Just you weight

When fate knocks you down, the best thing to do is jump up again — and that’s exactly what one young Perthshire man did when injury brought his judo career to an abrupt end. Caroline Lindsay weighs in on the story

When injury brought Arron Simpson’s judo career to an end he turned his hand to bodybuilding instead.

WI’m 5ft 2in and weigh 65 kilos but can bench press 140 kilos — twice my body weight — which is quite unusual.

hen a serious knee injury brought Arron Simpson’s successful judo career to an abrupt halt, the 19-year-old was left without a hobby and a goal in life.

“Judo was a big part of my life,” Arron, now 24, recalls. “I’d won the British championships three times and trained in Japan where judo is a national sport.”

He continued going to the gym — the Body Academy in Perth — where owner Vicky McCann suggested he tried competitive bodybuilding. The discipline he’d developed with judo transferred well to his new sport and he was hooked.

“Becoming a bodybuilder involves a lot of hard work, time in the gym and time preparing meals for the next day,” Arron explains.

“It’s vital to do it in a healthy way and make sure you’re enjoying what you’re doing. And, of course, rest and sleep are important too.”

Arron’s day job (he’s a grounds worker at a local building site, laying roads and sewers) along with a clean diet of porridge, sweet potato, chicken, spinach and broccoli, help keep him lean and in tip top condition. But that’s no reason for complacency.

“Dedication is important and I train on a different part of my body every night — body, chest, legs, back, shoulders — concentrating on weightlifting,” he says.

“I’m 5ft 2in and weigh 65 kilos but can bench press 140 kilos — twice my body weight — which is quite unusual.”

His favourite bodybuilder is Franco Columbu, an Italian actor who, at 5ft 4in, won the title of Mr Olympia in 1976 and 1981. And Arron himself is no stranger to fame. “A couple of years ago I came second in the British National Bodybuilding Federation (BNBF) championships in the junior category and this year I placed first in the lightweight men’s category. My mum was so proud she was crying,” he recalls. Although he spends much of his spare time at the gym, he doesn’t feel he’s missing out.

“It’s more than just a gym. It’s a good laugh and there’s always a bit of banter; everybody’s really friendly and knows each other. The staff are brilliant there and would help anybody — they’re always happy to give advice,” he says.

Arron, who is aiming to compete and place in this year’s BNBF finals in Birmingham on October 1, reckons bodybuilding has changed his life as well as his physique.

“I’ve always enjoyed keeping in shape and when one door closed, another opened. Bodybuilding pushes me physically to be the best version of myself and has really helped give structure to my life, as well as keeping me on the straight and narrow,” he says.

And he may not be the only member of the Simpson family to give the sport a try: his youngest sister, 10-year-old Molly, has been to a couple of shows.

“Molly is fascinated by the women in their bikinis and high heels,” he says. “You never know, she might go into female bodybuilding when she’s older.”

www.thebodyacademy.co.uk