another year of small improvements. He was sharp and dense. In our Mr. Olympia 2021 prejudging analysis we predicted he might have what it takes to win the whole show. That is – if things don’t change within the 24 hour period between the prejudging last night and tonights finals.
The fact of the matter is both of these competitors are incredibly close. Curry seems to have only a slight edge on Ramy. Johnnie O. Jackson believes it is too small of a gap – and that Big Ramy will improve his conditioning and come in sharper for the finals. If Ramy can do that – then he will be “the clear winner” according to Jackson. He goes on to state that Big Ramy’s size, if sharper, will overpower Curry. Whereas Curry doesn’t have much room to be able to improve.
With Brandon Curry’s conditioning already on point – he can’t get even more dry. So that leaves room for two options. He could potentially fade at the finals. Or, as Johnnie O. Jackson stated, he can stay the same – but if Ramy improves it will be lights out for Curry.
This is a very real possibility. Big Ramy was off – but he was far from terrible. The judges still placed him in the top two. It’s well within reason that Ramy can pull off some improvements. It might be just enough to peak perfectly for the finals. Then we have a totally different situation for our outlook of the winner.
You can watch Johnnie O. Jackson’s full comments and predictions for the Mr. Olympia 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.