“Name me Mr. JACKED!”
Meet New Professional Chinedu Andrew Obiekea aka Andrew Jacked
By Ron Harris
Again within the previous days B.S.M, or Earlier than Social Media, I all the time speculated that there have been in all probability an excellent quantity of unbelievable physiques on the market we didn’t find out about and certain by no means would. In that bygone period, the one method our little bodybuilding world ever noticed elite physiques was both dwell at a contest or within the pages of {a magazine}, and the magazines tended to characteristic solely the easiest amateurs and execs. Quick-forward to some many years into this new millennium, and my how that scenario has modified. Platforms like Instagram and YouTube have made it attainable for us to see a variety of extremely developed individuals who typically don’t even compete or haven’t but. That’s how the world discovered about Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, higher often called Andrew Jacked. Dwelling in Dubai, which has turn out to be a thriving hotspot for bodybuilding in recent times, visiting health superstars like Larry Wheels and Blessing Awodibu jumped on the probability to coach with Andrew and have him in their very own YouTube movies, which garnered tens of millions of views. Andrew may simply have parlayed his fame into additional social media stardom with out ever stepping foot on a contest stage, however as a substitute he selected to check his mettle not too long ago on the Arnold Newbie stage this previous March in Columbus, Ohio. There, at 6-foot-2 and 276 kilos of spherical, full muscle accentuated by 23-inch arms, he dominated the tremendous heavyweight class enroute to the Total title, an IFBB Professional League card, and a assured spot within the 2023 Arnold Traditional. Let’s meet Andrew Jacked.
One other Nigerian Phenom
Nigeria would possibly sound like an odd hotbed for bodybuilding expertise, nevertheless it’s already given us a couple of notables. First got here Vic “Mr. Huge” Richards, a mass monster of the mid-Eighties to mid-‘90s who as soon as famously posed down at FIBO with an low season Dorian Yates and greater than held his personal. Way more not too long ago we’ve witnessed Blessing Awodibu and Samson Dauda, who emigrated from Nigeria to Eire and the UK, respectively. Andrew spent his formative years there as effectively, a sports activities fanatic who tried his hand at all kinds of athletic pursuits however was finest at boxing and soccer. Had he remained in Africa, we could by no means have heard of him. However with an Electrical Engineering diploma in hand, he made his strategy to Dubai within the United Arab Emirates in 2011 as a result of as he says, “it’s the place the cash is.” He weight skilled for enjoyable and regarded himself “a health man” with no real interest in bodybuilding. However at a lean 260 kilos with a 32-inch waist and that uncommon spherical, “bubbly” form to his muscle tissue, it wouldn’t be lengthy earlier than bodybuilding observed him.
Coaches and Influences From America
In October 2019, Matt Jansen occurred to be in Dubai for an enormous contest and health expo known as the Dubai Muscle Present. For the uninitiated, Matt was the coach of the late Dallas McCarver, the longtime coach of Nick Walker, and at present works with each Shaun Clarida and Brett Wilkin. Random individuals had been urging Andrew to compete for some time, nevertheless it was Jansen who lastly satisfied him of his stellar potential within the sport. They solely labored collectively a couple of weeks, however Andrew was grateful for the expertise. “Though it was solely a short while, I felt like he was a brother to me, and he taught me a lot.” Their plan was to prep for the 2020 Arnold Newbie occasion in Australia, however Covid laid waste to these plans because it did so many others for therefore many people. Jacked finally determined to get some expertise at a couple of native reveals in Dubai within the spring of 2021. “I didn’t put together a lot for them, to be sincere,” he shares. “I keep very lean naturally anyway, so the intention was to get my toes moist and get some stage time earlier than I attempted my hand at a bigger contest.” To his shock, he gained 4 reveals in a row, and the loopy factor was, he didn’t even understand the primary was a professional qualifier for the “different” IFBB. He selected to not settle for that professional card. “The IFBB Professional League is the house of the Mr. Olympia and the easiest bodybuilders on the planet and being a professional in that group was my true dream.” Images and movies from these contests went viral, and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Andrew acquired a DM from one of many solely real residing legends within the sport, the Sultan of Symmetry, Flex Wheeler. “Speak about a blessing,” Andrew says. “I couldn’t consider he even knew who I used to be, after which he was speaking about how good I may very well be, asking what my plans had been, after which providing to assist me obtain my targets.” He later realized he had Dexter Jackson to thank, as The Blade had messaged Flex after seeing Jacked’s pictures. Preparations had been made for Andrew to journey to Las Vegas to fulfill and start his mentorship with Flex, the place his whole program could be overhauled. “Flex made so many modifications to my coaching, my meal plan, and my posing,” he tells us. “I felt so honored and privileged to be studying from one of many biggest bodybuilding champions of all time. He even helps me with the psychological method, which is so important however typically neglected within the grand scheme of issues.”
The 2022 Arnold Newbie
Ultimately it was time for Andrew to make his gambit for IFBB Professional League standing, and he had a major workforce behind him. Along with Flex Wheeler dealing with his coaching throughout his USA visits, he had nutritionist George Farah on the helm of his weight loss program in addition to coach Jasim Al Ali in Dubai to personally oversee his prep on a day-to-day foundation. There was one main stumbling block a pair weeks into his prep, when he acquired fairly sick from Covid. Fortunately he was capable of rally and didn’t withdraw from the competitions, nevertheless it additionally meant he solely had rather less than 5 good weeks of full well being main into the competition. For individuals who criticized his conditioning as being lower than good, now they know there was a sound cause.
Although social media was buzzing about Andrew within the lead-up to the Arnold Newbie, you by no means know simply who will present up at these items that may be an surprising freak. Fortunately for Andrew, he was the freak that everybody noticed coming. He handily gained the tremendous heavyweight class after which the Total title, which did certainly earn him professional standing. One merchandise of observe is that not solely was his victory predicted forward of time by his legions of followers world wide, however many had additionally introduced up the potential for a coverage change concerning the Arnold Traditional. The newbie winner is all the time invited to compete within the professional present the next yr. However since we have now seen numerous situations at different Professional-Am occasions the place the newly minted professional was allowed to compete the subsequent day within the professional present, many hoped the Arnold Traditional would break custom and fast-track Andrew onstage the identical night he had gained the newbie occasion earlier that day to face amongst stars like Brandon Curry, William Bonac, Steve Kuclo, and extra. Alas it was not meant to be, nevertheless it speaks volumes about Andrew’s potential and recognition, as I’ve by no means seen such demand for the Arnold Newbie winner to be allowed on the professional stage that very same weekend in all my years masking the Columbus occasion.
I occurred to run into Andrew on the expo Saturday, at which period he had been a professional for roughly 24 hours. After I requested him on digicam what his plans had been and after we would see the 35-year-old on a professional stage, he merely smiled and advised me, “It’s in God’s fingers.” He is aware of he has some work to do and enhancements to make earlier than his professional debut, specifically extra hamstring growth together with decrease again and total conditioning. His posing may even be higher subsequent time, because of classes with Flex Wheeler, probably the greatest posers who ever flexed onstage. I need to confess I used to be shocked to listen to Jacked say he may even be engaged on citing his arms, which seem like in regards to the dimension of his head. “I might be going up towards guys like Nick Walker and Brandon Curry, and people guys have some weapons!” he exclaimed. Although it’s not possible to say after we will see him up there with the professionals, Andrew did need to categorical his gratitude to his followers. “Their assist retains me going and provides me an actual psychological increase,” he says. “I want I may reply to all of the messages they ship me, however simply know I really like and recognize you all.” This humble, hardworking man gained’t be hiding away although. Because of the wonders of social media, you’ll all be capable to observe his journey to the professional stage. Within the meantime, we at MD want him the easiest.
Replace: A Confirmed Commodity as a Professional
These of you who observe the game or Andrew know that he has accomplished very effectively in his first few professional reveals. He gained his first two, the Texas Professional and the Arnold UK, and positioned eighth on the 2022 Mr. Olympia regardless of having fallen sick earlier that week and competing whereas feeling bodily weak and drained. Lower than three months later he stood onstage on the Arnold Traditional the place he had been an newbie the yr earlier than. There, he was combating for the win towards Samson Dauda and Nick Walker however in the end landed in third place. Now, he’s being spoken of as a virtually assured top-six man on the 2023 Mr. Olympia, with many predicting a end as excessive as third place. That is still to be seen, however Chinedu Andrew “Andrew Jacked” Obiekea lived as much as the hype and does certainly have a really vivid future as a top-tier professional.
Flex Wheeler on Andrew’s Potential
“I’m in all probability extra excited than he’s to be working with a man who has a lot pure expertise. I’m simply going to say it proper now. He has the potential to be a Mr. Olympia. A variety of males who compete don’t have that potential. Dexter Jackson and I had been speaking about him earlier than we teamed up, and it’s superb to have a Mr. Olympia champion taking a look at an newbie and seeing all that chance forward of him. We’ve got a variety of work to do between from time to time, however keep watch over this man. He’s going to be one thing very particular and I’m joyful to have the ability to assist information him there.”
My Breakdown of Andrew’s Physique After Witnessing his Professional Debut
I’ve been across the sport for over 30 years now and I’ve seen all the most effective physiques on the planet over these many years. The very first thing that units Andrew other than the remaining is his stature. The typical Open professional is between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10. A 6-foot professional is uncommon, and 6-foot-2, common top in {many professional} sports activities, is a digital big in bodybuilding. You’ll be able to depend the variety of males over 6 toes who’ve excelled in professional bodybuilding on one hand: Arnold, Lou Ferrigno, Günter Schlierkamp, Toney Freeman, and Paul Dillett. Most taller opponents look lanky and sometimes wrestle to develop their decrease our bodies. When one manages to construct a whole physique with sufficient mass to check to the shorter, thicker males, he’s usually better off as a result of sheer visible influence. Franco Columbu was thicker than Arnold, however at 5-foot-4 and 180 kilos he was merely overwhelmed subsequent to Arnold at 6-foot-2 and 245. So Jacked does actually “stand out” from the remainder of the pack. However let’s get into an in depth evaluation of Andrew’s robust and weak factors, as no one is ideal. His shoulders, arms, and quads are all standout physique components. His chest is surprisingly thick and full, although his again may use extra growth within the decrease lats. In Andrew’s aspect poses it’s obvious that he wants extra hamstring growth to match his quads. Proper now, I might say his two most spectacular poses are his entrance double biceps and entrance lat unfold, each showcasing his insane X-frame, together with these huge arms and quads. I really feel his again poses proper now are those that may very well be higher. Conditioning can’t be known as a weak level but as a result of we have now but to see Jacked making an attempt to present us 100% there. What I’ll say must get significantly better is his posing. That’s to be absolutely anticipated given his lack of stage expertise. Within the judging, he was making the rookie mistake of not protecting his legs tensed, prompting a hoarse George Farah to repeatedly scream “legs!” up at him onstage. Different poses can definitely be tweaked, however once more, we’re actually taking a look at a newbie in aggressive bodybuilding who’s already headed to the Mr. Olympia after only one professional present!
//www.youtube.com/@Yesszzziirrr“>YouTube: Andrew Jacked
Professional Document
2022 Texas Professional
Winner
2022 Arnold Traditional UK
Winner
2022 Mr. Olympia
Eighth Place
2023 Arnold Traditional
Third Place
2023 Texas Professional
Winner
Ron Harris acquired his begin within the bodybuilding business throughout the eight years he labored in Los Angeles as Affiliate Producer for ESPN’s “American Muscle Journal” present within the Nineteen Nineties. Since 1992 he has revealed practically 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and health magazines, making him probably the most prolific bodybuilding author ever. Ron has been coaching because the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives along with his spouse and two kids within the Boston space. Fb Instagram
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