The Mythical Buff Asian Guy

“Damn, look at that super buff Asian guy!” …said no one ever.

Well, that’s probably not true, but it can be agreed that it’s not a commonly heard phrase. Why is that? What is it about a buff Asian guy that throws people off? Why is it that Asian men are never cast in the roles of leading muscular men, but only relegated to martial arts roles? Why can’t there be an Asian Conan the Barbarian, or an Asian Rocky?

Perhaps it can be explained in the culture of Asian men. Asian men generally have ectomorphic body types, which means that they’re of a slimmer and more slender stature. A prime example of this is Bruce Lee. Consider his body type. Although ripped to shreds and cut in places that you probably didn’t know you could be cut, his small stature and lack of bulbous muscles kept Lee from being the main hero, aside from his martial arts roles.

Even in present day, in Asian countries, the feminine look for men is sometimes ideal. In Korea, the slim, effeminate male who wears “guyliner” is the man of interest for most women in the country. Being large and muscular is not the main goal of these men.

However, many Asian American males are starting to break this stereotype of the wimpy Asian man. They are picking up weights in an effort to add mass and get buff. There is a general negative stigma towards Asian men and muscularity, but it seems that the stigma is being reversed in Asian cultures.

For example, take Hidetada Yamagishi, the first and only Asian bodybuilder to ever have competed in the Mr. Olympia contest. Although he is only 5’5”, he has competed with the best of the best on the grandest stage of them all. However, he has never placed higher that 5^th place. 

This is also another interesting concept. He may have proven to be worthy of competing with the best bodybuilders in the world; he is still miles behind the current champion, Phil Heath. Is this an issue of race? Or genetics? Either way, his prominent rise to fame in the bodybuilding world has prompted many Asian men to begin lifting weights.

Culturally, it’s difficult to focus on the gym, as many Asian parents see no value in bodybuilding, because it is not considered a viable career because it’s does not have a definite income. Many Asian parents prefer their sons to focus on education, rather than “wasting time” on the idea of fitness.

Either way, as an Asian male, I personally believe that there’s a need for more Asian bodybuilders, because we are severely underrepresented in the demographic. This potentially travels into media, because of the lack of Asian leading men in action roles. Either way, Asian men need to keep working out to make gains. Happy lifting!

Science of Steroids

“Dude, look at that guy. He’s way too buff. He’s GOTTA be on steroids!”

This is a scenario that occurs way too often. Genetically, there is an absolute limit to how muscular and how large and how strong a person can get. This is simply evolution and biology at work. However, some athletes turn to the usage of steroids to surpass these limitations, and boy does it work (sort of).

You’ve most likely heard about the allegations of steroid usage in professional baseball, and professional wrestling, and it should surprise no one that there are allegations of steroid usage in bodybuilding.Whether or not certain bodybuilders are using steroids is something that is between them and God. We’re more concerned about the science behind steroids.

Anabolic androgenic steroids, or AAS, make muscles grow faster, cause harmful side effects, have been banned by most sports leagues, and are illegal without a doctor actively prescribing. How does this proverbial spinach work for the Popeyes of the sports world?

AAS are synthetic versions of a naturally produced hormone known as testosterone. They’re active in promoting muscle growth, which encompasses the anabolic portion, and promote male characteristics of puberty. The original intent of these steroids were for patients who lack healthy levels of testosterone. These patients commonly suffer from diseases such as cancer or AIDS. However, when used by healthy athletes, the goal becomes to speed up muscle building. 

Think of it like this. The human body is similar to a stock car. There are limitations to the performance output. But, giving the body steroids is like putting a super-charged hemi engine in the car. The boost that is given allows the body or car to supercede expectations performance-wise. 

When you lift weights, you’re actually creating micro-tears in the muscle fibers. The body then repairs the tears by overcompensating for the tears and adding bigger cells to build a stronger fiber. This is also known as muscular hypertrophy. When repeated over and over, this results in muscle growth. This is the normal way to build muscles, the “old fashioned” way.

When an athlete takes a steroid, the AAS travels through the blood stream to the muscle. The muscle’s androgen receptor receives the steroid, and the steroid can interact with the cell’s DNA and increase the protein synthesis process that promotes cell growth. It effectively speeds up the recovery process, and allows for larger muscle growth.

These athletes experiment with different types of steroids and stack them together to promote the most growth. However, do not mistake a bodybuilder’s large muscles for simply steroid usage. A person could use every possible steroid known to man, but if he/she does not exercise effectively, they will never see the gains that some of these bodybuilders do.

I want to make a disclaimer: I am not condoning nor am I condemning steroid usage. I believe that each person has the ability to make their own choices, and if you feel that steroids are your choice, so be it. If you feel like steroids aren’t good for anybody, then good for you as well. Attached below is a video from National Geographic titled the “Science of Steroids” that is shot documentary style and does a great job informing the user about steroids.