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Fresh off a win at the 2021 Chicago Pro, Darwin Uribe is excited and motivated to take the Olympia stage this year in the classic physique class. A longtime friend of Darwin and fellow Columbian, Camilo Diaz, dropped by Destination after competing at the Texas Pro to catch up and get in a gnarly back workout. "Since I am here [Destination Dallas], I exploded my potential not only physically but mentally, and I think he could feel it during the work out because I was pushing him a lot-- and he's a big guy, so that means he needs to work harder than what he's used to in Columbia."

The Colombian Connection | Darwin Uribe & Camilo Diaz

More in Motivation

It's amazing to see how one man can have this vision where most people couldn't believe it. He believed in his vision and fulfilled this grand stadium and its astonishing to see how all of time, effort and passion was realized. Just being able to see what ever you envision NO MATTER HOW HUGE and crazy, is 100% possible.

It's our second day of content week here at Destination Dallas, so we decided to take the gang down to the home of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in in Arlington, Texas.

"Football was my favorite sport growing up. This was my avenue in life before bodybuilding. It was the same mindset I cultivated with football that transferred to bodybuilding." -Brett Wilkin

"Just walking out of the tunnel here in the stadium, I can imagine it will be a very similar feeling walking into the crowd at the Olympia." -Brady King

"That is what stuck with me the most, not just the fact that we were in this astonishing stadium but the reality that ANYTHING you have a vision and passion for in life is possible." - Ivana Wilkin

Crazy vision and aspirations are what we are all about. The crazy aspect and the fact that it is unbelievable to most gives the biggest pay off when YOU make progress towards these aspirations and ultimately make the impossible POSSIBLE.

GASP & Better Bodies Team Visits Cowboy Stadium

More in Events

What do you get when you take a gym, fill it with fitness fanatics and give them the chance to meet and train next to some of the most prominent competitors in the industry? Now, add a DJ, mechanical bull and even vendors. You would pay for that right? Well if you came the GASP & Better Bodies Meet-Up at Destination Dallas, you didn't have to. There were no tickets needed, no cover charge and no seats. We opened the doors to our community and invited them in to train and fellowship with like minded people and others with the passion for fitness.

Check out his video to get a glimpse into how we played hard after working hard all week.

Party Time! 

Gym lifts are not the same as powerlifting meet lifts.

Johnnie Jackson spells out the bench press. From how to lift and listen to commands in a meet to using the "kinetic chain" and certain exercises to improve every muscle group responsible for strength and stabilization for a max bench press.

"People think bench press and think chest, chest, chest but its so important to think of the opposite of the chest and what's stabilizing the weight."

You're only as strong as your weakest link, Johnnie gives a crash course in understanding this as it pertains to the bench press.

Bench Press 101 with Johnnie Jackson

"No one is more dedicated and no one loves this more than we do. There is a lot that goes into this and both Brett and I would sell everything we have to be able to do what we love to do. I think it'll really show through. I don't think we have to say too much or talk a lot of sh!t, when we stand next to these guys it'll show through and we'll be known as,"those guys."

Martin Fitzwater is making his pro debut at the Texas Pro and here in 2021 with everyone fighting to qualify for the Olympia, pro bodybuilding line ups are STACKED!

Here Brett, Martin and Ivana are training shoulders at Armbrust Pro Gym in Denver, Colorado. Stay tuned for part 2 of the same session. The volume was so high that we split the session and commentary in 2.

Don't miss the GASP and Better Bodies content week, meet-up and the massive throw down at the Texas Pro.

Martin Fitzwater - Lets F.cking Go!

"This is what we chose to do and we are going to be the best at it because of that."

Martin Fitzwater wears his passion for bodybuilding on his sleeve. He and training partner Brett Wilkin live and breathe the daily progress side of bodybuilding, so much so that the get a bit psycho when it comes to the "f..ked up" advanced training techniques they do day in and day out.

One interesting habit Martin has for leg day is to wear serial killer shirts...

this must allude to the kill or be killed/ win or die training mentality that it takes to push to failure, beyond and then some.

Martin is 23 years old and one of the youngest open IFBB pro bodybuilders looking to "spank" some veteran competitors at his pro debut the Texas Pro.

If you want to catch the action of our content week August 9-15 and the meet up that Thursday, the Texas pro that Friday and Saturday then come on down to destination. This train doesn't stop!

We Are Going To Be The Best - Martin Fitzwater | Texas Pro Debut

Darwin Uribe won in Atlanta at the Chicago pro but recalls the countless mental and physical struggles up to the point of WINNING.

"I remember every single workout when I was feeling so tired, so exhausted, when I was fighting with myself. When nobody was watching me. All those moments come as a flashback and was worth it. Every second that I pushed myself to get better to achieve this goal."

This is not an easy mission given we are not a massive news entity BUT as mentioned in Darwins post Chicago Pro win interview, connecting with MJ and the team and giving people your time speaks volumes and does so much for EVERY individual. That then spreads way outside of any single interaction and any single person.

"Without knowing me he (Michael Johansson) took time to talk to me as a friend when I had no friends here. This was not possible without all these people. All these people came together in the current moment to keep me going."

Darwin's victory did not come without his share of WORK. Darwin had mental struggles more than physical struggles leading up to and through prep. The mental aspect of goal setting, of prep, of continuing when life and prep gets hard is and always will be the biggest hurdle.

"Control your mind. if you control your mind you will win. Also, love to be uncomfortable. If you love to be uncomfortable, you will make progress. Nothing great, nothing phenomenal comes from easy ways. You have to work your ass off."

Now, Darwin has won his pro debut and is qualified for his first ever Classic Physique Olympia.

He won in his mind, he won is his goal setting and is winning every single day BEFORE winning the Chicago Pro.

How Do You WIN? Darwin Uribe - Chicago Pro Champ

"This competition is a door to open more big things coming up. You have to know that you give it everything in every aspect. The most satisfying feeling is that you give it your best. You don't regret anything."

Darwin Uribe is 48 hours out from making his professional debut in classic physique at the Chicago pro hosted in Atlanta, Georgia. Darwin really dug into his preparation and as a result he is at his best ever BUT with no shortage of "the grind" especially to attain the condition that is expected from his coach Patrick Tuor.

"It has been 9 weeks of no refeeds, no carb up and no cheat meals. That doesn't matter because I will always do what it takes."

We link up with Darwin here to see some of what professional competitors do prior to competition. Grocery shopping, setting up your kitchen and training leading up to the day of the contest are still all crucial for Darwin.

Classic Physique Pro Debut | Darwin Uribe - Chicago Pro

"Everything has to be 100 percent, not even 99 percent, it has to be 100 percent. This is like the most important process, the peaking process, so you know, what I look like now, I'm going to look completely different in the next 24 hours. I'm 203 now, but tomorrow I'm going to be competing at probably 200 pounds. So stuff like that is very important, especially with this process."

It's been a long 14 week journey for the 2020 Chicago Pro 212 winner. He's back in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia and ready to head back to Dallas with another win under his belt.

Focusing On The 2-Peat at The Chicago Pro | Keone Pearson

Crazy in bodybuilding is having a level of discipline that most people cant imagine sustaining for longer than a 12-16 week prep for 4, 5, 6 9, 10 years straight...

Bodybuilding Crazy - Hunter Labrada, Joe Mackey & Brett Wilkin

There is no true victory if you half ass your effort.

Darwin Uribe moved from Colombia to Dallas to really dig into his ambitions as a new IFBB Pro. Shortly after his personal life took a massive toll and he, admittedly lost the mentality he needed to pursue his goals with all the effort it takes to compete with the best.

"I finally asked myself, hey man, what is going on with you. This sport is more mental than physical. If you dont have your mind right you wont be able to do anything."

Now Darwin is focused on the Chicago pro for his professional debut in Classic physique.

Every session is full send, 110%, all in.

"I don't believe in showing up and moving some weights and going home and eating. I love training more than I love competing so I want to give it everything or nothing at all."

Darwin really dug in and the fruits of his passion and labor are very evident and Darwin is sure to make the impact he intends at his debut. We will be at the Chicago pro bringing you all everything leading up to the contest from Hunter Labrada, Joe Mackey, Brett Wilkin, Jason Hebert, Keone Pearson and Darwin Uribe so don't miss a beat.

Classic Physique Is My Future - Darwin Uribe

"If you want to be successful, surround yourself with successful people, whether that's success in business, success in bodybuilding, or whatever it is you're trying to succeed in in life. If you surround yourself with successful people in that chosen field, then success is contagious."

Mark your calendars for our first ever Gasp and Better Bodies Event Week and Festival August 9th through the 15th at Destination Dallas. Come meet and train with Johnnie, Branch and so many more of our athletes and community members.