Introduction

Xu Yizhi is among the first students in CDIE (creative design and intelligent engineering) enrolled at Xinya College in 2016.

At 13:00 on March 25, 2021, the 18th Ma Yuehan Cup Bodybuilding Competition of Tsinghua University was held in the comprehensive gymnasium. Xu Yizhi outperformed other outstanding competitors on the stage andwon the men's bodybuilding 80kg championship, and finally successfully won the men's bodybuilding championship.

Q: When did you first get into bodybuilding?

I started it when I was in the second and third year ofthe seniorhigh school. My classmates were busy with studies and no one played basketball with me, so I went to the gym by myself. I just kept running in theseniorhigh school. I started to take systematic training after getting into the university, and very professional training in my third year.

Q: How did you become interested in bodybuilding?

Two fellow students in the pilot class inthe seniorhigh school were very good at it, and I admired them. They could make several pull-ups with one hand, so I wanted to learn from them. I met many veteran seniors in the gym in the university, and we actually influenced each other.

Q: What does bodybuilding mean to you?

Interest, the sense of achievement that can be felt when pursuing the interest, and the changes and gains that can be felt after all the efforts are put.Enjoying the process is the most important, whether it is playing basketball, running, bodybuilding, or even playing music.

Q: What are your goals for bodybuilding?

To make my muscles bigger and leaner (laughing). I take those bodybuilding stars at home and abroad as the example. Schwarzenegger is beyond my reach, but taking him as my goal will motivate myself. I try to compete with university students first because we are all amateur.

Q: How did you feel when you first started practicing bodybuilding? Has anything changed since then?

It was painful at first. When I was in the third year ofthe seniorhigh school, it was boring to practice by myself, so I hired a personal fitness coach. I took the training three times a week.I could barely stand up after the first training in squatting. I lived on the fourth floor and I went back every day by climbing up the stairs. I took the bus home every day. At the bus station, a tricycle driver asked me if I wanted a ride. I rejected and he said, “Why not? You are crippled without a walking stick.”

So it was really hard at first. It was painful, but I was happy. I have found a step-by-step method for myself through practice and continuous learning. I have gained comprehensive knowledge about the movements and muscles, and learned about my own conditions and weak spots. It takes some time.

Q: Would you share some stories during training?

There are many. For example, at the start of leg training, the coach asked me not to overstretch my knees over my toes when squatting, otherwise it would hurt my knees. But I searched information and checked others' training plans, and found that it was not mandatory. It was also a process of learning.

Q: What is the biggest difficulty encountered during the training process?

The bottleneck at each stage. For example, it was there when I could use the barbell of 80kg to 90kg in bench press. Then I could not break it through for several months. It was frustrating. I worked hard but got nothing. Then it is necessary to adjust the training state, training method, and try other movements and training plans. You have to keep going. Probably you need to make breakthroughs on the whole to make improvement in a specific area.

Q: What motivates you to keep training?

The most important thing is that this process makes me happy. I feel a sense of accomplishment. I can see the changes in me. I have obtained recognition from others.It has become one of my habits or my comfort zone. I don't think a comfort zone like bodybuilding is a bad thing, is it?

Q: What is the greatest achievement from practicing bodybuilding?

In addition to bodybuilding itself, I have made many friends and met many like-minded people. Outside the gym, bodybuilding has an impact on my life and study. It is also a social platform as a hobby and helpsme connect with others.

Q: How confident were you in winning the championship before the game?

It was my first (bodybuilding) competition (this year). As long as it is a competition and there are competitors, there will be uncertainties and you will be nervous, even though there are not many participants.

I have always wanted to compete on a grand stage like this. When I first entered the university, I wanted to play basketball and join the second team, or compete as a member of the department team on a grand stage like in the comprehensive gymnasium, so that more people could notice me. You surely want to win in competitive sports. The desire to win is also the driving force behind the progress.

Q: How did you prepare for the competition?

For the professionals, there is a strict cycle for preparation. We are not professionals however, so we reduce fat, ingest low-carb food, and do more aerobic exercises. There will be physical discomfort in this process. For example, you will feel depressed and tired after the training because of the hypoglycemia if keeping taking in low-carb food. In this case, you can only adjust your state by yourself. But we are not that strict, so that's fine.

Q: How does it feel to win the championship?

In fact, I was not very excited, because I had taken a long-term training (quite confident in winning the championship). But I feel that I have fulfilled a dream. After all, I'm in my fifth year of university. There are few things you can do well at the undergraduate stage. The outside world will judge you, and you will judge for yourself. The recognition from the outside world is important, which makes you feel that what you have been doing for so long is rewarding.

Q: What does the championship mean to you?

For me, it is a recognition of my efforts, and I have accumulated more experience and enriched myself from it. It also lays a foundation or makes me prepared for my future competitions.

Q: What is the relationship between bodybuilding and other physical activities?

I do bodybuilding because I like it. Different people have different goals. You should follow your heart. If you want to improve your performance in other sports by training in the gym, you need to learn about the relevant methods and training modes. For example, if you want to play basketball, you should focus on the training for lower limbs and core strength, rather than that for muscular hypertrophy and pectoralis. Large pectoralis will hinder the shooting (laughs).In short, you have to figure out what you want, and work hard toward that goal.

Q: What is your overall impression of the sports at Xinya College? Do you have any suggestions or expectations?

Now there are many people who love sports and bodybuilding at Xinya College. I think it is great no matter if they want to be professional or keep fit. Still, you must acquire the theoretical knowledge to avoid injury.You should develop a positive attitude during the exercise and compete with yourself, and your own progress is the most important.

I think the Sports Department of Xinya College is doing a good job now. It has done a lot to encourage all to do sports. Sports itself is a way of socializing. Now there are more people doing it and the atmosphere becomes better. We should participate in more activities and exchanges, avoid excluding outsiders, and help new friends fit in.