Real People, Real Muscle: Kiyoshi Moody
by Chris Shugart

You don't see physiques like Testosterone reader's Kiyoshi Moody's often. And when you do, you can't help but wonder how the heck he trains, what the heck he eats, and... what kind of steroids he uses. We decided to call him up and find out the answers to all those questions.

Testosterone Nation: First things first. Are you a pothead, Focker? Wait, I mean, are you a steroid user, Moody?

Kiyoshi Moody: I can honestly answer that question with a "no." Now, if you were to ask me if I will ever use... Well, I can't say yes or no.

We all know you have to use steroids to compete with the elite of the IFBB. You can't be natural and expect to compete at that level. So if I get that pro card one day, then ask me again.

Of course, it'll be a hard decision. A lot of factors must come into play because this sport is about publicity, not trophies. So we'll see. But as for right now I'm 100% natural.

Testosterone Nation: Just to play devil's advocate here, are you a lifetime natural or one of those "natural at this present moment" guys?

Kiyoshi: I'm a lifetime natural athlete at this time. Have I ever thought about using? Of course! The first show I ever went to was the Ironman Pro back in 1998, and I thought to myself, "Damn, I want to be like them!" Little did I know they all used steroids.

Back then I didn't know too much about bodybuilding. I was naïve; I thought they were all natural! Very funny, huh? After my first natural show I had a lot of people come up to me trying to convince me that the steroid route is the way to go, especially with my physique. Well, I chose not to take that route.

Testosterone Nation: How many people actually believe you when you say you're steroid-free?

Kiyoshi: Everywhere I go, when people first see me, the first thing they say is, "He's on steroids!" No one believes that it can be done naturally.

Testosterone Nation: Does that bother you?

Kiyoshi: No, it makes me stronger. It makes me want to improve more every day. The more they doubt me, the more fuel they add to the fire.

Testosterone Nation: What kind of drug testing takes place at natural shows?

Kiyoshi: The organization I've competed in, they test a couple different ways. Polygraph, blood, and urine. They test under the IOC (International Olympic Committee) standards. From what I heard, the Team Universe in New York does the same for the top three in each class. So, in other words, I don't use even Testosterone boosters of any sort.

Testosterone Nation: What are your current stats?

Kiyoshi: Right now I'm 36 years old, 5' 10", and my current weight is 205 pounds because I'm getting ready for a contest. Entering the show I should be around 195 to 205. Off-season I'm about 175 to 185. I diet up. I'm just now hitting my stride.

Testosterone Nation: So wait, you get heavier, not lighter closer to show time? Don't most bodybuilders lose weight as they lose fat for the contest?

Kiyoshi: Most competitors do diet down for a competition, but there are some out there (and they are rare) that diet up. Kevin Levrone comes to mind.

When I diet up, I tend to lose body fat quicker and actually gain lean muscle very fast. I've talked to some judges and pro's about it, and they all said it's rare.

Testosterone Nation: Definitely. It's always interesting to ask competitive bodybuilders how they train because often the experts will tell you that bodybuilders train incorrectly, but it's obviously working for them. So let's go over a few of those topics. First, do you train to failure?

Kiyoshi: I'm a little old school with a new school touch. Training to failure is how I get my best results. For example, I'll do leg presses until I can't do any more, then jump straight into leg extensions, and finally I'll do walking lunges until I can't go any further.

Testosterone Nation: How about machine training?

Kiyoshi: As I've become older I've learned to train smarter. So I incorporate machines with free weights, especially during the last three to four weeks of contest prep. It's easier on my joints. I still go heavy on the machine, but again I go to failure.

Testosterone Nation: Do you do any isolation work?

Kiyoshi: I believe without isolation movements you can't get that deep separation and bring out the detail you need. I'm a big believer in the mind-to-muscle connection, and isolation work is great for that.

Testosterone Nation: What does your typical training week look like?

Kiyoshi: In the off-season I hit every body part once per week. During pre-contest time, four to six weeks out from a show, I hit every body part twice per week.

Off-season looks like this:

Monday: Back

Tuesday: Chest

Wednesday: Quads

Thursday: Shoulders and Hams

Friday: Bi's and Tri's

Saturday and Sunday: Off

In the off-season, I don't perform cardio. Calves and abs are trained twice per week.

Pre-contest usually looks like this:

Monday: Lower Back and Tri's

Tuesday: Chest and Bi's

Wednesday: Legs and Shoulders

Thursday: Upper Back and Tri's

Friday: Chest and Bi's

Saturday: Legs and Shoulders

Cardio is done five days a week for 20 minutes in the morning, then another 20 minutes in the evening at a very low intensity. I usually use the stair-mill.

I hate cardio though. Leave that to the figure and fitness competitors out there. In the off-season I do play some flag football on the weekends. Maybe that counts as "cardio."

Testosterone Nation: Let's talk nutrition. Any general guidelines or rules you go by?

Kiyoshi: I have a very fast metabolism, so I do eat junk food in the off-season. I'm human. But when I'm getting ready for a show I consume ten to fourteen meals per day, but no complex carbs after 2PM. That's my general rule: no complex carbs after 2PM.

Testosterone Nation: Why specifically no complex carbs. Do you ingest simple carbs after 2PM?

Kiyoshi: Damn, thought I could get away with a little secret! Complex carbs tend to fill me up for a long amount of time so I won't be able to eat protein or other meals that I need too. I start to lose weight. So this is how I get leaner.

The majority of my complex carbs are all in the morning. Simple carbs are eaten at night but only until about 6 or 7PM. I try to choose mostly juices that I freshly squeeze myself.

Testosterone Nation: How do you handle bulking or mass phases?

Kiyoshi: I drop weight in the off-season to about 175 to 190, so I never bulk up, believe it or not! My calories are very high. I have to eat clean and very often just to maintain weight, meaning ten to fourteen times per day.

People don't believe me when I tell them I weigh 180 pounds in the off-season. They automatically think I'm on the juice. Funny, if they only knew what I go through!

Testosterone Nation: How about supplements?

Kiyoshi: Pre-contest I'll take two capsules of HOT-ROX Extreme in the morning, then another two capsules about 2 or 3PM. Being a supplement store owner, I've tried just about every thermogenic out there, but nothing has given me the results that I'm getting now with HOT-ROX Extreme.

In the off-season I use protein, multi-vitamins, glutamine, and a joint support formula.

Testosterone Nation: What do judges consider to be your best body part? How do you train it, or do you have to focus on it much?

Kiyoshi: I'd have to say my arms are my best body part. Thing is, I only have to train my arms every other week or three in the off-season because they grow too fast.

Testosterone Nation: Yeah, that's just tragic. And that brings us to the topic of genetics. What role does genetics play in your development?

Kiyoshi: I'd be lying to you if I said that genetics has no part in all of this. I've been blessed with very good genetics. My mother and father were athletic.

As an example, people are always asking me what I do for calves. Nothing! I hardly ever work them! Genetics! I just took it a step further and developed my body even more. Everyone has that special something that others don't have; they just have to find what it is.

My back is stubborn though. It just doesn't grow! Sucks, but I see people that don't even train their backs very hard and they have great backs. I'm the one asking them, "What do you do for your back?"

Testosterone Nation: What's coming up next for you?

Kiyoshi: I have the Jr. Cal in Pasadena on June 23rd as a tune-up, and the Team Universe (NPC) on July 13th and 14th. At the Universe I'm gunning to win my class and maybe the overall.

Testosterone Nation: Best of luck to you, Kiyoshi. Thanks for the chat today!

Kiyoshi: Thank you, T-Nation, and continued success to you guys. It's been my pleasure!

Addendum: Kyoshi won the light-heavyweight division and the overall title at the Jr. Cal.

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