Ask a PNBA Natural Wheel Chair Pro Anything.

[marinevet63031]

I am here promoting natural bodybuilding of course. Many times the non-disabled ask me questions about my training, dieting etc. So I am starting this thread to open up a dialogue. So let's get it started. Enjoy everyone. A quick background about me.

I spent 5 years in the US Marine Corps. After many deployments to locations such as ****lia, Haiti, Bosnia, Albania, Liberia, etc. I suffered several combat injuries. I am the recipient of the combat action ribbon and purple heart.

The disabilities have taken quite a toll on me with the current lasting effects. I suffer with: PTSD, TBI, Nerve Damage, Osteoarthritis, Spinal Cord Injury and Spinal Cord Impingement.

In addition to using an ankle brace, two knee braces, back brace, canes, and power scooter for mobility, I must use special hook straps and wraps for gripping while at the gym.

Although enduring back spasms and degenerative joint disease has been challenging, I will not let it stop me from pushing forward in my physical therapy and bodybuilding training.

Through hard work and determination I competed in the St. Louis Gateway Games- an adaptive Track & Field meet in 2016. In 2017 I competed in the N.A.N.B.F. St. Louis Gateway Naturals Pro Qualifier for bodybuilding. I won my division earning my professional bodybuilder card. I joined the INBA/PNBA as a PNBA Pro.


Currently, I am writing a book called "Adaptive Bodybuilding". I am the founder of "Adaptive Fitness" a company that sells hats and t-shirts to raise awareness for the physically challenged athlete and bodybuilder.

[mtpockets]

First off.... Thank you for your service..

Good Luck with your book, I am sure it will be a tremendous success, I will definitely follow this thread as I am confident it will be informative as well as inspirational.

[Fishman15]

I am here promoting natural bodybuilding of course. Many times the non-disabled ask me questions about my training, dieting etc. So I am starting this thread to open up a dialogue. So let's get it started. Enjoy everyone. A quick background about me.

I spent 5 years in the US Marine Corps. After many deployments to locations such as ****lia, Haiti, Bosnia, Albania, Liberia, etc. I suffered several combat injuries. I am the recipient of the combat action ribbon and purple heart.

The disabilities have taken quite a toll on me with the current lasting effects. I suffer with: PTSD, TBI, Nerve Damage, Osteoarthritis, Spinal Cord Injury and Spinal Cord Impingement.

In addition to using an ankle brace, two knee braces, back brace, canes, and power scooter for mobility, I must use special hook straps and wraps for gripping while at the gym.

Although enduring back spasms and degenerative joint disease has been challenging, I will not let it stop me from pushing forward in my physical therapy and bodybuilding training.

Through hard work and determination I competed in the St. Louis Gateway Games- an adaptive Track & Field meet in 2016. In 2017 I competed in the N.A.N.B.F. St. Louis Gateway Naturals Pro Qualifier for bodybuilding. I won my division earning my professional bodybuilder card. I joined the INBA/PNBA as a PNBA Pro.


Currently, I am writing a book called "Adaptive Bodybuilding". I am the founder of "Adaptive Fitness" a company that sells hats and t-shirts to raise awareness for the physically challenged athlete and bodybuilder.

How much ya bench?

[Mark1T]

Great to have you here.

[marinevet63031]

How much ya bench?

315 decline single. I close grip 225 for sets of 10, 360 on decline hammer strength for reps, 270 on incline hammer strength for reps. I wish I knew how to upload videos so I could upload my training videos from my iPhone.

[Fishman15]

315 decline single. I close grip 225 for sets of 10, 360 on decline hammer strength for reps, 270 on incline hammer strength for reps. I wish I knew how to upload videos so I could upload my training videos from my iPhone.

Nice! never mind the immature troll. He's high and drunk 24/7...

[marinevet63031]

thank you man

[marinevet63031]

Thanks for the reports, all. Sorry you had to deal with that, OP.

Thanks for your service and congratulations on your tremendous accomplishments! I want to read your book when it comes out.

I noticed you used the phrase 'physically challenged.' I've heard so many different variations of this, including 'differently-abled.' I'm assuming your preferred phrase is the one you used. Can you say more about that, and why?

Thank you for the interest in my book. To answer your question. I like the term "Physically challenged" and "Adaptive" because that to me is what it is. I don't mind the term handicapped of course. I like Physically challenged because I am challenged physically with the things wrong with me. I don't really care for "Differently abled" because it just seems so much of a politically correct term. It's all a play on words of course but you are correct. Physically challenged has just sounded more empowering to me instead of more of a detriment.

[MrNismo]

Hell yeah man!

Were you always into lifting even before your injuries or did you really only get serious afterwards?

[KeepItMoving]

Very cool how you are not defined by the challenges you have faced. You write the definition. Stay strong.

[sy2502]

No questions, just massive respect OP. And thank you for your service!

[marinevet63031]

Hell yeah man!

Were you always into lifting even before your injuries or did you really only get serious afterwards?

Thank you for your question. Back in the 80's, I lifted in high school. I was doing it to have the strength and power for wrestling. I was more into powerlifting and agility drills. In 1994 I competed in the "Armed Forces Invitational" at Chesapeake Bay in VA. on the Naval Base. I won the lightweight Short Class. I was hooked on bodybuilding. I had always competed in Powerlifting and Wrestling as I could while I was in the Marines. I got hurt bad though on deployments etc.

[Bo_Flecks]

Just came in to say, "Sup Matt?", and to bump you over 10k.

[marinevet63031]

No questions, just massive respect OP. And thank you for your service!

Thank you so very much

[marinevet63031]

Just came in to say, "Sup Matt?", and to bump you over 10k.

Thanks Ranger. I was Anglico. Depending on your enlistment time you would have seen us here and there sporadically at Benning, Campbell and New York.

[marinevet63031]

https://youtu.be/2sc3EKNVFJ8

[Bo_Flecks]

Thanks Ranger. I was Anglico. Depending on your enlistment time you would have seen us here and there sporadically at Benning, Campbell and New York.

I spent most of my time at Bragg and Benning. However, my company did jump into Redstone Arsenal and set off a shyt ton of ordinance (that was about to expire) with the Marines. Good times.

[marinevet63031]

I spent most of my time at Bragg and Benning. However, my company did jump into Redstone Arsenal and set off a shyt ton of ordinance (that was about to expire) with the Marines. Good times.

Nice, one of my better friends was a Ranger in ****lia. Poor mate lost his leg.

[IronCharles]

Thanks for your service, sir, and good luck to you in your competitions.

[Lou1se]

Respect and best wishes to you, Sir

[JediRN]

Been a fan of yours for years.

I have a question. Obviously leg drive is out of the question for many lifters with disabilities. Is there a substitute that works the same? What are your bench cues in that case.

Respect. And welcome home.

[marinevet63031]

I use hammer strength for my chest exercises, however I did a para powerlifting contest a few months ago and the biggest secret I can share is squeezing the shoulder blades and flaring the lats. I wish I knew how to post a video to this board so I could show what I was talking about.

Does anyone know how I can embed a video in a post? All help is welcome!

[Lou1se]

eg- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRwiK7MbiM


[ youtube]copy&paste the video link code found after the = sign here[/youtube]

I've underlined it in the above link.

And be sure to take out any spaces.

[marinevet63031]

Hell yeah man!

Were you always into lifting even before your injuries or did you really only get serious afterwards?

I did a lot of lifting pre injury. I did a few bodybuilding contests. 2 in 94 and 1 in 95. NPC and IFBB. However, I was more of a powerlifter. I won 28 gold and 2 silver while powerlifting in the Marine Corps.

[marinevet63031]

eg- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FRwiK7MbiM


[ youtube]copy&paste the video link code found after the = sign here[/youtube]

I've underlined it in the above link.


And be sure to take out any spaces.

Thank you so much for this!

[caravanbrah]

Thank you for your service.

I saw just recently that a paraplegic powerlifter did a wheelchair deadlift of 500kg. Are you able to deadlift/do you? Is there a good weightlifting community for injured vets?

[induced_drag]

Pretty incredible man. So many perfectly healthy able-bodied people make excuses every day of why they can not. I am just speechless.

Since you asked for questions....I'd like to hear how you set your goals. I am sure that your short term, and long term ones evolve. Has training helped you get further in your recovery than was predicted for you?

[marinevet63031]

Thank you for your service.

I saw just recently that a paraplegic powerlifter did a wheelchair deadlift of 500kg. Are you able to deadlift/do you? Is there a good weightlifting community for injured vets?

That is amazing. If I tried to deadlift I would be in a really bad way. I only do the Olympics version of the bench press. I have not seen a good weightlifting community for injured vets. I am trying to build one. I thank you so much for this question. Do you have the link to the video please?

[Corbi]

Question...why is this thread only 1 page and 2 stars whereas the fukkin twits thread is 10 useless pages of moronic drivel and thirsty dudes?

[Mark1T]

Question...why is this thread only 1 page and 2 stars whereas the fukkin twits thread is 10 useless pages of moronic drivel and thirsty dudes?

deeks the lunatic troll for some reason, every time he logs in with another one of his personalities, negs and 1-stars specific threads like this and mine. Why trolls with one or two posts also have the right to negs or rep is beyond me. It is a flawed feature.