Community

More in Motivation

Simply put the definition of a leader is someone who leads or commands a group, organization, or country. Our CEO Michael Johansson takes that description and elevates it to the max and in full GASP style.

Michael has always been an avid motorsports enthusiast with a definite love for life in the fast lane and this year he took his passion for motocross up a notch.

He really dedicated himself to being the best rider he could possibly be with the end goal being to race competitively at the World Vet Motocross Championship held at Glen Helen Raceway on November 6th.

At the end of 2018 Michael began preparing for the World Vet at Glen Helen. During this time he spent a great deal of time working on his riding techniques, but he also took a new approach to his fitness. In addition to spending countless of hours at the track training to evolve as a rider, Michael also took his fitness evolution seriously. During this journey to Glen Helen, Michael made efforts to train a little different than he had before.  Bodybuilders and Motocross racers train in two quite different ways, so he had to adjust his body as well as the way he thought about training during this pursuit of his World Vet debut.

Michael by no means abandoned his iron core, as a former competitive bodybuilder, weight training will always be part of his fitness journey, but he did add more unconventional training methods to his regimen in order to give him the opportunity to be successful as a rider.

After racing race after race throughout 2019, Michael really began to develop from an avid moto enthusiast into a full fledged motocross racer putting him that much closer to really showing what he had at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, CA.

At the beginning of October 2020 it looked like Michael would have the opportunity to accomplish his goal. He had put in all the work and was performing at the top of his game. By all measures he was READY!

This past weekend as Michael prepared himself for the approach of the World Vet he took the chance to race one last time before heading to California.

Michael was riding at his best during last weekends race and it looked like he was well prepared for the race in San Bernardino, until the day out that was meant to be a brush up ride took a turn for the worst.

Michael ended up crashing during one of the weekends motos, but to no fault of this own. As mentioned before he was riding at the top of his game, but in racing some time you are at the mercy of the ability of the other riders. While chasing down another who at the very last second chose not to attempt a jump, Michael was forced to make a split second decision to either maintain his line and potentially land on the rider or take a risk by landing just outside of the boundaries the prepared track.

Being a fierce competitor as well as compassionate person Michael chose the latter and the other rider was able to ride away unharmed. That noble choice caused Michael to crash and leaving him too banged up to finish the race and potentially making it difficult to get himself  healed enough to make the World Vet.

On Monday morning just days after crashing Michael showed us all that he lives the relentless lifestyle, as he made no excuses and was in the office at 7 am at his post as the leader of the GASP, Better Bodies and Destination team.

Michael is still waiting to hear from doctors on the extent of his injuries, but he has already begun his road to recovery working with Destination based specialist and Neufit practitioner 

, while weighing his option to see if he will still make his long waited appearance at the World Vet Championships.

Help us wish Michael the best as the heals and prepares for the next step on his uncompromising pursuit of excellence.

Grit From The Top Down - Michael Johansson's Pursuit of Excellence

More in Training

Jon Irizarry needs to nail 440lbs for 2 paused reps immediately followed by 10 sets of 375lbs x 3 paused reps superset with seal rows with a second contraction x 6 reps. Followed by dead bench at 405lbs, weighted dips at 110lbs, floor dumbbell flys and floor dumbbell extensions.

Key takeaways here are the intention Jon is learning through Josh along with the very specific plan and lifts to compliment the end goal of destroying 500lb and moving as far past 500lb as possible.

Big Bench Program - Episode 4 Third Workout

In a year like 2020, if you were lucky enough to have a gym to train at it probably helped you cope with a lot of what is going on. Many people had to make do with their own make shift gyms, bodyweight training or get caught up on some out door cardio. Nevertheless the training and physical activity is what helped and continues to help people keep balance with emotions and impulses from anything going on in the world.

Johnnie Jackson is "getting a late start" but is preparing to compete in the Chicago pro which is now hosted in Atlanta, Georgia.

_"I hesitated there a minute because if the contest was in Chicago I would've had to quarantine for 2 weeks before competing. I am a little bit behind because of hesitating but I do well under pressure."

Also part of the stressful year is the number of NPC regional and NPC national qualifiers that got either postponed or right out canceled. The GASP Supershow and Branch Warren Classic had to change locations from Houston to Fort Worth, Texas HOWEVER it is going down for damn sure.

_"This will be our 13th annual Branch Warren Classic. It will be a bit downsized from years past. We don't have 9 different events but WE WILL HAVE the event. As an athlete you need these events. If you don't have the events, you don't have a sport."

This year at the GASP Supershow Branch Warren Classic we will be offering all overall winners a full photo and video shoot with the GASP and Better Bodies team and crew which is a he opportunity to get on a global platform and still own 2020!

Train Insane - Branch Warren and Johnnie Jackson

"If you're not going to train to win you might as well not even show up."

Hunter punched his ticket to the super bowl of bodybuilding aka the Mr. Olympia by winning his pro debut. NOW WHAT? It is win the day all over again. Do the necessary with food and scaling back training until his strength is back to normal levels. Eat accordingly with re setting his metabolism as much as possible and do the necessary for mental health. No one take into account the strain the mind goes through going 100 miles an hour on a legit NO COMPROMISES prep.

_"I feel like I could be somewhat normal and hangout with friends for a change and not feel pressured."

That being said Hunter is prepared to bring an improved package to his Olympia debut. This workout is with the new 212 phenom Keone Pearson who has his competitive sights set on the Chicago pro.

More to come from both Hunter Labrada and Keone Pearson in Destination LIVE!

Train to WIN - Hunter Labrada and Keone Pearson

More in Ambassadors

2020 has no doubt been a roller coaster ride especially for competitive sports in general and for bodybuilders in the IFBB. Samir Troudi tried to get a visa in time to compete in Korea but was unable to do so.

In this video we get a chance to spend a full day with Samir and rebound from not being able to make it to competition in Korea and looking to see what options the future holds.

First off we head to the barber where Samir gets cleaned up then heads to one his favorite restaurants and meal prep companies to fuel up before heading to Olympia Gym UAE.

"Olympia gym has the best equipment, its the freshest and simply the best." Samir takes us through a typical arm session and then finishes the day with another meal.

Bodybuilding In Dubai - Day In The Life with Samir Troudi

More in Other

Several months ago I introduced my “West Coast Update” column to the amazing GASP community with a feature on top NPC Classic Physique competitor, Mark Durando. We had such good feedback on the piece that I wanted to bring him back again to let everyone know how his prep has progressed during this very crazy year! Additionally, I wanted to talk about

the truly wonderful charity work that Mark does in his spare time when not working as a trainer and chiseling away at his constantly improving physique. As Mark’s coach for the last four years I cannot express enough just how proud of him I am.

At this time, you are 8 weeks out from the West Coast Classic. How are you feeling

about where your physique is at this point?

Mark. Ich bin absolut beeindruckt und total begeistert davon, wie sehr sich mein Körper während dieser langen Vorbereitungssaison verändert hat. Ich bi nicht nur massiger und konditionierter als je zuvor, sondern mit deinen einzigartigen Trainingstechniken habe ich auch meine allgemeine Form, Symmetrie und Proportionen verbessert. Ich fange an mich wie ein richtiger Classic Physique Athlet zu fühlen.

Es war ein schwieriges Jahr, um sich vorzubereiten und konzentriert zu bleiben. Wie hast du es geschafft, so fokussiert zu bleiben?

Mark: Dieses Jahr war ohne Zweifel schwierig, aber ich konnte auf dem richtigen Weg bleiben, indem ich einige Geräte zu Hause hatte, und wir haben einfach getan, was wir konnten, bis die Gyms wieder geöffnet wurden. Und weil ich dich als Trainer hatte und du immer für mich da warst, wusste ich, dass ich unter allen umständen weiter machen musste. So sehr ich mich auch nicht enttäuschen möchte, ich habe auch das Gefühl, dass ich meinen Trainer absolut nicht enttäuschen kann!

Planst du eine weitere Show, nach dem ÖRK?

Mark: Ja, so wie wir beide es besprochen haben, ist geplant , in paar Tage nach der Westküste, freizunehmen und dann im Dezember sofort wieder mit den Vorbereitungen für den NPC USA zu beginnen. Anstatt aber ins Bodybuilding einzusteigen, werde ich mich auf die Classic Physique konzentrieren. 2020 ist das Jahr, in dem ich mich als echte Bedrohung im NPC etablieren möchte.

Ich möchte ein wenig über deine Wohltätigkeitsarbeit und die Arbeit mit Kindern sprechen.

 Du bist ziemlich bekannt als "Superman" Mark Durando, was cool ist. Außerdem hast du ein Unternehmen namens "Heroes for Hire" gegründet. Wie kam es zu dieser ganzen Sache? Was sind deine zukünftigen Ziele für dieses Unternehmen?

West Coast Update With Eric Broser - Mark "Superman" Durando

We had a huuuuuuge gun show crew at destination. Guy Cisternino, Hunter Labrada, Bryan Troianello and Jonathan Irizarry all linked up to take Guy to school on the HIT way of training arms.

Guy's and Jeremy Potvin's chest training video

, Guy explains that he is implementing some John Meadows mountain dog style training with warm up sets leading to al all-out top set to true mechanical failure.

This has been Hunter's and Bryan's style of training for years so they give Guy their cues for these particular sets of exercises including the preacher one arm dumbbell curl, cable push downs, seated curls and more pushdowns. Hunter and Bryan intentionally don't do compound movements on their arm day because of the intensity they put into their chest day which includes very heavy dips.

Joining this crew was Jonathan Irizarry who is at the tail end of his bench press program with world renowned strength coach Josh Bryant. Jon's own arms stretch the tape at around 22'' and are definitely a key component in what will smash his own PR for bench press. Stay tuned for the final episodes and the full bench program from Josh and Jon.

At this point Guy Cisternino and Hunter are about 10 weeks out from the Olympia and at the posting of this video we are 7 weeks out.

Follow along as Destination relocates to Las Vegas for a full IRON WORLD TOUR taking over Vegas gyms, the desert, the strip, and the Olympia!

Mr. Olympia - Armed & Ready

More in Iron World Tour

Whats synonymous with proper bodybuilding and powerlifting? Heavy ass weight.

 set out to link up with probably one of the strongest humans in history 

 for a solid week of next level training, eating and experiences in Dubai.

Joe is smack dab in the middle of a very aggressive offseason. He is taking advantage and not wasting any time by utilizing a deadlift program from Josh Bryant and almost literally shoveling as many calories in as possible.

Mackey hit the ground running right off the plane to a heavy shoulder workout with Larry Wheels.

They both work up to a 315 military press and rep out.

Joe gets detailed with what he has coming up in terms of programmed lifts and offseason.

Stay tuned for more from Dubai with Larry Wheels and Joe Mackey.

HEAVY & RAW - Joe Mackey Trains Shoulders with Larry Wheels

More in Products

Liv Roth isn't afraid of altering her surroundings and what she puts on her back to make it more to her liking.

Here she show us how she makes the GASP Thermal Gym Sweater more her style making it "accentuate her waistline" and look cuter vs just an oversized thermal.

Cut in an oval, circular line so it goes up on the sides and accentuates the waistline. Start conservative because you can always take off more if you need to.

Own Your Own Style - Liv Roth

2019 Shaun Clarida had his first uninterrupted offseason prior to the Olympia meaning he did not have to diet and compete to qualify and then continue to diet until the Olympia. He went on to have his best showing yet and make a huge statement.

2020 had its ups and down initially BUT Shaun used it to his advantage as anyone not willing to compromise will do, and made training continue during the shutdowns.

This was the first year Shaun cracked over 200 lbs on his frame. In addition to the free weights and not willing to compromise, Shaun also explains he got started with bodybuilding when social media didn't dominate people's thoughts and actions.

Shaun wont be traveling before the Olympia to focus on his goal. Stay tuned for more updates right here.

How I Put On 20 lbs - Shaun Clarida

You've heard it time and time again, you have to enjoy the process. The every day is more enjoyable when you are more process driven vs goal driven. In a world of increasing instant gratification, it can be a constant tough "pill to swallow" that anything worth accomplishing and true success, especially in bodybuilding takes time.

Ed Brown has built up his strength and physique and KNOWLEDGE to empower others to do the same because of his ability to see the end goal and at the same time perfect the details it will take on a daily basis to get there.

To his credit, Ed has amassed a wide range of accomplished athletes including champion bodybuilders, powerlifters and weight loss success stories. It is only sustainable and actually enjoyed because of Ed's ability to instill the love of the process in his clients.

Here Ed takes us through a high intensity leg day with detailed descriptions on his warm ups, compound lifts of choice and how he finished off with occlusion training on the leg extension. Ed will once again go for his professional status at the NPC Universe in 3 weeks.

Enjoy Your Grind - Beat Yourself Everyday

Courage Opara and Bernardo Costa are preparing for the Battle of Texas this December along with what seems to be EVERY other classic physique pro in the world.

Freddy Naidu and Sheilahe Brown have made a stellar reputation for the Battle of Texas being an amazing competitor experience along with world classic stage production and the feeling of an actual rock concert and bodybuilding combined.

Now with the way 2020 has been and given the contest's reputation, everyone is looking to show up and try to earn a 2021 Olympia qualification here.

This list includes top tier pro Courage Opara and rookie pro Bernardo Costa. Bernardo is making his pro debut here in about a month and they both discuss pro debuts and the ups and downs (both physically and mentally) of going pedal to the metal getting pro level shredded.