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CONTEST HISTORY FROM 2000
2002 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS - 2nd |
:: Profile ::
About Me
I began weight training in 1987 at a local home town gym because I had skinny man's complex. I really did not know what I was doing, training only my upper body. After about three months of training I sought out help from the gym's owner, a powerlifter, who urged me to try it. After around one year of training I entered the 1979 California State Powerlifting Championships in the 180lb novice division, placing 5th. I liked the training but I really did not like the look of the top level champions. I was also training in martial arts, really motivated by the late Bruce Lee. I studied many styles from Tae Kwon Do, Judo, and Jeet Kun Do, Bruce's style. One day I was in a book store reading the martial arts books when I glanced over and saw a bodybuilding magazine. I opened it and was amazed at the physiques. It happened to have an advertisement for the 1979 California State Bodybuilding Championships. I thought "Wow!" I want to do this. It was three months away; I entered the teen age class where I placed 15th out of 22 competitors. There I met Robby Robinson and Pete Grymkowski, guest posers. That is when I knew that I wanted to be a champion bodybuilder.
Life After Body Building:
A note from Milton James.
After a long and gratifying career in body building, I "almost" retired in 1997. I moved to Seattle and worked for several gym and body building companies. In 1999 I moved to Hawaii to work as a sales rep for another gym chain. After a year and a half in Hawaii, a friend of mine invited me to go to Japan. I had heard a lot about Japan, was very interested and didn't hesitate to say "Yes, let's go." I planned to stay for around 3 months. However, shortly after I arrived, I was offered a one year contract teaching English in a Japanese high school.
In November 2000, my girlfriend and I went to Las Vegas to see the MR. OLYMPIA competition. It was awesome and I got the bug to compete again. My girl friend Akiko, became my wife… you know that story. We talked about getting back into the bodybuilding world.
I started training for the 2002 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS and entered the competition. It felt great to be back doing what I love to do. I didn't win the Championship - missing first place by one point! But I was back in the running.
I had 4 great years competing after my first "retirement". Now I have retired from competition and am looking forward to spending more time with my wife. I'm going to stay active in the body fitness field. I am presently acting as a personal trainer and pass on my training and experience to up-and-coming athletes as well as body fitness enthusiasts. Bodybuilding seminars and guest posing are also on the horizon. I look forward to lots of new and exciting adventures in Japan, my home base.