Strongman with bodybuilder physique - Ján Michalov
Author: Today we have an interview with the winner of the last wars Ján Michalov !
If you have seen the last Czech war, which was won by a strongman from Slovakia Ján Michalov (28), who has been living in Brno for many years. You must have been impressed by Ján's fitness and excellent figure. Even though he is a strongman in the open category, he makes sure that the mass he has is really functional. As he said in the video, he doesn't train to look strong, but to be really strong. I've seen Jan at a few competitions before, to some people, he can come across as a "grumpy shit" who didn't come to the competition to talk to anyone, but came to destroy everyone. However, after the first shoot I have to say that he is quite fun and cool, his character reminds me of a rather anabolic horse Honza Krasinski, he also doesn't worry about anything and what's on his mind is on his tongue (he is also very often in photos surrounded by beautiful women).
Jan and I have been arranged for the wars since last summer, but I don't know why the rivals were losing :) So in the end he was opposed by a determined Tomas Opluštil. This year we can see Jan competing at the Czech Championship in OPEN strongman, where he will hopefully do great as well.
But now, exclusively for you bodybuilding readers, an interview with this aesthetic strongman.
Q&A:
Jan, please tell us why did you "emigrate" to Brno :) and who do you compete for in Slovakia or the Czech Republic?
I originally came here for school, but after a decade I don't want to go back. The opportunities in Brno are incomparable to Prešov. I don't really know who I'm competing for, probably the Czech Republic :)
You rightfully won the Czech wars, even if your biceps gave you a lot of work, do you have any ideas about the next fight, would you like to challenge someone?
I think every single competitor in wars wants to challenge the current champion. And that is currently Honza Krasinski. It's nothing personal, but the goal is always the same, to come somewhere, find out who is the best and beat him!
I know that you've been using your strength potential in powerlifting, can you tell us your current maxes? And what is your current goal?
Powerlifting was the sport I started with, but currently it doesn't fulfill me anymore with its monotony. My records for the triathlon are 280-210-330. My goal has been the same for several years now, to be the strongest all-around powerlifter I can be. I always focus on my weaknesses and when they stop being weaknesses, I move on.
In the introduction I mentioned your look, which is still not seen that often in Open Strongman, have you ever thought about getting a taste of the bodybuilding boards as well?
I've had plans to do it a few times, I've even got my training underway and a competition lined up :D. Eventually health and personal problems got in the way and I dropped it. I definitely want to go at least once though.
How did you get into the hardest sport of all, Strongman? And what about the conditions in Brno, where you train such demanding disciplines? Did someone train you or did you come to everything on your own?
I was looking for the best place for triathlon in Brno and that was SPC, which is a Strongman gym, so during the preparation for triathlon competitions I could already feel the disciplines and find out what they are. The conditions for strongman training there were and are basically flawless and I enjoyed it more and more, so I eventually moved on to it. I've never had a coach and never will, I often learn from more experienced ones, but I don't have the temperament to take anyone's word for it.
What do you think of today's fitness scene and the lifestyle trend around the gym, especially the theme of looking strong rather than actually being strong?
I think this tendency is natural for people, it's always been there and if anything it's taking a turn for the better. When I started working out everyone was just doing pulleys and non-functional splits, now I see most people in the gym doing complex exercises. So the technique tends to be absolutely terrible, but I try to take it positively and appreciate at least the effort. :D
What about the psyche with lifting heavy weights, do you have any rituals or exercises you try to push yourself as a person as well? Or in general, do you have a training "life hack" that you can't imagine doing heavy lifting without?
I think all really strong people have rituals to get themselves in the right frame of mind to give maximum performance. After all, the body is naturally worried about itself, and if you can't switch it up a bit, you'll never use 100% of your potential. My biggest lifehack is a combination of being able to plan and schedule your training and technique smartly, but once you're under that barbell you must be a pissed off animal just pushing like there's no tomorrow.
If a guy comes to you in the gym and asks "Janko, I want to be a strongman like you, what should I do" what would your recommendation sound like? :)
Find someone who understands, learn everything you can from them and then work until you drop. One doesn't work without the other, most people are either intellectuals nerding out on details who can't work hard enough (and think 200kg on squat is a lot) or people who work at max on complete nonsense.
Supplements, are you one of the big proponents, or do you not address them at all? In a sport as demanding as strongman, supplementation has to play a role.
I see supplements as an easy way to give the body what it lacks. When I have a perfect diet it lacks practically nothing and therefore they are not needed, the more reserves in food the more they become important. Also, in many cases they are simply incomparably more practical than food. So I use them a lot, but I don't think I could do without them or that they give a person any options that food doesn't.
Jan, why Brno and are you thinking of moving eventually? What's your job anyway?
I love Brno because it's the biggest village in the world :D All the possibilities of a big city are here but at the same time it's so small that we all know each other. I don't plan to move to Prague because I don't like the mentality of the capital. Otherwise, I've been coaching exclusively for a long time and I'm perfectly happy that way.
Jan, last question, tell people why they should keep following you and what you can offer them on your networks?
Because there aren't that many people doing what I do. There's a bunch of people who specialize in something who crush me in their discipline, but I don't think there are that many people who have an all-around performance higher than me. So here's a chance to see how that kind of non-traditional training goes. Or you can just stare at the asses I sometimes take pictures of for the girls :)
Photos by Jan Michalova :
You can watch Jan in the duel we wrote about here.
Ján Michalov Instagram:
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