LAC Westport - Closing Permanently

 

When I got the email that LAC Westport was permanently closing, I was in a state of disbelief. I just figured it was another notice of hours changing or a new spin class being offered. It literally came out of the blue, as if there hadn't been any fight. The letter red like pure defeat, with no light at the end of the tunnel. You'd think that a gym that had been operating out of that spot since 2003 would have a Plan B, something for members to hang their hat on, but nothing. The only explanation offered, was that the landlord (whoever that may be), forced the situation. According to the email/website:

"You should know that closing was not our choice and that the Landlord insisted on adding a lease termination provision when they “helped” us with rent for the two months we were closed due to the COVID pandemic."

This was the only explanation offered. It provided LAC an out, but that's about it.

Although the gym was closed during the worst of the  pandemic (per state mandate), they bounced back once the doors re-opened. The gym tried to live up to state regulations (e.g. social distancing, masks, PPE), but many of the members simply didn't care. In time, much of the staff stopped enforcing rules. In fact, customer service was always lagging at this facility. Front desk people rarely acknowledged members and the gym oftentimes closed arbitrarily. It's summer hours were also, notoriously, bad. Still, Covid didn't kill the gym. Even before the virus, when Planet Fitness opened across the street, that didn't seem to really hurt the club, either. I was a member of both, and thankfully so, because while LAC closed for any little reason, Planet was always open. Planet was also cleaner, friendlier, and cheaper. Go figure! Still, there was no issue with the two facilites co-existing on the same road. 

I would occasionally shoot a text to my friend Jimmy Hornback about what was going on at LAC. Jimmy, is one of the biggest movers and shakers in bodybuilding world in Kentucky. He's been a member of a number of gyms and at one point, he considered running the gym in question. If he'd been in the driver seat, I have no doubt the place would be thriving today. Anyways, that ship has sailed. Whether I'd tell him about the issue with the masks or the arbitrary closing times, he was never surprised. LAC Westport was on the downward spiral for quite some time. This is why I don't consider the lease provision to be the real reason the doors are closing permanently. 

What's crazy to me, is that there isn't another gym in the area. With the exception of Planet Fitness, there isn't another gym (or anything close to one) for 5-10 miles. There's nothing on Westport or Brownsboro Rd. There's nothing in Oldham County, either. When you stop to think about it, LAC Westport could have raised member dues, tacked on maintenance fees, and/or even sold 5-10% equity to select members who wanted to invest the gym. There's absolutely no reason they had to take a handout for two months if the terms were as unfavorable as they claim them to be. There's all sorts of ways they could have made their monthly rent, maintenance, and even payroll expenses. That being said, I don't much about their operating structure. It seems each LAC is owned by different company, but are they ultimately all owned by one person, group? Are these shell corporations? Who knows?

The biggest concern with starting a gym is whether or not there will be enough members to cover costs and generate a profit. LAC Westport's location is fantastic, the members are there, and now there will be a huge gap left in the area. Then again, maybe a gym will open on Westport or east of it. This is one of the most affluent parts of Louisville-Metro, so someone can get all the former LAC Westport's business. If they've been going strong since 2003, even with a Planet Fitness across the street, I'd say the area is good for another gym to open shop. Only time will tell.

The African Lion SPEAKS!!

Louisville is a bodybuilding town - there's no question about it - and when it comes to building great physiques, there's really only one gym where the city's best physique-based athletes train. On any given day, you could walk in and see NPC Figure champions like Kezia Mullen or Tiffany Davis. You could see accomplished bodybuilders like Mr. Kentucky Nate Jackson. You could see national champions like 2019 Jr. Mr. USA, IFBB Pro Chauncey "The Shredder" Wilson or the Voice of Kentucky Bodybuilding, IFBB Pro Ty Robinson. The truth is, The Factory is the only gym where everyone wants to be and where haters can't go a week without talking about it. That's what makes us the best.

One notable athlete I'd be remiss if I didn't mention, is The African Lion, IFBB Pro Sam Adiki. Sam, Togo's first IFBB Pro, commands a large fan base who's loyal to him for two key reasons. One, he's built a very impressive, symmetrical, and balanced physique. Secondly, he's one of the nicest, most humble IFBB Pro's you will meet.

Sam has always been Factory to the core, wearing the clothes, repping the gym and being an absolute pleasure to be around. You couldn't ask for a more positive, more upbeat person to work with, but now Sam has added a very key dimension to his social media game. He's talking on video and people are loving it!!

A lot of influencers tend to shy away from speaking. Some prefer to let their training do the talking. Others, use music. Some will speak through photos. But here's the deal, if you truly want to build the strongest links to your fan base, you have to speak. Now that Sam has, people have responded with huge support. Everyone I've spoken to about the posts, remarks how cool they are

As I often say, if you're looking to make a real impact on today's fitness industry, you have to put a great deal of effort into it; however, for someone like Sam, who's low key, humble, and always upbeat, even saying a few words, here or there, can be a total game changer!!

Be sure to give him a Sam follow on his IG @The_African_Lion

2019 NPC Natural Kentucky Will Be EPIC!!

As November 2nd fast approaches, absolutely everyone is talking about the Affordable Athletic Supplements 2019 NPC Natural Kentucky. This is a gem of a natural bodybuilding competition, located right smack in between Ohio and Kentucky, bringing elite level NPC natural competitors, that's been getting bigger and better each and every year. The reason behind this is no coincidence. The event is promoted by Gary Udit, Rick Bayardi, and Jeff & Angi Schuerman. These are huge names in the world of bodybuilding and fitness and this event is blessed with their visionary leadership, as well as the very important support of title sponsor, AAS.

As we approach the contest, I'd like to invite everyone to join the Official Facebook Group and be on the look out for updates. StrengthAddicts will be doing contest coverage, with Overall Winner interviews going to NPC News Online.

For more information on this great event, be sure to visit GaryUdit.com & also be sure to download the "Gary Udit Events" App for iPhone and Android. We'll see YOU on November 2nd at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center for the 2019 NPC Natural Kentucky!!

CAM Fitness - A Name To Watch!!

If you're keen on keeping up to date with who's making waves in the world of Bluegrass Bodybuilding, then you must be well aware with the NPC competitor this entry is all about. Cam is a fighter, he kills it in the gym, brings impeccable condition to the stage, and has made a name for himself in terms of his crispness, vascularity, symmetry and separation - when it counts most!! See, we have many other competitors who also bring it, dial it in, and look their all-time best too; however, they don't present that package on stage. So where then? I have to say, many competitors seem to look their best, standing all alone, employing a ton of filters, many times in their bathroom or garage, posing for their phones on impressive Instagram posts and stories. 

Sadly, you can't get your IFBB Pro League Pro Card by looking great on the Gram or Facebook. There's also no pro cards issued for looking your best 2-3 weeks out from a contest. The truth is, Cam, along with his coach IFBB Pro Benquil Marigny, have been able to dot all the i's and cross all the t's, at the national level, up against other national-level NPC competitors on game day and hold their own quite well.

I was stunned to see how impressive Cam looked at Gary Udit's 2019 NPC North American Championships. From the moment he arrived, to walking around the lobby, and doing shots and interviews, he knew he was ready. There's something about competitors that have put in the work; when they hit the venue, there's an undeniable sense of confidence around them, almost like an aura. It's a calm and collectedness that sometimes may come off as cocky, but it only seems to annoy the unprepared.

Not only did Cam do his homework and not only did he come to Pittsburgh with an ironclad sense of confidence, but when the time called for it, he was also ready to battle. In fact, this guy fought like there was no tomorrow!! Just because he got second call-outs, he simply would not give up. His coach wouldn't give up. Second Call-outs? So what! He gave 110%, never let up, and put himself back into the Top 6. That's the kind of heart you don't see everyday. I sure as heck don't see it and I cover contests all around the country, from Level 1 local shows to pro qualifiers and pro shows. 

Like I said, if you're keen on staying up to date with what's happening in Kentucky Bodybuilding and Fitness, you had better know the name CAM FITNESS, because he's going places!!

Should Pro's Practice Posing at NPC Clinics?

RSVP Here

So here's the deal, does having a pro card mean you're perfect? No, it does not. What a pro card means, is that on a given day, you nailed it. Your physique was on point, your posing was on point, and you were the best out of the lineup you competed with. That is a HUGE achievement. After all, when you earn your IFBB Pro League pro card, that comes after competing at the local and regional levels, getting nationally qualified, and then earning top honors at an NPC national level pro qualifier. For the few who can achieve that - be proud - be VERY PROUD!!

Now, let's go back in time to 2012, when Mike Pulcinella released his "Kai Greene: A Day in the Life," video. I'm sure you've seen it a MILLION times, but in case you haven't, I've included the part in question, where Kai attended posing clinics regularly. Kai Greene was then, and now, considered to be one of the best and most entertaining bodybuilding posers of all time. By 2012, he'd won the NY Pro, won the Arnold, and placed Top 3 at the Mr. Olympia, yet he continued to attend posing clinics. Why? Because he constantly wanted to sharpen his skills.

I've seen pro's at clinics I've covered standing around, either assessing the amateur lineups and/or looking out of place. I have also seen pro's, folks who've won big titles, humbling themselves, getting in those lineups, shoulder to shoulder with true novices at the NPC level, simply to get the constructive criticism of presenters.

Now, not all posing clinics are created equally. When you can pose in front of a Mr. Olympia judge, like Gary Udit, and when you can get posing tips from an IFBB Pro and National NPC Judge like Linda Andrew - now you're in a different world!! Even Kai wasn't being assessed by judges on this level, but yet he attended his posing classes, consistently.

The fact is, if you've been spent 16 weeks eating out of tupaware, logging every rep of your training down, and taking your supplements at specific times, like clockwork, then you owe it to yourself to present everything you've worked so hard for on stage. Be humble somewhere else, at some other time. On stage, show every last bit of that hard-earned muscle, broadcast your crispness, and put your lines on blast!! Nothing shows off symmetry and balance better, than flawless posing!!

I don't care how great your prep coach and/or posing coach is, you simply cannot cut corners and deny yourself of being critiqued by the best. What's 45 minutes on a Sunday afternoon in the grand scheme of things? 

For amateurs, I have to tell you, it's on! Anyone doing the Ohio, had better come ready to battle. No one you come up against, will be there just for fun. The same goes for the Tricky Jackson and the Kentucky Muscle. It's much harder to get nationally qualified now, so everyone is coming ready to battle. Also, the judges want to reward the athletes with the best physiques, but if the athletes can't execute the mandatory poses, how pray tell, can the judges give them the best placings? How can you reward something you can't see?

With regards to Pro athletes, they have pretty darn high stakes, too. Many need to keep their sponsors happy; others will get bonuses for making Top 5, Top 3, and especially for winning! Pro's also want to make a name for themselves, they want to get invited to the Arnold Classic, and they especially want to qualify for the Olympia. Speaking of the Olympia, many pro's will go on points, if need be, but they would much rather qualify for the big dance by winning a contest. I'm sorry, but you're not winning an IFBB Pro League contest if you can't pose - ain't happening!

If Kai Greene went to posing clinics regularly to pose,  with NY Pro and Arnold Classic titles under his belt, while being Top 3 at the previous year's Mr. Olympia, then I'd be hard pressed to name even a single pro, anywhere, who shouldn't get in front of judges like Gary and Linda and make sure there isn't anything, even the most minor little detail they couldn't pick up to make their awesome posing skills even more awesome!!

I hope to see everyone - amateurs and pro's - at the NPC Free Seminar on Sunday, September 8th at Powerstation Gym in Middletown, OH. If you'd like to RSVP, please visit the official Event Page.

Contests and Press - Why Competitors Deserve It All!!

Christian Duque with IFBB Pro Theresa Ivancik

When a promoter at a bodybuilding competition says there will be press at a contest, many competitors take that to believe there will be press outlets doing interviews backstage. When it comes to the NPC and IFBB Pro League, the competitions are so top caliber, that competitors have come to expect talented photographers, shooting the stage, as part of the event. At many shows there's also an equally gifted videographer filming at work.

I'd like to stress that stage photographers and videographers are most definitely press - and key components to the successful coverage of a contest. I think my initial article didn't convey my thoughts on the subject accurately, and for that, I apologize. However, given the contemporary culture, when a promoter says there will be press at an event, many competitors believe that press to mean film crews with mics and/or booms to interview them. They see the members of the press covering the stage, often times, as part of the event. Everyone is press, just that we're discussing different contexts at different times.

Everyone who covers a contest - whether the stage, backstage, expo area, etc - is PRESS. Everyone plays a very important role and everyone is a critical part to the overall success of the contest.

In summation, I think NPC and IFBB Pro League competitors deserve it ALL!! Promoters should have the best photographers and videographers covering the stage and have at least one media outlet present (whenever feasibly possible) so that competitors can have amazing stage shots and video, plus get the opportunity to share their story and journey in front of the cameras, with interviewers who are eager to help them share their journeys.

In my humble opinion, the absolute best of the best, would be NPC News Online. There are some other very good outlets like MD, MD Latino, StrengthAddicts (yours truly, DIY King), Maximum Muscle Report, and Generation Iron.

Chauncey Wilson's, August 17th Posing Clinic

Breaking News from IFBB Pro Chauncey "The Shredder" Wilson!! Chauncey, who's considered to be one of Kentucky's two best posers [alongside IFBB Pro Kevin "Fit Johnson] has partnered up with The Factory Gym to put on Free Posing Clinics, the first to take place on Saturday, August 17th from 11AM - 3PM.

Wilson whose had a series of great placings, top honors, and plenty of exposure during his amateur career; turned professional in 2019. Earlier this year, Chauncey won the NPC Kentucky Derby Festival Championships, went on to win the Overall in Classic Men's Physique at the NPC Junior USA Championships, and topped it all off with a Top 6 pro debut at Jack Titone's IFBB Pro League Omaha Pro.

The fact competitors will have the opportunity to work with a pro poser on this level, for FREE no less, is a huge resource. I have seen quite a few competitors shortchange themselves in the posing department, only to pay the price on contest day. You've worked too hard for this, why sabotage yourself?

The truth of the matter is, you can't learn to pose like Chauncey or Kevin from watching a YouTube video. You also can't learn from your coach. If you're coach happens to have been a great poser, then maybe, but just because a coach can figure out your macros, doesn't mean he/she can design a posing routine contoured to you. What works for one person, may very well not work for the next

In order to attend, you'll be required to RSVP. A great way to contact Chauncey is on Instagram at @shredder21 / Please don't wait till the last minute, RSVP today!