Jun 23 2009
Flexing naturally : Natural bodybuilding is BHS math teacher Joe Wilson’s way of spreading his influence beyond the classroom.
BENTONVILLE - Joe Wilson doesn’t exactly fit the stereotype - and definitely not the prototype - of a math teacher. In fact, most people would probably peg him as a double for the Incredible Hulk over any kind of a teacher.
“I have the poster for my competition hanging in my classroom, and some of my students have looked at it, then looked at me,” Wilson said. “Then they say, ‘Is that really you?’ I have to wear a shirt in the classroom, so I guess that throws them off a little bit.”
When Wilson isn’t teaching math to Bentonville High School students, he’s often shirtless. It’s kind of required in his second profession - that of a professional bodybuilder.
But Wilson will be the first to point out he’s not just a bodybuilder. Everything you see - the bulging biceps, ripped abs and hulking thighs - is natural. In an age when processional sports seem to be riddled with steroids, Wilson pushes himself even harder to remain an example to his students and anyone else who will listen that there’s a right and a wrong way to do things.
When Wilson founded the Northwest Arkansas Natural Bodybuilding, Figure and Xtreme Fit Championships three years ago, he had what he called the perfect venue in the Arend Arts Center. But there were those who probably thought he was crazy.
A bodybuilding championship? In Arkansas?
Well, two years in, Wilson’s championship showcase is not only sanctioned by the North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation, but he himself has gone on to earn his Pro Card. In addition to organizing and promoting Northwest Arkansas Natural Bodybuilding, Figure and Xtreme Fit Championships, which has grown from 18 competitors to nearly 40 last year, Wilson has been competing professionally across the country. And this past school year, he started a Bodybuilding Club at BHS.
“Our upcoming generation is about instant gratification, no matter what area you’re talking about,” Wilson said. “It just is. And in bodybuilding, it’s one sport where there’s definitely an easy way out, but that’s not what I’m promoting. I want to instill long-term life skills and healthy habits.”
So Wilson spent the better part of the school year - after school hours and between his own family obligations, training and competitions - mentoring a group of high-school students who expressed an interest in natural bodybuilding. For some, Wilson said, it could evolve into a passion. For others, it may be an opportunity to pick up a few tips to promote a healthier lifestyle. And either is just fine by him.
“I’m the first professional natural bodybuilder in Arkansas - the only one,” Wilson said. “I know it isn’t a huge sport like football or basketball, but I feel an obligation to spread my example - that it can be done naturally. It’s about knowing what you put in your body and becoming disciplined.
“Could I ever compete with people who use unnatural substances? Probably not,” Wilson said. “But there’s a reward for me in that I know I did it the right way. And the natural-bodybuilding platform evens the playing field.”
On Saturday, Wilson will once again be flexing his guns - this time as a guest poser at his own show. The third annual Northwest Arkansas Natural Bodybuilding Figure and Xtreme Fit Championships, backed by a slew of sponsors, will be held at the Arend Arts Center at BHS, before an auditorium full of fans. Wilson expects to draw 50 bodybuilders - male and female, beginners through experienced amateurs. And this time around, a few students from his own BHS Bodybuilding Club will be putting their training and enthusiasm to the test as participants. Participants will be polygraphed and drug-tested. “I’m really proud of this,” Wilson said. “It should be natural.”
After Wilson’s local bodybuilding championships conclude, he will hit the road for even bigger stages. On July 11, Wilson will compete professionally in the Show Me Naturals showcase in St. Louis, followed by the Mr. International competition in Kansas City on Sept. 13.
Source - http://nwanews.com
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