Cliffs for the Seminar
1:16
Question: What does it mean to you to be a winner of the Arnold Classic?
Answer 2:19 ~ 5:10
"I'll say this, the first time I won the Arnold Classic, it was monumental because it marked a beginning to a new level of competitive experience for me. It was validation of the belief that not only could it be done, but that I could do it. [...] So, winning the Arnold Classic the first time was validation, was proof that my efforts were not in vain. So, that lifted my spirit obviously. It allowed me to realize that there was more that I would be able to accomplish if I exercise the same dutiful effort and responsibility in my thinking and actions. So, it was encouraging."
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5:39
Question: Top 5 nutritional supplements necessary for a bodybuilder.
Answer 6:00 (question/answer get confused, question/answer gets re-clarified) ~ 12:50 (this part of the video is replayed up until 19:25)
(cliffs continued in next post)
Talks about how supplements are tools, and how a good diet is more important.
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19:43
Question: How useful is MuscleMeds Secret Sauce for him.
Answer 20:05 ~ 22:10
Talks about its effectiveness and its origins.
Before it came on the market, MuscleMeds gave Secret Sauce to Kai with a blank label (probably the one seen in Generation Iron), they didn't tell him what it was to test it on him and mark the results.
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22:35
Question: For your posing routines, how do you prepare yourself, what inspires you and do you have any choreographer(s)?
Answer 23:00 ~ 24:57
"I haven't yet worked with a choreographer, but I am entertaining the thought of trying to do something like that in the future. We haven't quite ruled that out yet.
And as far as the inspiration thing is concerned, you know, they say 'when the student is ready, the teacher will appear', so I believe that inspiration can come from anywhere and everywhere once a person is ready to become mindful enough to take it in.
When I was a teenage bodybuilder, I can recall an older athlete telling me that he found inspiration for his posing routine while watching his son, at the time probably a year old, walking around across the room. So, I just share this with you just to illustrate the point that I believe inspiration can come from anywhere."
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25:00
Question: Do you want to be a choreographer one day?
Answer 25:10 ~ 25:48
"I haven't really thought about that, but there are people that study that, that study movements, that study dance and also choreopgraphy. I never really saw myself as a choreographer, so as I result..I haven't really thought about trying to organize someone else's routine, but I haven't ruled the possibility out."
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25:57
Question: Someone in the audience asked if he would be able to choreograph his routine.
Answer 26:06 ~ 26:34
" Well you know, there are people that have this skill and the talent to really work with someone and try to bring out someone else's best, I think that's one of the things that are important in dealing with a choreographer, just like a good coach or a good mentor."
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26:43
Question: What's your impression of Moscow in its spring time?
Answer 26:50 ~ 28:50
He says that it's not as cold as he tought it would be.
He says that the warm welcome and the wonderful people is the most important part.
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29:20
Question: What's the reason/philosphy behind training covered up with a hoodie?
Answer 29:40 ~ 32:48
"Interestingly enough, I think that there's a lot to be said for work. Long before I ever got the opportunity to have anyone think me important enough to photograph me with my clothes off, I had to produce a body of work to show. The fact that anyone asks to see what I look like with my shirt off or my clothes off was now the product of having done enough work that would allow my body to speak for itself.
So, what happened was, as a young man, I recall being in the gym working out..I do a set, I look in the mirror..do another set, look in the mirror..do another set, look in the mirror..look in the mirror..look in the mirror..look in the mirror. If you added up how much time I actually spent looking in the mirror and thought about how much time I could have otherwise spent invested in doing more work, I realized that I could have been that much more likely to be that much more succesful.
So, wearing clothing was a testament to me to cover up and to be more serious about getting the work done, like a race horse with blinders. I put my clothing on and became focused about getting the work done."
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33:10
Question #1: How will professional bodybuilding will change in 10-15 years?
Question #2: 3 main features of a 'real man'.
Answer to Q#1 33:40 ~ (cut off in the version I used)
"I think that it has to evolve, I think it's in a process of evolving, and anything that does not evolve will die. So, if it's the intent of ourselves with keeping alive the sport that we love and if it's important to the powers that be to keep this thing alive..then what's gonna happen is that it's gonna have to grow and it's gonna have to change, it's gonna evolve and it is in a process of doing so.
We're experiencing a time where very new and interesting things are happening. We're seeing a new, I think, going forward, we're going to see a new infusion of some of those new and exciting things that are being added to our sport. We've seen new addition to fitness, to crossfit, we've seen Women's Physique, we've seen Women's Bikini, Men's Physique.
So, I think that in 10 years or within the timespan of 10 years, ultimately, we're going to start to see some of those things, I think, brought into or see their way into..even professional Men's bodybuilding..and I'm interested in seeing what those things will be."
Answer to Q#2 ?? ~ 38:30
"Well..first I think it would probably be character, purpose and his ability to be aware, aware of who he is, who he wants to be and ultimately who he will be, will be shaped by those things."[Question made about facial attractiveness, responds shortly => Character > Looks]
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39:30
Question #1: Who was your idol when you were young, who inspired you to be a bodybuilder..like Arnold/Zane,etc.?
Question #2: What other sports interest you other than bodybuilding?
Question #3: What changes do you make when you visit other countires?
Answer to Q#3 40:28 ~ 41:40
"I think one thing that it does, broadens your point of reference, broadens your horizon, exposes you to broaden someone's horizon..and actually allow a person to grow beyond a boundary they might have been limited by prior to being exposed."
Answer to Q#2: 41:50 ~ 45:00
" As a kid, as a teenager, as an adult man, even to present..bodybuilding..bodybuilding..bodybuilding. [...]
From my personal experience, bodybuilding is the product of an evolution in my thinking and personal development, so a lot of what has developed into my walk as an athlete had a lot to do with my attempt to find and shape my personality and my character.
So, bodybuilding is more like a natural progression of my thinking..from my childhood through boyhood, early manhood and even present."
Answer to Q#1: 45:01 ~ 46:45
"Yes, it's inevitable that the like of Arnold and a number of noteworthy individuals like the gentlemen that you mentioned, but also Anja Langer, Cory Everson, Lenda Murrey *(names two others I didn't hear well)*.
The truth is..when I decided to fix my thinking on bodybuilding, I recognized that it was something that loved to do and wanted to do..wanted to learn more about. Everyone that was successful in attaining something that I wanted to produce in my own life, became a point of reference..they became an example of possibilities that were limitless."
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47:00
Question: Considering that you're a painter, who taught you to paint and when did you start to do paintings?
Answer 47:11 ~ 50:05
"Painting is a skill, a bunch of skills are in the process of being mastered when someone identifies themselves as a painter. But, as I'm watching that kind of unfold in my life, my personal experience and the world now being exposed to that part of me..what I believe it is and has in common with the thing that is bodybuilding; the expression of the artistic mind.
Believe it or not, I believe bodybuilding is a wonderful crossroads between the arts, sciences, it speaks of the expression of spirit. If you have a person that identifies themselves to be a stage-worthy bodybuilder, I don't think you can do that without, at the same time, recognizing the presence of the artistic mind.
Sometimes, people think that to workout is one thing, to build muscle is one thing and it's seperate apart from the artistic mind that is present in all things..but to do that, I think, is like not recognizing the rythm that exists in seasons and time."
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50:24
Question: Why is your hair tied up in the "semi-finals" of an event, but it's untied when in the finals? Is there any reason for that?
Answer 50:35 ~ 51:46
"Oh yeah, absolutely, long hair can get in the way.
Yes, long hair can get in the way sometimes, and a lot of times when you're on stage at the bodybuilding competition..behind the scenes you get pro-tanned and pre-oiled, your skin is conditioned in order to be able to catch the light better and as a part of your process for preparing to be on stage. So, if your hair is down, it's gonna touch and get in the way and probably even take away some of that..so we just move it out of the way."
[Comment from a member in the audience: 'The last time Ronnie visited Russia, he won an Olympia in the same year, it should be the same for you.']
Kai responds; "You're lips to god's ears."
(*Idiom expressing a wish that the desires of the person to whom the saying is spoken will come true.*)
52:40
Question: What are your plans after you're done with bodybuilding?
Answer 52:58 ~ 55:48
"Wow, you know what, it's funny, there was a time where I used to think that I need to wait until after bodybuilding to start thinking about life after bodybuilding, but I'm now of the mind to understand that that wouldn't be the right way to think. At present, I am working everyday to develop myself and I think that is not any different now than it will be after it is and I'm not going to be on stage competing anymore, I think that a man's responsibility is to continue to recognize room for growth and to find himself in commitment to continuing to do that, to grow and to develop spiritually, physically, mentally."
[Tranlastor: Any particular business in mind?]
"Well, we're working on a few things and I got my fingers crossed..and hopefully, very soon, we'll be able to share those with you and make it a lot more clear on what those things are."
[Kai re-clarifies a short point about growth]
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56:05
Question: Asks if the guy on the far left's potential to be the best bodybuilder in Russia. (Kai trained him a day before this.)
Answer: 56:04 ~ 56:55
"Absolutely, but that's without question and in truth, it really didn't matter. It doesn't even matter, believe or not, if you see it or not. What matters most is how he sees himself.
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57:19
QUestion: What/when do you think is the Golden Age of Bodybuilding?
Answer 57:36 ~ 1:01:10
"Honestly, I think the Golden Age that we, a lot of times, think about and understand when we celebrate the legends or speak of the legends of the sport - I'm gonna state that it's very safe to say that the champions of today stand very firmly on the shoulders of the champions of another time period - the earlier time in the sport.
I think every athlete, past and present, are in the process of exercising a responsibility. So, each of them, each of the athletes, past and present, make a contribution to what is the continuum of this experience to be a bodybuilder. They serve as examples that encourage what not only will become the champions of tomorrow..but the champions going forward.
I think, the responsibility now, as a current athlete and a current champion who is in the sport and devoted to the development and the appreciation of our sport..it's my responsibility to encourage and inspire - but I don't like to say inspire, I really like to say just to encourage - not to turn around and think that you're supposed to be "an inspiriation for me and it's all about me", but more importantly it's a celebration of yourself or a celebration of what the example is and what can be when we start to think about hooking up with an idea that's larger than the individual."
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1:02:15
Question: How do you deal with tight schedules and your workouts/etc.?
Answer 1:02:35 ~ 1:07:35
"Oh wow, it is interesting, it is interesting. First of all, I will say this; having these things, these opportunities or this demand on your time is a product of the same proof that we spoke about and touched on in your question earlier(*points to a member in the audience) "What it means to win the Arnold Classic the first time and then the second time?".
It is with a grateful mind, that I'm able to accept and express an appreciation for a moment like this when there is such a demand on your time..because it wasn't always like that. There was another time when you were new and the experience had not yet come, there was a question mark that existed in its place. Can I do that? I want that. Will it ever happen? That question touches on the validation that comes with "Yes, I can." and it's important to recognize that because just like you're able to accomplish this..I'm inspiried to think about what else it is that you can accomplish, what lies beyond this? You serve as an example..to my right sits a young gentleman that may be sitting there where I was in the same place, for many there may still exist a question mark for what will become of his future..so he crossover to where I am, it will be proof that "Yes, it can be done." .. "Yes, I can." and the same exists for anybody that is capable of recognizing the teacher - they say 'when the student is ready, the teacher will appear' - so this is an example of why it's important to think, to dream and to work mindfully."
[Pause]
"So, to answer your question, absolutely, it's with a grateful mind that I respect that, I accept it and any other challenges that come up with scheduling things, we accept it and we find a way to work around it. It's not always easy to juggle a lot of things."
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1:07:48
Question: Beyond bodybuilding, what other goals/purposes do you have in life?
Answer 1:08:10 ~ 1:09:17
"Well, goals can change but I think that there are some goals that are built in the natural expression of what it is to be a responsible person, that are built in to being a man and that are built in to being the man that I want to be.
So, it is important..largely right now, I want to be successful..I want to be succesful and I want to encourage others to be successful."
