Phil Kuklinski's Master Physique, Oct 10

	June update Former Mr New Zealand Phil Kuklinski made a surprising entry into the recent NZFBB Akl Champs competing in the Masters 50+ class. With his muscle maturity and dryness, Phil proved he still had the muscle to match it with the young guns in the overall comparisons.  Was it one hit wonder for Phil in 2010? we just had to catch up with him to find out what inspired him to don his posing trunks and will he bring them out again this year!

How long was it since your last competition (before the Akl Champs). What class did you compete in at last comp.
Its been just over 2 years since being on stage. I did Tony Doherty's All States show at the Melbourne Pro Grand Prix and placed 2nd in the heavyweight class and then a week later did NZ's first ever Elite show and got in the top 10. It was a tough week between those two shows as I was on holiday with my family in Melbourne and the Formula one GP was on and you just had to spend lots of time at that so I was rapped at my placings at the time.

What inspired you to compete and get back on stage.  Did it feel good to be back.
Yes it was great to get back into Contest shape. I actually really enjoy the journey in the weeks leading up to a show, its all about the mental focus and pushing yourself to be better than last time. The main motivating factor for getting back on stage this year is to celebrate turning 50 years and being in the shape of my life at 50.

Why did you go into the masters 50 class instead of the open? ( are you feeling your age he he!) 
I guess the main reason that I went in the Masters class is so that I could qualify for the NZFBB Nationals in that class and then hopefully, possibly get to the Masters Worlds.

What was your contest weight at this comp compared to your last: On the Friday before the show I was 89kg before starting to carb up which is my heaviest competition weight ever. Thats a 1kg gain from 2 years ago and 5 kg up from when I won the Mr NZ title in 2001. So it takes time and 1kg a year is a slow but solid gain.

Have you backed off your training since you last competed?
Last time I competed I stopped training for 3 months after the show as at the time there didn't seem anything on the horizon as far as other shows for me to get excited about that motivated me to keep going.  I base my training days around work as I work shift work and this includes night shift. My work days can often change and then so too must my training.

Sometimes I will have to train 4 or 5 days in a row as it may be 3 or 4 days before I can get back to the gym. So when I have my days off which can be sometimes 6 days in row I hit the gym and train as hard as possible. Whether its the right way or wrong way for bodybuilding I don't care but I enjoy lots of the basic deadlifts, bench and squat with big weights and lots and lots of low rep sets. Sometimes I will do 10 sets of benchs or squats with 2 or 3 reps and then next time 10 sets of 10. Just whatever I feel my body needs and can handle on that particular day. My workouts can take a long time simply because at my age it takes much longer to warm up my knees elbows and shoulders.

How many rest days would you take each week.  How important are rest days.
Well i guess rest days can sometimes be while I am at work, but in work that I do as a Petrochemical Engineer some days you can be on your feet all day or if Im running the Plant from the Control Room Panels then i can be sitting down all day so that varies. I personally think that if your sleeping well and getting all your good nutrition then you need very few rest days. However if you are increasing your training frequency then you need to do it very gradually so it gives your body time to adjust.

Looks like you've gotten more mass and also looked drier on stage, how have you achieved that. 
Well I have slowly increased my muscle mass over the years but then I have been bodybuilding for a long time. I think it roughly works out to 1kg a year. 1997 was my first show and I was 78kg at the Taranaki champs. I laugh now as at that show some of  the locals said to look like that I must be on something. As far as looking dry on stage I think it is just all about getting the carb and water intake right. Not always easy to do. Maybe drinking right through the contest day actually makes you look drier. Now theres  a tip.

You've competed many times, obviously you must have a way to mentally get diet mode.  Can you explain how you do it?  Do you getting into slowly or straight into it from day 1. 
Starting Contest prep 3 months out is exciting, the main motivation is knowing everyone on Contest day will be looking at your body and pulling and picking it apart.

I usually ease into the dieting over 2 weeks cutting out dairy products the first week and then bread and biscuits etc the second week leaving 8 to 10 weeks of full on no cheating.

           

How did it feel getting up there in the overalls beside some of the upcoming young guns.
It was great to be in the overall lineup. Thats always the best part and knowing I'm giving away 20 years just makes it even better. I want to show that Im still competitive against the younger ones for sure. I use that as motivation in the gym, I'll show those (expletives) young so and so's etc etc etc.

Looking back, what advice would you give yourself as a young bodybuilder
Well everyone is different so I'm generalizing. Stay away from all those pre contest bodybuilder type exercises for friggin sake. I see it all the time in the gym. There is a place for tricep kickbacks and cable flyes on a swiss ball but you have to get some muscle and size first. Stay away from the leg extensions and get under the squat bar and go all the way down. If you can only squat 30kg properly then thats all you can do. Leave your ego at the door and take some weight off and do it properly. 

I am planning to go to Christchurch to do the NABBA WFF Nationals. From what I have heard and read it sounds exciting and to me looks to be the future of bodybuilding in New Zealand and I would like to be part of it.

Phil K
14 June 10