As this is an AMA I need to ask a question. So Martins.... If the opportunity ever arises will you, Romark, and Lindsey join me in having some kind of eating competition? I feel like Romark can eat a lot. I'm feeling sushi, but also open to other ideas?
While I have your attention though I just wanted to say a little something. So back in 2017 I went to giants live finals in Manchester. I only went because my friend was like "This looks fun lets go" I got up at 6am to hop on a coach and travelled for 6 hours to go watch the giants live finals. It was insane. I couldn't believe what I was watching. I instantly fell in love with the sport. Yeah I remember watching it as a kid growing up and just being completely unphased by it. However this live show changed everything. I saw the show and immediately turned to my friend and went "I'm going to be down there." she laughed, but I was dead serious. I signed up to a gym the very next day. I have been training my ass off in the gym ever since. I have competed in strongman comps up and down the UK, shit I've even pulled a god damn locomotive now! Two weeks ago actually.
Now here's the part about you Martins. I saw you in the 2016 WSM and was like "There's something about this dude" anyways time progressed. I kept training. You kept training. I started posting my trash on instagram. Started following those I admired for inspiration. Then I remembered you from WSM and started following you on instagram. It was awesome. You are just an all round decent dude. Not just strong. I was like "Man I'd like to eat a burrito with this dude"
Then Bodypower 2018 came around (basically the UKs biggest fitness event) I was in absolute AWE meeting the SBD Team. I met Ben and chatted for a long time. I met all the athletes I looked up to. Powerlifters, Strongmen, Strongwomen. It was amazing. They had a competition on where if you queue up and get signatures for all the athletes in the bio book your name would be put into a hat to win the 2018 WSM signed framed t-shirt. Man I wanted that t-shirt SO BAD! I spent my entire time at the SBD booth getting those signatures. What I also didn't know was two VIP tickets to the 2018 Giants Live show were also up for grabs. On to that in a minute though. Anyways I went home from the show after my name getting put in that hat. Comes to the next day I hit the gym just getting warmed up. Then suddenly my phone goes off "SBDApparel has tagged you in their story..." "NANI?!" then my phone goes off again with an email from SBD...HOLY BALLS I WON!!! I actually won. I'd never won anything ever in my life. Man I was so happy to win that t-shirt. Then in the email they asked for my details to post the t-shirt and for me to get the VIP tickets.Once I'd finished my gym session and calmed down a little I was like "Hmm I wonder who is gonna be there..." Then it just so happens you're on the roster. Man I was gonna get to meet you. I was so excited.
Now before I started hitting the gym and competing in strongman I was lost in life. I had no idea who I was. I didn't know what I wanted in life. I never really did any sports. I spent my life wasted in front of a computer screen playing video games and eating junk food. I was a complete mess. I hated life and I'm gonna be honest I pretty much didn't care if I didn't wake up the next day or not. I stopped doing things I enjoyed because I didn't want to seem weird to others. I stopped doing the things I love and basically tried to be someone I'm not just so maybe I might have some friends and be happy.
That all changed when I found strongman, the community, and you. When you started your youtube channel man you showed me that I can do the things I love and still be awesome. You were just you with a take it or leave it attitude. I trained solidly for a year but had put other things I enjoyed to one side because who the hell would respect an athlete who watches cartoons and plays video games in his down time. You just being you showed me how I can just be me and do all the things I enjoy without having to worry about others.
Finally September 15th 2018 came around. Ben from SBD showed me around the arena, showed me backstage. Some of the athletes were warming up. There you were warming up by doing deadlifts. I stood there and watched chatting with Ben. I took my seat for the show to begin. I have never shouted so loudly in my life. Sitting in the front row cheering for you. It was such an amazing show. Then after the show Ben comes to get me and says "Let's go meet some of the guys!" at this point I'm so nervous because ya know "You should never meet your idols" went back stage and there you were. Getting ready to go out front and meet everyone else. Ben went over to you and explained that I'd won the competition and we had a chat and took a pic here (Which is a terrible picture btw as you outangled me like crazy) I told you one day I'll be out on that field with you and you said "Hell yeah I'd love that!" from that moment on I was like "My mission is to be worlds strongest man and be like Martins!"
In the last 9 months everything has pretty much fallen into place. I've been doing better and better every competition placing better than the last. I've made good friends all over the strength community and met a lot of awesome people. I've also come to realisation that in fact I don't want to be like you. I want to be like me. I want to beat you on the field. I want to work my ass off along side you, and make you my rival. I want to believe in the Martins that believes in me, and I do. I'm coming for that WSM Trophy.
What I'm trying to say is you've unintentionally had a massive impact on my life. I'm much better for it so thank you for just being you and doing what you do. I have a lot of respect and admiration for you. I hope we get to meet again one day.
Sorry if this is a tough read I'm really bad with trying to put my thoughts into words, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.
Lindsey is cooler than you though. Sorry dude.
Stay awesome Martins, Romark, and Lindsey
BONUS PIC - Here's the signed framed t-shirt I won. Hangs next to my bed. Best thing I own.
Koikirai20 karma
As this is an AMA I need to ask a question. So Martins.... If the opportunity ever arises will you, Romark, and Lindsey join me in having some kind of eating competition? I feel like Romark can eat a lot. I'm feeling sushi, but also open to other ideas?
While I have your attention though I just wanted to say a little something. So back in 2017 I went to giants live finals in Manchester. I only went because my friend was like "This looks fun lets go" I got up at 6am to hop on a coach and travelled for 6 hours to go watch the giants live finals. It was insane. I couldn't believe what I was watching. I instantly fell in love with the sport. Yeah I remember watching it as a kid growing up and just being completely unphased by it. However this live show changed everything. I saw the show and immediately turned to my friend and went "I'm going to be down there." she laughed, but I was dead serious. I signed up to a gym the very next day. I have been training my ass off in the gym ever since. I have competed in strongman comps up and down the UK, shit I've even pulled a god damn locomotive now! Two weeks ago actually. Now here's the part about you Martins. I saw you in the 2016 WSM and was like "There's something about this dude" anyways time progressed. I kept training. You kept training. I started posting my trash on instagram. Started following those I admired for inspiration. Then I remembered you from WSM and started following you on instagram. It was awesome. You are just an all round decent dude. Not just strong. I was like "Man I'd like to eat a burrito with this dude"
Then Bodypower 2018 came around (basically the UKs biggest fitness event) I was in absolute AWE meeting the SBD Team. I met Ben and chatted for a long time. I met all the athletes I looked up to. Powerlifters, Strongmen, Strongwomen. It was amazing. They had a competition on where if you queue up and get signatures for all the athletes in the bio book your name would be put into a hat to win the 2018 WSM signed framed t-shirt. Man I wanted that t-shirt SO BAD! I spent my entire time at the SBD booth getting those signatures. What I also didn't know was two VIP tickets to the 2018 Giants Live show were also up for grabs. On to that in a minute though. Anyways I went home from the show after my name getting put in that hat. Comes to the next day I hit the gym just getting warmed up. Then suddenly my phone goes off "SBDApparel has tagged you in their story..." "NANI?!" then my phone goes off again with an email from SBD...HOLY BALLS I WON!!! I actually won. I'd never won anything ever in my life. Man I was so happy to win that t-shirt. Then in the email they asked for my details to post the t-shirt and for me to get the VIP tickets.Once I'd finished my gym session and calmed down a little I was like "Hmm I wonder who is gonna be there..." Then it just so happens you're on the roster. Man I was gonna get to meet you. I was so excited.
Now before I started hitting the gym and competing in strongman I was lost in life. I had no idea who I was. I didn't know what I wanted in life. I never really did any sports. I spent my life wasted in front of a computer screen playing video games and eating junk food. I was a complete mess. I hated life and I'm gonna be honest I pretty much didn't care if I didn't wake up the next day or not. I stopped doing things I enjoyed because I didn't want to seem weird to others. I stopped doing the things I love and basically tried to be someone I'm not just so maybe I might have some friends and be happy. That all changed when I found strongman, the community, and you. When you started your youtube channel man you showed me that I can do the things I love and still be awesome. You were just you with a take it or leave it attitude. I trained solidly for a year but had put other things I enjoyed to one side because who the hell would respect an athlete who watches cartoons and plays video games in his down time. You just being you showed me how I can just be me and do all the things I enjoy without having to worry about others.
Finally September 15th 2018 came around. Ben from SBD showed me around the arena, showed me backstage. Some of the athletes were warming up. There you were warming up by doing deadlifts. I stood there and watched chatting with Ben. I took my seat for the show to begin. I have never shouted so loudly in my life. Sitting in the front row cheering for you. It was such an amazing show. Then after the show Ben comes to get me and says "Let's go meet some of the guys!" at this point I'm so nervous because ya know "You should never meet your idols" went back stage and there you were. Getting ready to go out front and meet everyone else. Ben went over to you and explained that I'd won the competition and we had a chat and took a pic here (Which is a terrible picture btw as you outangled me like crazy) I told you one day I'll be out on that field with you and you said "Hell yeah I'd love that!" from that moment on I was like "My mission is to be worlds strongest man and be like Martins!"
In the last 9 months everything has pretty much fallen into place. I've been doing better and better every competition placing better than the last. I've made good friends all over the strength community and met a lot of awesome people. I've also come to realisation that in fact I don't want to be like you. I want to be like me. I want to beat you on the field. I want to work my ass off along side you, and make you my rival. I want to believe in the Martins that believes in me, and I do. I'm coming for that WSM Trophy.
What I'm trying to say is you've unintentionally had a massive impact on my life. I'm much better for it so thank you for just being you and doing what you do. I have a lot of respect and admiration for you. I hope we get to meet again one day.
Sorry if this is a tough read I'm really bad with trying to put my thoughts into words, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say.
Lindsey is cooler than you though. Sorry dude.
Stay awesome Martins, Romark, and Lindsey
BONUS PIC - Here's the signed framed t-shirt I won. Hangs next to my bed. Best thing I own.
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