If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes. – John Wooden
One of the many interesting parallels between life and bodybuilding is that far too often we define people by their failures, highlight their short comings, and use their deficiencies like a PubMed abstract as we jump to conclusions without having ever taken the time to read deeper or make an honest attempt to discover the whole truth. And while on the stage the answers to how, or why, an athlete managed to fall short tend to be fairly simple, shortcomings away from the stage aren’t always so easy to cut and dry.
At this year’s USA Championships third place finisher in the Heavyweight division Charles Griffen fell just short of earning his IFBB Pro card. Yet instead of wallowing in self-pity like so many competitors who failed to graduate onto the ranks of the IFBB, Griffen embraced the challenge with a shrug and a smile, because when you’ve spent so much time twisting and turning down the dark alleys of less traveled roads, you understand that sometimes life comes with a few detours.
Recently I had a chance to catch up with Charles to discuss life, bodybuilding, and so much more. And you can read it all right here, in this RxMuscle exclusive interview.
Q.) Before we talk about your recent experience at USA’s let’s take a step back and talk about life before the stage. Did you have an athletic background prior to competing in bodybuilding?
A.) Yes, I had a very athletic background starting in grade school through junior high playing baseball, football, and basketball. My parents made sure I was always active in some kind of sport. I loved football when I was young, and I did play in High School, but the coaches kept telling me I was too small and I never got much of a shot at playing, so I got out of that sport. I also ran track, but I’ll be honest, running was just not my thing either. I did play basketball all four years of high school, and I did letter my last two years even though I graduated at only 5’5” - not the height that attract many college scouts. But I enjoyed the game and still shoot some buckets once in a while, but never after arm day!
Q.) What age did you first begin weight training? Would you say you made gains relatively quickly? Or did it take some time to get the ball rolling?
A.) As a kid, I had noticeable muscle development and I remember my mother getting asked if I lifted weights, but I didn’t really start lifting until I was in high school. And, you know what every young boy wants, so my workouts consisted of chest on day one and arms on day two and repeat! It was not until 2006 when I really starting getting into it. I starting becoming more focused on the entire body and the muscle groups and yes, that’s when I starting making gains, and they did come relatively quickly for me.
Q.) When were you first exposed to bodybuilding?
A.) I was first exposed to bodybuilding in 2009 when I moved to Wisconsin. I became friends with a guy there that competed who actually introduced me to the sport. Even though I wasn’t too fond of the posing trunks he had to wear, I thought to each there own, and if that’s what he wants to do, I will support him, so I started going to the shows.
Q.) How long had you been training before you decided to compete?
A.) Prior to my first show in 2014, I had been training for eight years off and on. But, it was nothing serious. As I said, in 2006, I starting hitting the gym and I started working (most) of my body parts with a little more focus, but I really didn’t hit legs very often or even very hard. I was pretty much just training to attract women . . . Hey I’m just being real here!
However, I did have a lot of people tell me that I had the structure and genetics to compete. It seemed I heard that a lot, but I just wasn’t really “hearing” it. The sport just did not capture my mind at that point, and I never gave those comments much of a second thought.
Q.) Before you began competing you struggled mentally, physically, and emotionally through some dark times following the loss of your mother in 2012. Tell us a bit about your relationship, and what happened in your life following her tragic passing.
A.) Yes, my mother had passed away on October 10, 2012 as a result of a dissecting coronary artery, which is a rare and fatal event that mostly effects women. She was only 52 years old and it literally felt like the end of the world. I kind of felt like I was in a movie you know, where something like this happens because it is in the script, but this doesn’t happen to me. Everyone who knows me knows that I am a momma’s boy! My mother was not only my mother, she was my best friend. She was everything to me, and she was the person I turned to when I needed advice because she always had the answers. I kept no secrets from her - the good and the bad. She was my sounding board and my life coach. The bond we still have, even though she is another place right now, is unreal and I know she is looking over me as we speak. So, when she passed, I quickly went into a downward spiral. I was an angry person, mad at life and I didn’t care too much about anything. I lost touch with what was basically right and wrong. I did a lot of drinking, I did drugs and I took lots of risks on my motorcycle doing some crazy things at crazy times of the night - I just didn’t care about life. All those things gave me a temporary escape a moment of happiness and so I continued doing them so I could escape the reality of it all. I needed to keep chasing the things that made me forget and I was most definitely out of control and lost.
Q.) In your opinion, when was it that you reached your low point and decided that it was time to make a change?
A.) I think it was when I looked at myself in the mirror and I could see how beat up I was looking. I could see bags under my eyes from not sleeping and I was feeling terrible after another night out. I even did drugs a few times while I was at work just to get through it. And, if you are lucky enough like I was, you have friends that start telling you that you need to slow down. And in my case, it was not just one, but many that were worried about me and asked me to slow down. But, I really didn’t know how and I didn’t want to ask for help.
Q.) The shackles of drug and alcohol addiction are bonds that many people are never able to muster up the strength to break. How difficult was it for you trying to free yourself from those self-destructive habits?
A.) It was very difficult for me to stop. I was addicted and honestly didn’t see myself quitting because I wasn’t going to ask for help. But, like I said, I have this bond with my mother, my angel and I know it was her that brought me out of those bad years of my life. I truly believe she lead me to bodybuilding and it was this sport that put structure and discipline back in my life. She knew that is exactly what I needed. As I said, my mother always had the answers when I needed advice and I needed her advice at that time in my life and she came through again.
Q.) Prior to your first contest prep in early 2014 you’d been on a downward spiral that had lasted nearly two years. Where do you think you would be if the sport hadn’t found you?
A.) If I had not found this sport I honestly don’t know where I would be right now. That is actually very scary to even think about. I will say probably not in a good place. I know that much and I’m going to leave it right there. This sport saved my life and I am just thankful for that. I prefer to concentrate on the gift of tomorrow.
Q.) Last year was quite the year for you having won your first show ever at the Mr. Minnesota, followed by a top ten placing at North Americans, and a 12th place finish at last year’s NPC Nationals. Throughout the entire process, what would you say was the biggest lesson you learned about yourself?
A.) That anything is possible if I want it bad enough. I was using my mother’s death and drugs as an excuse for me being weak and living life recklessly. I saw that making a goal for myself and working to accomplish that goal is what I want. I learned that I wasn’t born a winner or a loser, but that the outcome of my life is a choice that is entirely up to me!
Q.) Let’s jump ahead to this year’s USA Championships, where we saw you take the stage bigger, fuller, and in better conditioning than we’ve ever seen before, which earned you a 3rd place finish. Now that you’ve had time to digest what happened at the show, would you say that you were pleased with what you were able to bring to the stage?
A.) Earning 3rd place at the USA Championships was a very big accomplishment for me. We were very pleased and happy with what we brought to the stage. My coach (Tim Johnson IFBB Pro) and I went out for dinner in Miami last year and we worked out our plan for 2015. The USA was the first show we had on the list. We talked about whether or not to go up a weight class and to be honest, we thought we’d stay in the Light Heavy class, but I just kept growing and early on we made the decision that we’d be competing as a Heavyweight. So, moving up a weight class and bringing the conditioning we did and getting the results we did was something we both were obviously pleased with.
Q.) At the moment you’re currently preparing to step onstage at NPC Nationals later this year. In your opinion, what would you say is your greatest weakness as a competitor?
A.) I’ll let the judges make that decision but, I will say this, I’m not done improving and I don’t think anybody that competes in any sport really thinks they are until the day they decide to retire. When you are being judged by your body it is pretty subjective, but by placing 3rd that tells me the judges like my look and that has truly giving me even more confidence. And, as a result, the fire has been turned up and makes me want to go even harder as we prepare for the Nationals. I want to show the judges that I appreciate and respect the placing I received at the USA’s, and that I went back to work, made some changes and I’m there in Miami, bigger and drier. I want to show them I am dedicated to this sport and I’m hungry for that pro card.
Q.) There are still a few months before you make your trip to Miami and attempt to earn your card. What sort of changes are you looking to bring to the stage?
A.) Coming in a little fuller with the same conditioning or perhaps even a little drier. We felt we nailed the conditioning part, but Tim thinks we can time it even better. I worked with him unofficially for the Minnesota State and we hooked up officially after that which is really only three shows. I have to trust what Tim says and I put faith in what he lays out for me. He knows his stuff and it seems that with each show, we’ve accomplished a little more. I mean to put on 22 pounds in one year and bring the conditioning needed to earn a 3rd place in a really stacked class like what we faced at the USA’s says a lot about his knowledge.
We also know that the judges can only judge on what they see, so practicing my posing and making sure I present my body well to the judges is a no brainier. We just want to bring a crisper package to Nationals in Miami.
Q.) Given the roller coaster ride that has been the last two years of your life, what would winning your pro card symbolize to you?
A.) That my mother is proud of me and that this is the man she raised. Someone this is doing positive things in his life and hopefully inspiring others, all the while, doing something I love doing.
Q.) If your mother could be here to see you today what do you think she would have to say about the strides you’ve made in both life and bodybuilding?
A.) I think she would smile and tell me she knew I could accomplish the things I have. I think she would tell me that nothing stands in the way of reaching my dream except me and she would tell me not to let ME down!
Q.) If there’s one lesson you want people to take away from your story what would it be?
A.) It may seem like the storm is not going to end or even get any better, but you may just have to go through the worst to get to the best. There is a sun and it’s shinning if you really look for it.
Q.) If people would like to know more about Charles Griffen, where can they find you on social media?
A.) Please follow my journey to the IFBB stage by following me on Facebook at Charles Griffen or on Instagram @ cutt__charlesgriffen.
As John Wooden said, “…a doer makes mistakes”, and the only difference between a champion and someone who fades into obscurity is that when a champion makes a mistake, they refuse to be defined by them. Instead they keep pushing, keep moving forward, and keep doing.
They just keep doing.
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