Mr. Lifestyle ROBBY ROBINSON, an icon and legend from the Golden Era of bodybuilding - "The Black Prince", your expert for longevity and health, shares his secrets about natural muscle building at any age, old school training, healthy foods and lifestyle habits
ROBBY ROBINSON - GOLD'S GYM VENICE, CA '70s
PHOTO FROM ROBBY ROBINSON's MEMOIRS
"The BLACK PRINCE; My Life in Bodybuilding: Muscle vs. Hustle" -
● www.robbyrobinson.net/books.php ●
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A HEALTHY HEART MAY ONE DAY BE
EXERCISE,
EAT RIGHT AND
LAUGH A FEW TIMES A DAY!
I APPRECIATE LIFE,
BECAUSE IT IS NOT PERFECT.
SOMETIMES THINGS DON'T GO
AS YOU LIKE.
SMILE, THINK OF HOW TO USE ALL YOUR SENSES TO THRIVE IN THE MOMENT OF ADVERSITY,
ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE!
MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION:
YOU GOTTA LAUGH A LITTLE!
THE PHOTO YOU SEE ON THE TOP OF THE ARTICLE IS FROM THE BLACK PRINCE BOOK ▶ www.robbyrobinson.net/books.php -- IN THIS PHOTO I HAD JUST COME OUT TO CALIFORNIA.
ROBBY ROBINSON WITH ATLAS BROTHERS OF BODY-PRACTICE -
STEVE AND SAM, DURING BODYBUILDING MASTER CLASS AND
SEMINAR IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 2013
● www.robbyrobinson.net//master-class.php ●
I WAS CLUELESS THAT THERE WERE TWO MEN -- ALPHA-MALES, THAT WERE BODYBUILDERS, PERFORMERS, TEACHERS AND ARTISTS; THAT WERE HAND BALANCERS OF THE AWESOME KIND.
UNTIL I WAS INVITED TO COME TO SPOKANE WASHINGTON, IN WASHINGTON, THE HOME OF THE SEATTLE SEA-HAWKS, TO WORK WITH STEVE AND SAM ON THEIR TRANSITION FORM FROM A HAND-BALANCER TO BODYBUILDER, AFTER EACH ACT OR EXERCISE IN THERE ROUTINE.
I LOVED THEIR ENERGY AND DRIVE SEEKING PERFECTION, WHICH HAS LEAD TO STANDING OVATIONS WHEREEVER THE ATLAS BROTHERS APPEAR.
Answer: The biggest thrill in training is the same as in performing... being perfect in our execution.
We desire the ability to show the very best presentation for our audience knowing full well that if we do our job right, we'll get the most applause in return. It is an amazing feeling when the crowd goes insane from a well performed act. 2. WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND YOUR PERFORMANCE AND WHAT MOTIVATES YOU OR SAM TO GET IN THE BEST SHAPE, EACH TIME YOU SHOW CASE YOUR TALENT OF HAND-BALANCING?
Answer: We are really driven to be at the very top of 'our' game. Since we started late in this craft of DUO (it's also called the art of hand-to-hand) WE HAVE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF OUR PHYSIQUES BE FULLY BALANCED WITH AESTHETIC APPEAL
LEAN, MUSCULAR, AND TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE IT EFFECTIVELY IS THE GOAL WE CONSTANTLY STRIVE FOR
In terms of long term goals... We'd like to perform at the Arnold Classic in Columbus, OH. In addition we'd like to get on a regular contract circuit of performing our act in front of crowds all over the place.
3. HAVE EITHER OF YOU HAD ANY MAJOR INJURIES, THAT HAVE PREVENTED YOU OR SAM, TO NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM AT ANY TIME OVER THE YEARS? HOW OLD WERE YOU BOTH WHEN YOU GOT STARTED IN HAND-BALANCING? HOW OLD ARE YOU BOTH NOW AND HOW MANY YEARS AS TEAMMATES?
Answer: The only injury between us was a badly impinged left shoulder of the Base (Steve Atlas- myself). It was enough to drop off the most difficult elements for a while, but since it's healing and back to almost full strength the big elements are once again in our line of focus.
Our preventative exercises have really saved our skins many times! I (Steve) first got into DUO (Hand-to-Hand) in September of 2011.
My Flyer (Sam) got into DUO (Hand-to-Hand) in June of 2012. I was turning 38, and Sam was 19 at the time. I'm now 40 and Sam is 21 years of age.
I started training Sam almost 5 years ago, and then Sam's physical prowess and work ethic he became the designated training partner and the flyer of the Atlas Brothers effectively of June 2012. 4. WHEN WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU BOTH WITNESSED A HAND BALANCING ACT AND DID THAT MOTIVATE YOU TO BECOME HOUSE WHOLE NAMES IN THIS VISUAL ART TODAY?
Answer: The first act that I saw was in 1999. It was the Alexis Brothers: Paulo, and Marco Lorador in the Cirque Du Soleil production: Mystère.
That was such an amazing show...
Although Sam watched a live act about two years ago in DUO it was nothing by comparison was when we paid a visit to our mentors in June of 2013 -- they still are amazing to watch!
We want to do what we can to be 'like them'. This should NOT be misunderstood as copying them or cloning them.
We (the Atlas Brothers) have our own act that is continuously growing better and stronger by the week.
WE TRAIN HARD TO BE AS PERFECT AS POSSIBLE... WE BOTH FEEL THAT WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE AROUND US, THE REST WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF.
5. HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU BOTH SPEND WORKING OUT AND PRACTICING YOUR ARTS TOGETHER, AND DO YOU BOTH STILL ENJOY PERFORMING TO SOLD OUT AUDIENCES? DO YOU FEEL YOUR FAN BASE APPEAL HAS GROWN?
Answer: We train together five days a week, it used to be six- it's been cut to five to keep us from overtraining and burning out.
60-90 minutes are the typical training time with each other, but on top of that both Sam and myself train an additional 1-3 more hours each day on our own respective regimens.
Of course, we always want to perform to a sold out audience.
All the shows we're hired to perform at are completely sold out and we love that.
With Facebook and the internet, our fan base continues to grow by the week: the Atlas Brothers have their own official Facebook page:
6. RUMOR HAS IT, AT YOUR LAST PERFORMANCE, MANY IN THE AUDIENCE THOUGHT THAT PROMOTERS HAD GONE OUT TO VEGAS AND HIRED YOU AND SAM TO COME AND PERFORM YOUR ACT… CIRQUE-DU-SOLEIL-STYLE. HEARING SUCH A LABEL, HOW DID THAT EFFECT YOU BOTH?
Answer: It's very humbling and flattering to hear such sentiments. It's true. After the show, people truly thought we were performers from the circus world. Certainly, whenever you hear such complements you want to aspire to live up to them.
We improve at every single performance we're in and it is because we want to do this on a more full time basis.
So getting stronger, becoming more live moving art on stage... IT'S ALL A WORK IN PROGRESS THAT WE TRULY PRACTICE WITH PASSION
7. DO YOUR FAMILIES SUPPORT YOUR WORK, AND WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST SUPPORTERS? TELL OUR FANS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY'S REACTION TO YOUR HAND BALANCING ACT AND BODYBUILDING FAME. DO THEY ENJOY YOUR SUCCESSES?
Answer: Our families are passionate supporters on both sides.
Sam's father Jim is extremely supportive of the Atlas Brothers, and super proud of his son and would make every performance he could.
My own parents and wife -- Anne, are also staunch advocates of our goal in making this big for us.
You know our act, It's not exactly a normal everyday thing people see when they witness our practice...
You stop what you're doing to watch and to be amazed. Our families and close friends understand this and remain great advocates of support in all of our efforts.
8. WHO HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR TEAM AND WHAT ROLE HAS HE/ THEY PLAYED IN YOU BOTH DEVELOPING YOUR ACT? HOW DID IT FEEL TO RECEIVE SUCH A HUGE STANDING OVATION AFTER THE LAST PERFORMANCE? IT MADE ME FEEL PROUD.
Answer: To be fair, there's a few people involved (coaches that MUST be mentioned). I would never have learned DUO if I didn't see the Alexis Brothers Perform back in 99'. That said, it was performer and coach: Chris Jones, out of Las Vegas started us on our journey.
Later, it was the Master -- Paulo Lorador who became and is the driving influential force of our hand to hand work.
We recently brought the Black Prince on board of the Atlas Brothers team: ROBBY ROBINSON
This has been an incredible move bringing Robby on as the physique influence. His championship status has nothing to prove because this guy has done it all!!!
Now, we have bodies that are showcase worthy, and with the increasing skill sets- we're all very excited!
Standing ovations are the ultimate in appreciation of your efforts. There's nothing like them, and they're ADDICTING!!!
We always seek the standing 'O' at the end of our performance. Our physique coach Robby Robinson knows this feeling all too well.
9. GIVE US AN OVERVIEW OF THE BODY-PRACTICE TEACHING PHILOSOPHY FOR BOTH BODYBUILDING AND HAND BALANCING ART FORMS. DO YOU TEACH BOTH OR EITHER TO YOUR CLIENTS? DO THEY ENJOY THE SESSIONS?
Answer: The Body Practice is a fusion of fitness and wellness that is compiled of several movement mediums that have been married together.
The philosophy is one of quality of movement and intention, over raw and sheer output. It's effects of mobility, flexibility, balance, and coordinated movement within a single session is irrefutably the best structured (body weight only) fusion system today.
i AM QUITE PLEASED WITH MY CREATION OF THE BODY PRACTICE
I teach classes, seminars, tours- I will be teaching a tour in Europe in 2014.
I also certify people to become coaches, that they too can lead others into a greater sense of wellness to benefit from.
My students love these classes and will be looking forward to the Winter Immersion in December 2013!
10. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO KEEP SUPERSEDING PERFORMANCE AFTER PERFORMANCE? DO YOU BOTH STILL GET A THRILL OUT OF BEING IN FRONT OF THOUSANDS OF FANS OF BOTH ARTS? WHAT DO YOU BOTH LOVE ABOUT HAND BALANCING AND BODYBUILDING?. DO YOU FOLLOW A CERTAIN TRAINING AND EATING REGIMES TO MAINTAIN YOUR MUSCULAR PHYSIQUES?
Answer: Both Sam and I are extremely motivated to get better and stronger each week.
We feed off the roar of the crowd, THAT gives us strength. That's what motivates us to look our best.
So the union of DUO and physique presentation is extraordinarily powerful.
Both of us eat clean and regimented all the time, with the exceptions of (right after a performance) we eat some treat-food! After that's over though, we're right back on track -- in the gym and eating clean again.
You can't be taken seriously, unless you first take yourself seriously. Food, training, support systems and lifestyle... they all dramatically shape the direction we're headed. For us, the choice is a simple one -- excellence.
Much gratitude, love and respect to Robby Robinson for the interview- it's a true honor that the Atlas Brothers are privy to his friendship.
ROBBY ROBINSON AND ATLAS BROTHERS OF BODY-PRACTICE
STEVE AND SAM DURING ROBBY'S MASTER CLASS AND
BODYBUILDING SEMINARS IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 2013
● www.robbyrobinson.net//master-class.php ●
