Big build-up has its rewards
Volume 11, No. 54, October 19, 2006
By WO2 Wayne Ryan

Position: Cpl Jason Stafford displays his winning form during the ADF Natural Body Building and Figure Sculpting Championships.

Men’s short – Cpl Damian Halsall (RAAF) Men’s medium and overall – Cpl Jason Stafford (Army) Men’s tall – Gnr Luke Diss Senior Men’s – Sqn-Ldr Anthony Clarke Men’s novice – Sig Gavin Gray Women’s tall – Cpl Lia Halsall (RAAF) Women’s short, senior and overall – Flt-Lt Kay Hatton Women’s medium – Sqn-Ldr Kathleen Pyne Women’s novice – LCpl Renee Simons .

NOTHING fits the old sports adage of a “big build-up” better than body building, as the recent winner of the ADF Natural Body Building and Figure Sculpting Championships, Cpl Jason Stafford knows only too well.

Cpl Stafford won the medium high class and overall male titles at the ninth edition of the competition held at HMAS Cerberus near Melbourne on September 25.

Having won these two events last year, Cpl Stafford is the only male to have successfully defended his titles so far in the event’s history.

Still, it is not time for him to rest on his laurels yet, with his busy schedule including the International Natural Body Building Association’s Queensland titles on October 7 and the Australasian Natural Body Building Queensland titles on October 14, both in Brisbane.

“You never know who is going to rock up on the day, but I was reasonably confident going into the titles at Cerberus,” Cpl Stafford said.

“This was because I had gained some experience in three civilian competitions and this year I had more exposure, experience and a better preparation.

“The two wins were a good confidence-booster for the coming Queensland titles, although the competition there will be tougher.

“Whatever happens now is out of my hands. I have done the training and the preparation, so now it is just a matter of enjoying the competition.”

His entry to the sport at the age of 14 flowed from his interest in boxing and a casual observation while working out one day.

“I used to box and one day at the gym I saw this guy pumping weights, muscles everywhere.

“I thought to myself – ‘I’d like to look like that’ – so one thing led to another, and here I am.”

Along with his normal duties as a PTI, Cpl Stafford will spend up to eight rigorous hours a week in training, with a strict diet consisting mainly of stir-fry vegetables.

For Cpl Stafford, body building is not a once-a-week activity down at your local gym; it’s a 365 day commitment.

“You can train all year for just 10 minutes on stage,” he said.

His training and dieting intensifies leading up to completions and newlywed Jason’s wife Melissa, a medical corporal posted to the Kokoda Barracks RAP at Canungra, will normally find herself cooking for one during these periods.

“Melissa’s support during competitions periods is second to none; she is always there for me,” Cpl Stafford said.

“It’s also a very selfish sport, where a competitor must focus on themselves during lead-ups to competitions. I feel sorry for Melissa during these times.”

Cpl Stafford recently competed in the 2006 Queensland Bodybuilding and Figure Championships (National Amateur Body Builders’ Association) on the Gold Coast and was third in the men’ class two division to add to his 2005 Danny Chau NSW Natural Classic novice and overall winner and the 2005 Australian nationals novice runner-up.

Cpl Stafford and fellow body builder Josh Dickinson, a graphics illustrator with Defence Publication Service Canungra, both have their sights on the ultimate prize, winning the Pro Natural Mr Universe cup.

That will entail a great deal more sweat and hard work and both spend a substantial amount of personal time and money in pursuit of the perfect body.