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Hard to believe but Matt Clark was our first ever featured Hunk 9 years ago and after all this time, as you can see he's still hunky! Matt has competed a few times over the years and you'd think he'd be over the nerves by now. But no! |
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| Lisa and Matt @ Fitness Plus |
Infact he's more nervous than ever as he's competing at the first ever New NZIFBB Men's physique class at the upcoming NZIFBB South Island Champs in Christchurch on 12 May. He's probably in the best ever condition we've seen him as he's still retaining his muscle mass while getting very vascular, especially in his legs. In this update we give you a glimpse of Matt's training in video action and ask him why the switch to the New class in our Q&A. |
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 Tarren and Matt |
Why did you want to get on stage again? I was always going to compete again. I Had last year off as I could not fully focus on competing, I didn't see the point if cannot commit 100% or be at my best or improved. When was your last show? 2010 Nationals, won u90kg mens class and couples with Tarren mccall. |
| Why the switch from tradtional physique to the new NZIFBB men's physique class? For me I have always trained to get bigger. In 17 years of training I have gained 40kg and still I would be another 30kg from being able to be a competitive Pro Bodybuilder. I am not that size and thats fine. My body is the size it is and that size is more suited to mens pysique than trying to achieve something i cant. I am bigger and leaner than when I won u90's I work really hard. Its not an easy option, its the better option for me. Mens physique is not about being small or not having legs it is a class that is about being shredded, well balanced muscle and shape. more the muscle and fitness cover model than the flex cover.    |
What is involved in the new class and are there different parts to the comp The main difference is that you wear board shorts and do quarter turns rather than compulsary poses. you come out in a group and individually. i guess the judging is closer to how bikini is judged rather than standard bodybuilding. I imagine there to be alot more 'model' poses, how have you gone about doing these since I'm sure you're quite shy and retiring I am very shy actually lisa, honestly that is the only bit i have concerns about. Putting the word model in it makes me uncomfortable a little. Thats not how I see myself. I call them front pose or quarter turn lol. i am a lot more comfortable with that  Is also tough as is a new class to NZ it is not like bodybuilding where I have done all the compolsary poses a million times. will be a learning process for sure this year.   Do you have to train differently for this class in terms of how your body needs to look Simply NO. You have to do absolutely everything the same till your on stage. train, diet, prep, tan everything has to be done the same. Saying that I have approached it differently than normal. I have increased my workload a great deal. My nutrition plan has been very different to suit the extra work. More calories in but more calories burned. Seems to be working well for me so far Do you have to be as lean and ripped, or big like the physique class Strange question because you need to be both. Because you're not posing to show all the detail like you would in say a most muscular/ side chest or ab and thigh pose. you need to be lean enough to show those things without the posing. I hope that makes sense. And full, balanced shape. Its not about being massive, I am certainly not massive but I will be close to 90kg and lean as I can. The pro's in the states will have a good solid 5kg of lean mass more than me. They are not little guys, they are SERIOUS trainers with great builds. They not little show ponies..... Have you had to diet just hard to do this as opposed to normal physique At last years nationals Nathan O"hearns conditioning was amazing. When I was with him I said to myself my goal was to achieve that kind of conditioning. So I plan too by the end of the year, so since i started my prep i have been doing a minimum of 2 hours cardio a day. weights as always obviously and mixing the cardio up mainly between bush walks, stepper and MMA training. I have never worked so hard ever! Nutrition and hard work are the key, mine seem to be working well together. Nutrition is the hardest part but no matter how much training you do, if your nutrition is not right you will never be your best. |
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Are you looking forward to being back on stage again? I am indeed, I am more nervous than I have been in a long time because its a new class. I am also feeling good as I feel in the best shape I have ever been in. I could only ever hope to be the best I can be, the rest is out of my hands. |
Matt Clark
May 2012
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