"The Sculptor" seeks to carve out victory at WNBF California Natural Nationals

"The Sculptor"

PHOTO: Omar Raissouni

 

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Omar Raissouni’s knows that his concept of bodybuilding is different from most other bodybuilders.  He knows that his concept is different from what most bodybuilding judges are looking for too.  Nevertheless, Omar Raissouni, popularly known as “The Sculptor” in his native Morocco, will be seeking to introduce his distinctive standard of natural bodybuilding excellence in his pro debut at the WNBF  California Natural Nationals on July 10 in La Jolla, California. 

“I’ve always perceived bodybuilding as an art rather than a sport,” he says with pride. “It is the art of sculpting the human body, an art that uses sport instead of a hammer and nutrition instead of a blade to carve a livingly evolving masterpiece. I got into bodybuilding mainly to gain aesthetics, rather than size or strength.  To me, a beautiful well-balanced body has always been better than a huge disproportionate one. Many people, when commenting on my body, use the word ‘carved,’ and then I think to myself ‘yes’ you understand what I am trying to do.”

Now residing back and forth between the U.S. (Illinois) and Morocco, Omar, 36, grew up in Tangier in the northern part of Morocco near the western entrance to the Strait of Gilbraltar where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.  He earned his BBA degree in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, and his MBA in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and  works as a telecommunications advisor for the Tangier office of Atento, one of the most important Contact Center and BPO companies in the world with operations in 17 countries.  

Omar “practiced” at bodybuilding on his own for at least 5 years before finally venturing on stage to see how good – or how bad – he was in the opinion of judges.  “My family was never happy about me doing this - especially my mother, but I was never denied support when I needed it,” recalls Omar.    

He went on to win a number of important titles in Morocco and Spain including first place in the the 1994 Tangier Championships, the 2005 Tetouan Championships, the 2007 Heulva Province Natural Open Championships (also best poser), and the 2008 Spanish Fitness Championships before venturing to compete in the U.S. last year where he won his class at the 2009 INBF Natural Mania Nationals to earn his WNBF pro card. 

Omar hasn’t always won, of course – sometimes he simply wasn’t the better man and sometimes, perhaps, because his body was so atypical of today’s thick, powerful-looking physiques, he didn’t meet the particular standard the judges were seeking.  His long limbs and graceful lines are more reminiscent of the classic, aesthetically-pleasing physiques of the legendary Vince Gironda and Armand Tanny or even former NANBA Natural USA and ABCC Natural America champ Rick Johnson.  Natural bodybuilding affords him the opportunity to compete on a level playing field where – unlike untested events where vein-popping size and grotesque proportions dominate the judging – he can hold his own, or more, with his artistic approach to the sport.   

“I was never interested in bodybuilding as a tool to gain size or strength,” explains Omar. “In fact, I always viewed this as a way to achieve physical balance and beauty. Unfortunately these concepts no longer constitute the basic criteria for winning in bodybuilding. Natural contests allow me to stay faithful to the way I view this sport and keep me motivated as they give me a realistic chance to be among the best at every show. While I have competed in non- tested shows, I always had a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth. I tried to enjoy what I love but, on the other hand, I felt uncomfortable that people might consider me  the same as the on-the-juice-athletes even though I have a completely different philosophy. Moreover, I felt a kind of guilt for promoting something that actually kills the image and the goal of sports in general. Training was never meant to lead people to risk their life so absurdly but, rather, to enhance quality of life. But, where I come from, natural bodybuilding does not exist, and in Spain foreigners are not allowed to compete in the natural federation. The one Spanish natural show that I won is the only show that allowed me to compete because it was an annual tested show organized by a federation that normally does untested shows.”

Articulate and precise about his bodybuilding philosophy, Omar has these suggestions for aspiring natural bodybuilders: 

1.     Natural bodybuilding is about regularity.  There is no room for anabolic steroids that save you time in your journey to success but always at the detriment of your health. Time is natural bodybuilding’s steroid.  When used wisely, time becomes your best ally.  When misused it converts to your worst enemy.     

2.     Natural bodybuilding is about avoiding catabolism.  It is really not a matter of trying to be in an anabolic state at a certain time as much it is about trying to avoid catabolism at all times. A natural bodybuilder in anabolic state gains only a fraction of the tissue that he loses when in catabolic state. So be on guard and never think that your next anabolic state will compensate for the past catabolic one.  

3.     Natural bodybuilding is about active learning.  We are not using drugs that will give us results no matter what, so don’t be passive and swallow whatever you have been told. Your body is unique. Listen, read, watch but then experiment, analyze and screen. Nothing has to be taken for granted unless it has been put to the test by YOU in YOUR body.  

4.     Natural bodybuilding is about anticipation.  Plan in advance every single detail from your tanning to your routine and especially have your 10 day-plan leading up to the contest clearly in mind. If you do this you will first avoid abrupt unplanned changes that usually spoil all of your preparation efforts. Second, you will keep stress away which is the number one factor that makes the final desired effects - namely full, vascular, dry appearing muscles - never happen. 

Omar obviously has some very strong opinions about his sport and is not reluctant to share them.  At the same time, he offers a refreshingly different approach to the sport which should provide an interesting contrast in his pro debut.  He is simply challenging the norm and trying to make things better - without drugs.      

Readers can watch Omar “The Scuptor” Raissouni in action at the 2010 WNBF California Natural Nationals  on July 10 in La Jolla, California, followed by the  WNBF Mid-America Pro Am  in Evansville, Indiana, on July 31.