From a Skinny 52 kg to Physique Grand Prix, Continuing the Challenge
“Even though I was a physical education major, having a slight and skinny physique was always a huge insecurity, and I started working out purely with the desire to build up my body.”
For Kim Hyun-seung, the beginning of working out stemmed from an insecurity about his skinny body. When he entered the Department of Physical Education at Kwangwoon University at age 20, he stood 176 cm tall and weighed 52 kg. Even though he was a physical education student, his slight build always bothered him, and he began working out with the desire to build up his body.
“Even though I was a physical education major, having a slight and skinny physique was always a huge insecurity, and I started working out purely with the desire to build up my body.”
He continued to train consistently from the age of 20. However, he faced difficulties after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery at age 23. Following the surgery, knee and lower back pain imposed many restrictions on his training, accompanied by ongoing trial and error. As the pain led him to take a passive approach to his workouts, his progress stagnated for a long time.
He needed a turning point to refocus his mindset. He decided to compete in a bodybuilding competition. While he did not neglect lower-body training, he came across Physique while searching for a division he could challenge under his physical condition at the time. In his first Physique competition, he placed 2nd. After feeling the appeal of the division on that stage, he has competed every year, striving to develop his own physique.
In preparing for this NPCA competition, he changed his approach. Although he cut about 6 to 7 kg over roughly 3 to 4 months, he did not focus on drastically reducing calories as he had before. His goal this year was to bring up both size and conditioning together. Preparing by increasing his workout intensity, he sought out a coach who suited him.
“I trusted and followed my coach, who provided cool-headed, objective evaluations and plans, pouring myself into each and every day.”
The results of preparing with his coach showed on stage. He placed 3rd in his first competition on September 20 and 2nd in his second competition on September 26. Then, in his third competition on October 4, he captured the Physique Grand Prix. It was a season where he elevated his results step by step across three stages.
However, Kim Hyun-seung's challenge this year is not over yet. On his fourth stage on October 14, he is preparing once again with the goal of winning the NPCA Physique Grand Prix. Afterward, his goal for this season is to step onto the IFBB Natural Pro Qualifier stage on October 25 and showcase the best physique of his life.
The training that started from a skinny 52 kg body led through surgery, pain, and a long stagnation to the Physique stage. On the stage he chose in order to challenge himself again, Kim Hyun-seung achieved the result of a Grand Prix. And now, he continues his preparation toward the remaining two competitions.
“I trusted and followed my coach, who provided cool-headed, objective evaluations and plans, pouring myself into each and every day.”