[Marc]

Look forward to following this mate, big fan ??all the best in your 2022 season

Thank you appreciate the support ??

[Marc]

Hi Guys, so it’s official I’m tbJP athlete. Really really excited to join this incredible team!

So I thought I’d do a quick background on myself for my first log…

I started competing in bodybuilding in 2012 with the UKBFF, I won my first show as beginner against around 12 competitors. Then I went on to compete in 2013 at the UKBFF U.K. Nationals and I won my weight class. In my first year I also qualified and competed as an amateur in the IFBB at the European and World Championships (both great experiences).

Seeing the levels of athletes and the standard internationally it opened my eyes to where I needed to improve (size, condition and stage presence). I took two years of from competing to improve my physique and came back in 2015 to compete as a heavyweight bodybuilder (previously I was light heavy) and I won that show which gave me qualifications to the UKBFF British finals, Arnold Classic Europe and Diamond Cup in 2016.

2016 I competed at the Arnold Classic Europe I ended up coming 8th in my weight class . I pushed hard for condition which backfired as for my height at 5”10 I competed in the under95kg weight class and I stood out massively as the other guys in my class were shorter. I went on to compete at my first ever British finals and I placed 6th in the heavyweight class. A placing I couldn’t complain about because the other guys in my class were very good.

After the 2016 British finals I done some hard thinking. I believed I was good enough to become an IFBB Pro but I needed to improve. Muscle density, size and condition was still areas that needed work to put me in contention.

2018 my good friend and tbJP team mate Haider somehow convinced me to compete at a PCA show with him. In all honesty I didn’t want to compete that year, I had been training hard, putting in the work and improving all round but I still lacked confidence as to whether I had improved enough to compete that year. But something I took from 2016 was that my scale weight competing was irrelevant. whatever my best look was that’s how I would step on stage.

2018 – from amateur to pro contest history:

PCA Welsh Championships Class 2 winner and overall champion
PCA Mr Cumbria Class 2 winner and overall champion
2BrosPro Amateur Olympia Super heavyweight and overall winner – Winning my IFBB Pro Card

2018 was the year that almost didn’t happen but I’m glad it did because it taught me to believe in myself more and just go for it.

2019 I had planned to compete as an IFBB pro but things didn’t quite work out with my coach and I felt somewhat in limbo. I wasn’t prepared to compete in the big leagues knowing the standard is very high and I was lacking improvements from turning pro.

2020 I made my pro debut in Alicante Spain in the IFBB Pro League open bodybuilding class. I came 7th in arguably one of the biggest pro qualifiers that year. A few weeks later I went on to compete at the 2brosPro British Grand Prix where I placed 3rd in Open Bodybuilding. A result I was pleased about as I moved up the placings quite considerably from my first show.

2021 I didn’t compete. I really wanted too but having a taste for competing in the pro league and feedback from the judges to improve my legs and bring up my back, I felt I had to listen to this advice and give myself time. I’m a great believer in not rushing the process. I took time out as an amateur to good effect and I know as a pro it can only help me too.

… so 2022, I very much plan on competing. My main goal is to qualify for the 2022 Mr Olympia and doing this by winning a pro show. I’m under no illusions that this won’t be easy, but setting myself this big goal is what keeps me hungry and motivated.

I could literally can on typing but this is only day 1 lol. I’m looking forward to sharing with you all the highs, the lows, insight into my mindset, the steps I take to be the best athlete I can be and much more!

For the next 7 days I’ll drop a fact about me so you know a little more about me…

Fact 1 – in 2016 after coming 6th at the UKBFF British finals I emailed JP about coaching. He emailed me back and told me his services/prices. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the prices so I continued chasing my dream myself.