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Can new pro bodybuilder Hunter Labrada find jeans that fit and look badass? Absolutely!

Hunter Labrada - Flex Denim

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The "Giant Killer" is not a new nick name. History has had several giant killers in the form of Franco Columbu and Danny Padilla from the golden era of bodybuilding to Dave Henry who first mixed it up with a lot of open competitors and was the original 202 Showdown champion. Shaun Clarida no doubt started out smaller than all the above however has always maintained an unwavering belief in himself. He is an anomaly when it comes to internal drive.

 The most dominating champ in 212 history, Flex Lewis is not competing in the 212 Olympia this year. What does this do for your motivation?

 I am training harder and heavier than ever. I always train to win every contest however Flex Lewis was always at the top of the 212 division and has set a new standard for our class. Having said that, no one in the lineup after Flex is as dominating and complete as he is. For this fact, I am super motivated and training for a top placing this year at the Olympia.

 It seems you are continually lifting heavier and heavier as the Olympia approaches. How are you able to do this as you get further into the contest diet?

 Making weight for the 212 Olympia has never been an issue. They dont call me the Giant Killer for no reason. I was 160 at the 2018 Olympia. I have over 50lbs of room to grow into my class. Right now I am in way better shape than last year and way ahead of schedule with 10lbs of extra muscle. I am able to lift heavier and harder because I am eating to fuel my workouts. I am having to incorporate refeeds and cheat meals that further fuel my training and recovery. I am in no way deprived for this Olympia diet.

 Your physique is another year more mature. What are the most noticeable improvements you have made?

 My chest has always been a focus of mine. Last year I was able to build roundness that surprised a lot of people. This year my chest and especially my back is rounder and fuller. My chest and back have been most noticeable, but even 2lbs on a 5'2'' frame is huge. I put 10lbs of lean tissue on so needless to say my arms, shoulders and legs are ALL bigger and fuller!

Shaun Clarida has a competitive history that earned him the Giant Killer nick name. History is looking to repeat itself this Olympia weekend in Las Vegas!

The "Giant Killer" Is Ready for Olympia

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About an hour outside of Shanghai on the way to Hangzhou is Jiaxing City with a population of 4 million people. This is the old town area called River of Moon. We went to see some local sights like the charming Jinghang canal. This canal goes all the way to Beijing. If you remember the 007 Golden Eye movie, some shots were done here in Jiaxing in Old Town. We passed by God Wealth hall, if you need something you come here and say prayers. Some people pray for more money or blessings etc.

We also passed by a rice cake museum which the Chinese eat a lot of. No correlation to the rice cakes used for contest day for bodybuilders. This passage with these tiny leaflets of paper are when people make a wish and want it to come true they hang it up there. This area is a local treasure with a lot of restaurants, small businesses and local amenities that tourists can enjoy too.

The oldest gym in China was also on our list of stops.

"I knew when we pulled up into this neighborhood that this would be like Metroflex. All of the best athletes come out of gyms like this!"

The owner and legendary Bodybuilder Bian Qiuwei started this place 30 years ago and Michael Johansson was eager to ask him some questions.

 Where did you get your inspiration to start this gym? 30 years ago in China, wasn't it hard to find information or knowing what to do to start a gym like this?

 When my brother and I were young my father wouldn't allow us to go out and play so we lifted weights at home. I got my inspiration from Mr. Olympia champions like Frank Zane and other American bodybuilding champions and from the Chinese magazine Fitness and Beauty. To open the gym, I got help from key people from Shanghai that I knew.

 In order to develop your successful gym what was important, what was the cornerstone of your gym?

 I think learning how to execute the movements correctly is the most important. To share my knowledge with my members. Teach them how to actually do bodybuilding and pursue fitness.

After trying Bien's one of many home made shoulder equipment pieces Michael Johansson concludes that: 

You realize that he really put some huge efforts and passion into making some totally flawless and smooth shoulder equipment that still to this day is future proof for any experienced pro bodybuilder in the USA - and this was made already 30 years ago.

The Oldest Gym In China

From Beijing to Shanghai, the IWT China is set up with a busy schedule and this is only the first part! See this first leg of the trip from Branch and Johnnies view as they visit popular tourist spots, eat local food, trains hard, and inspire the Chinese bodybuilding community.

"These guys are 15 years older than you at least. If their motivation is higher than yours there's a problem."

 Michael Johansson explaining to Chinese national level bodybuilder Zhou Chen the level of intensity he needs to bring to the table.

Intensity is key to anyone trying carve their own way and break through with their goals, ideas, dreams or whatever the case may be. It is when the going gets tough that you find out if any individual really wants these goals, ideas or dreams to become reality.

Branch Warren and Johnnie Jackson come to Shanghai to spread their combined 45+ years of experience in bodybuilding to meet and greets and seminars and training sessions all over Shanghai and we document the whole thing for you guys.

No Compromise is definitely a philosophy that transcends cultures, religions, race and creed. Enough said.

No Compromises - A Philosophy Transcending Cultures

Last year at 4 weeks out from the Olympia Derek Lunsford was at his all time best in terms of having the most muscle tissue he's ever carried while being shredded, gnarly and practically

stage ready. Then he continued to pound his body into the ground with his training while continually dropping his calories. Needless to say, by the time the Olympia rolled around, his looked on game day paled in comparison to that of 4 weeks out.

 We are 4 weeks out again. I am eating more food with my base diet consisting of 300 g of carbohydrates and today I doubled that. I have been eating a lot more, I am less stressed and I am feeling really confident knowing I won't duplicate the mistakes I made last year.

 How is your training and recovery since you're eating more? Are you able to keep up the poundage as you get closer to the Olympia?

 I am still at MI40 and training with a great trainer from Brazil who really knows all of the bio-mechanics, how to program training AND we think alike of certain aspects that I specifically need for my body.

We go as heavy as I can when my energy is high then after that we do what is considered the

"pump" or metabolic work. The point is that I don't just continually pound my the muscle past a certain point.

So I am having more food and lifting more efficient for my body. That compounded with being less stressed is definitely putting me at my best ever. Im definitely coming

 for Olympia updates all the way up to pre-judging in Las Vegas!

Derek Lunsford - 4 Weeks Out

Personal message to GASP owner and CEO “MJ” from longtime friend and celebrity trainer Aaron Williamson.

Aaron sent me this picture the other day telling me he thought about how he first came in contact with GASP and myself. He had just realized that he bought his 

 10 years ago and despite being used every week for the last decade they were still holding up. He came to think about how much in life comes and goes while only certain things in life remain over a 10 year period. It made me very proud to also think about this and how true quality is rare nowadays. When you find them you value them highly and hold on to them. Needless to say I sent him a new pair and told him that I look forward to our next 10 years.

“works with actors, top athletes and other film personnel to help them achieve their fitness goals for films, competitive seasons or special events. Aaron is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran fueled by fitness & motivated by inspiring others! He specializes in functional training, physical performance, rehabilitation, core strengthening & stability & bodybuilding/physique transformation”.

10 years ago Marine Corps veteran Aaron Williamson bought a pair of lifting straps from GASP.

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To both new and existing ambassadors of GASP… I’m Michael Johansson and as the CEO of GASP I wanted to personally thank you and say that my team and I have seen increased engagement from our 

 in many areas thanks to you, and as a result we’re able to grow. This allows us to do more cool things for all of us to have fun with.

Of course, there is always room to help in important areas so I’d like to give you some suggestions where we could use more general attention.

We are working hard to bring more traffic to our 

 page to check out the content from our community.  One of the most important things you can do is to help your friends and followers to find their way to relevant content on the GASP homepage.

One of the key content pieces people have an interest in is in the personal stories that ambassadors like yourself have and since we feel that everyone has a unique story we would love to publish yours.

We will reward published stories to show our appreciation at the same time as it makes your name travel before you around world.

I also wanted to mention the importance of tagging 

 in your Instagram photos as this will be the only way for us to have the chance to re-publish your IG post in your favorite GASP gear on our homepage for the world to see…

I want to be sure that we connect more with people like yourself to make sure that we do more of the “right things” that our community asks for regardless if that means having the right products and/or a constant flow of events and content that motivates as well as informs.

If you have any ideas and/or feedback in general that you would like me and my team to work with then don’t hesitate to send me your thoughts. All feedback is greatly appreciated and well needed to keep myself and the team busy with the right things for a brighter future.

If you have any questions and/or need any help with your account you can email directly to 

If you have any questions regarding a order or anything customer service related, please be sure to email our Brand Specialist team so they can get you taken care of asap!

If there’s any questions/comments you have for me, please feel free to reach out!

Whether you’re new or returning, if you’d like to get to know GASP a little better, be sure and follow us on Instagram (

) and if you’re interested in becoming a part of our ambassador team, visit 

We’re not about “making a sale”, we’re about creating an inclusive family where everyone shares the same passion for the Iron sport in one form or another. Look at our 

Thanks for being a part of the family and spreading the word around the world with us.

Iron Update: Let Your Name Travel Before You

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If you’re a powerlifter, it’s part of your three-lift total. For physique athletes, it’s a great way to develop

your physique. It sort of like a swiss army knife. It does a lot of things really well. The deadlift has a

very simple learning curve and it forces your body to work together in concert. For example, for traditional athletes, speed is king. Speed is king on the court and on the field. One of the best ways to get faster is to improve your strength to body weight ratio in the deadlift. If you can deadlift 2.5 x your bodyweight you YOU WILL BE MORE EXPLOSIVE!

"If you can deadlift 2.5 x your bodyweight you YOU WILL BE MORE EXPLOSIVE!"

There is something primordially satisfying about ripping some heavy ass pig iron off the ground.

My gut says the deadlift is the oldest strength-training movement in existence. Squats and bench presses took iron game pioneers some imagination, but picking up heavy objects? Putting it down and picking it up again? That’s instinctual.

"Deadlift programming and technique have been refined through the ages and we have provided you with a video series on proper technique and are giving you the exact program to follow."

A caveman tells an opponent to pick up a rock. If the dude can, he gets to chow down on some prime wooly mammoth ribs. But, if he fails, he loses his ribs, his cave and his lady. That’s probably how the world’s first powerlifting meet played out and not a whole hell of a lot has changed since.

Deadlift programming and technique have been refined through the ages and we have provided you with a video series on proper technique and are giving you the exact program to follow. 

to watch the video series and download the FREE program.

8 WEEK DEADLIFT PROGRAM

For many lifters the first experience of GASP is the Hardcore Wrist Wrap and you often find this popular GASP product in the gym bag of those that takes their training serious.

Since 2004 the team behind GASP products worked relentlessly with the lifting community to perfect the functionality and design. Thickened seams, increased surface area of the Velcro, batch by batch until it proudly became the product that we have today.

Now 15 years later its one of the most popular wrist wraps models in the world and sold in more than 110 countries.

From local lifting heroes to world famous athletes like Branch Warren and “The Rock” this is one of the most important and least costly supports against injuries. What they consider a must have defense to protect their everyday game in the gym, pushing weights and their limits to the next level almost regardless of exercise.

CEO Michael Johansson says: “The Hardcore Wrist Wrap is a very important product for GASP. For many people it’s their first taste of GASP and we want that experience to be awesome. It’s not an overly expensive product so many people try GASP for the first time when they purchase their first pair.

Here is what IFBB Pro and GASP Athlete Guy Cisternino has to say about wrist wraps:

“I have been using wrist wraps for years since I started working out. Since playing football for 15 years, I had my fair share of nagging injuries and being a running back my wrists really took a beating on the field and that parlayed into the weight room. Using Gasp wrist wraps really help keep my joints in place and stabilize my wrists while training as heavy and hardcore as I always do.  I have used many different brands of wrists wraps and most aren’t the right size, don’t fit well, wear and tear very fast, but the Gasp ones are the perfect length, don’t fray or tear, and give me the utmost support for my wrists. Anyone that trains hardcore needs to pick up a pair to ensure their joints stay intact from kicking ass in the gym.”

Hardcore Wrist Wraps

"During the GASP Iron World Tour we are documenting things that are happening ALL of the time. We should travel more, we should meet more people, we should discuss more ideas about cultures, business, opportunities, and perspectives." - Michael Johansson, CEO

The teams last morning in London was going to consist of a solid traditional English breakfast, a few local sights and a trip to the airport. However, London got to keep the GASP Iron World Tour a little longer as the team made it all the way through lunch before they realized they should’ve been at the airport.

"This tour is a blast, we travel, train, meet new people and discuss new ideas with passion and purpose." - IWT Team

"All of the sights so far, training at King's, experiencing Britain, meeting a ton of new fans of so many nationalities is so awesome. This gives you a different outlook on life for sure! This is extremely cool and there is never a dull moment." - Guy Cisternino

"Kings gym was awesome. Truly! If I lived in London, I would train there. I can say that the best part of my career has been TRAVEL. I can say that I have friends all over the world. James Hollingshead and Louis Moylan went out of their way to take care of us here at this stop in London. It was great to meet new fans, without the fans there is no tour. This tour definitely gives a different perspective especially since I am not competing anymore. We are just getting started! This is the perfect way to promote the lifestyle. Train big, eat big, LIVE BIG!" - Branch Warren

At arrival in Stockholm, Sweden, Shaun Clarida joined from NY and the team of now 5 is getting ready for a road-trip towards Copenhagen, Denmark in the morning. Shaun is excited to join the team from following the activities the past few days on a distance.

"Bodybuilding has opened so many doors for me. I have been all over the world however this is my first time in Europe and I get to visit Denmark and all over Sweden! I am so amped up after watching the guys at King's Gym and I am looking forward to the meet ups, the training, the sight seeing and meeting all of our friends and fans!" - Shaun Clarida

When everyone had signed out for the evening, Michael Johansson and Nick Del Toro went to the hotel gym for an arm workout. #nocompromises

Final Call...

The GASP Iron World Tour (IWT) with Branch Warren, Guy Cisternino, Michael Johansson, and Nick Del Toro visited Kings Gym, Croydon, UK on April 2, 2019.

"As soon as I put my foot inside the door of Kings Gym I felt right at home. A real no compromise environment where respect only can be earned from hard work. The owner James Hollingshead greeted me and the team in the door and while showing us around he explained the philosophy around his gym. It was easy to understand why it felt like a home away from home. James told us how he recognize the hospitality and philosophy that we have around GASP and it was clear to me that these values are also the core of how he is running Kings Gym. Traveling the world and meeting great people with similar values sharing a fun #workhardplayhard life is what it is all about."

The team got a workout in together with James Hollingshead and Louis Moylan and they'll be back again tomorrow for more hardcore GASP training!

"Yea, this is one of the best gyms I've been to PERIOD. It's a hardcore bodybuilding gym. There's not too many of those left. They have a lot of equipment. A lot of unique pieces. It reminds me of home. This is a place you can come to and feel like home and actually train like a bodybuilder. I am sure this is one of the places I'll come to when I visit the UK."

Kings Gym, Croydon, UK

Beginning of April 2019 we have GASP team members 

 leaving USA together with videographer Nick Del Toro and CEO Michael for a 10 day Europe tour visiting gyms, resellers, industry friends, and checking out the local sights.

The tour is going to be in-depth and all about the real life in the Iron Sport with both fun adventures and the everyday struggles that comes from traveling, meeting cool people, and crushing it in the gym no matter what.

We’d love to meet as many as possible from our GASP community on this tour and the rest can follow @officialgasp on Instagram for stories and daily updates on our whereabouts.

Below is an outlined agenda - stay tuned for more specific details.

April 2-3 London, UK (Kings Gym, Croydon)

April 5 Road trip through Sweden towards Denmark

April 7 Malmo, Sweden (Muscle Zone meet & greet) & Halmstad, Sweden (Gladius Gym workout)

April 8 Gothenburg, Sweden (Iron Works Gym)