Photo By Joseph Schmitt | BU3 Nicholas Stanek, first time bodybuilding competitor, claps for Chris Martin, Naval...... read more read more
YOKOSUKA, Japan - Navy Fitness Yokosuka sponsored Yokosuka Bodybuilding and Figure Championships at Benny Decker Theater on board Fleet Activities (FLEACT), Yokosuka, Aug. 3.
Professional bodybuilder Toney Freeman also participated as a special guest.
The event is a regular part of the annual Friendship Day festivities held on base. The competition includes men’s and women’s categories and is separated into weight classes for the men’s side. Both males and females have Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) category and non-SOFA category.
“We separate it like that to give the SOFA members, who are deployed and don’t have access to the same training regimen that you can find when you are not in the military, a chance to compete with just their peers,” said Donna Carter, event coordinator from Navy Fitness Yokosuka. “We have a lot of people from Japan, a few from Brazil and other places, and this year one from Peru.”
Before the competitors took the stage, they were back stage helping each other get ready. The women were fixing their hair and the men were applying cooking spray to each other. For some of them, this was their first official competition.
“This has been a hobby and lifestyle choice to be able to do my job for the Navy and to spend three hours in the gym every day,” said Builder 3rd Class Nicholas Stanek, first time bodybuilding competitor. “I’ve done this for the last four years, but I’ve gotten more serious since January. I wasn’t going to do this, but my friends encouraged me. So, I’ve had six days of prep and I think this is the best I’ve looked in my whole life.”
A pair of bodybuilders, a father and a daughter, competed in separate events. This is the first time they have been in one venue together.
“It was special to see my daughter in her first body- building competition,” said Chris Martin, Naval Air Facility Atsugi Health and Wellness manager. “We do this to stay healthy. I also do this to push myself to see how far I can go.”
The competitors each got a chance to pose individually to music in front of the judges. Then, all the bodybuilders for that category would stand together and the judges would pick the fifth through first place winners. The first place winners for each category came back at the end to compete for the championship round.
While the judges tallied their scores, Freeman put on an exhibition for the crowd. Freeman also signed autographs with the attendees and gave pointers to the bodybuilders before the event.
“I feel like I need to give back to the community,” said Freeman.
“This is where I started, at amateur competitions. I came to this event to support the troops. I love my country so I love to support the troops. I need to get ready for the Mr. Olympia competition back in the states but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to come out here. I think I boosted their morale and I know they boosted mine.”
The following are the first place winners for each category; Women’s Figure Competition Andrea Kawano, Women’s Figure SOFA Andrea Kawano, Men’s Masters Masanobu Kawano, Bantamweight Ricardo Maebara, Lightweight Yasuji Sakurai, Middleweight Yuji Ogawa, Light Heavyweight Yoshihiro Iwaka, Heavyweight James Stokes, Men’s SOFA Overall Chris Martin, Overall Yoshihiro Iwaka, Best Poser Sayie Rodriguez.
| Date Taken: | 08.03.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.23.2013 03:40 |
| Story ID: | 112464 |
| Location: | YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 521 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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