Greg Costecalde needed to develop his strength, endurance and explosiveness for his martial arts so he started getting into serious weight training.
Started training: It was in 1991. I was six years old when I started karate, then I did judo and taekwondo; which taught me falls, kicks, jump kicks and later stunts. Thanks to my trainer Marc Boudes, who offered me a key to the gymnastics club the day I achieved my black belt at the age of 16, I was able to train more often and harder and eventually created my own demo team. When I was 17 I thought I needed to develop my strength, endurance and explosiveness, so I started getting into serious fitness and bodybuilding. The physical conditioning helped my martial arts and acrobatic training a great deal.
Reason for starting training: I first saw the film Bloodsport starring Jean-Claude Van Damme when I was six years old and from then on I dreamed of becoming a martial artist like him; a complete martial artist with excellent kicks, a superb physique and incredible flexibility. Then when I saw Bruce Lee’s movies, I became so envious and wanted to be like these guys.
Effects training has had on your life: I met my girlfriend at a taekwondo class. Today, we are engaged and she’s always there for me. I met my best friends there too. Whereas my school friends were hanging out, or drinking in a bar, we were doing martial arts or hitting the gym every evening of the week, even at the weekend. Besides meeting the most important people in my life, sport gave me discipline, respect for others, self-control, charisma and self-confidence. My sporting past also inspired me to teach others, which is currently a part of my job as a personal trainer; so I would say training has changed my life!
Gym currently trains at: Body Home Fitness in Paris
Role models/inspiration: Bruce Lee, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan and Scott Adkins
Physiques you admire: I love this guy Scott Adkins; he’s currently the best martial artist in the cinema industry. Like Van Damme he is extremely complete with a great body, great kicks and very flexible. He also does amazing acrobatics stuff.
Your best bodyparts: Back and chest
Your worst bodypart: Calves
Long-term goals: To stay permanently in good shape. That’s the most important aspect in my job because I have to be always ready for photoshoots and movies.
Favourite exercises: Bench presses and running
Least favourite exercise: Squats
Traits you admire most in others: Honesty, rigour, charisma and perseverance
Traits you admire most in yourself: Honesty, rigour, charisma and perseverance (I hope!)
Favourite way to relax: Close to my house there is a big wood and once or twice a week I run there for about an hour. There is nobody else there so it’s very relaxing and helps to recharge my batteries.
Favourite T.V. programmes: NCIS, Desperate Housewives and House.
Favourite movies: I love cinema and have so many favourite movies. They include, Kickboxer where Van Damme was in the best shape ever. Inglourious Basterds, Brad Pitt was awesome. The Bourne Trilogy, I love Matt Damon. Terminator 2, Arnold was amazing. The entire Rocky saga, Stallone was in incredible shape.
Favourite actors: Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone
Favourite actresses: Jodie Foster and Keira Knightley
Favourite music to relax to: Pop, soul, jazz (Michael Bublé, Jason Mraz and Michael Jackson are among my favourites).
Favourite music to train to: Techno and rock (I like Muse, Green Day and Linkin Park).
Favourite food: Chinese, Japanese and Italian
Favourite treat food: Pizza, doughnuts and Nutella. But I only eat this kind of food once a week.
DIET PLAN
7.00 am / on waking: 6 egg whites, 150 g oatmeal, Orange juice
10.00 am: 40 g whey protein with water, 1 banana
1 .00 pm: 2 chicken breasts, 150 g brown rice, Vegetables, 1 fat-free yoghurt
5.00 pm: 40 g whey protein with water, 1 apple
8.00 pm: 200 g salmon, Vegetables, 200 g fat-free cottage cheese
11.00 pm: 40 g casein protein with water, I also drink 2 to 3 litres of water a day.
Favourite recipe: I love to cook chicken and, in summer, make giant salads.
Favourite place to eat out: Italian or Japanese restaurants
Nutrition supplements used: I use whey protein, casein protein before going to bed, multi-vitamins and a fat burner.
How do you stay motivated and focused? I am rigorous and I persevere. I love to go beyond my limits and seek perfection. Also, my job requires me to stay in good shape so daily training and a good diet is necessary.
TRAINING PROGRAMME:
I train seven days a week, incorporating weight training, martial arts, stretching, gymnastics, stunt training and cardio. I always train differently from one week to the next.
Monday: Chest, triceps (20 to 50 reps) and abs, plus 30 minutes on the stationary bike (for cardio)
Tuesday: Back, biceps (20 to 50 reps) and abs, plus 30 minutes on the stationary bike
Wednesday: Kick-boxing/stretching/gymnastics/stunt training for 1 hour, plus circuit training
Thursday: Shoulders, arms (20 to 50 reps) and abs, plus 30 minutes on the stationary bike
Friday: I run for one-hour in the woods and after that I do my leg training outside by employing bodyweight training
Saturday: Circuit training and abs plus 30 minutes on the stationary bike
Sunday: Kick-boxing/stretching/gymnastics/stunt training for one hour, plus circuit training
Training partner: Emilien De Falco and Jonathan Ramsamy (my stunt partner)
Hints and tips you would like to pass on: I just have one tip to say to people who train hard: ‘always be ready!’
Advice you would like to offer to anyone beginning body-building: My friend Julien Greaux always tells me to ‘stay motivated, stay focused and never ever give up’. I have followed these words everyday and they have worked for me. I would tell a beginner exactly the same thing.
What is your opinion on drug testing in the sport? I’m a martial artist, not a bodybuilder, so I don’t think I’m the best person able to answer this question. Personally, I think drug testing is a good way to create a level playing field.
Who has helped/supported you in your career? So many people help to support and motivate me. Firstly, my fiancée, who is wonderful. Indeed, I work a lot and train all the time and she understands that I need to do this. When I make movies or I’m shooting, she is the first person to motivate me.
My parents and my brother have believed in me since I was a kid. When I told them I was going to move to Los Angeles at the age of 18 they never told me not to do it.
Finally, my training partners. Since I began martial arts Emilien De Falco and Jonathan Ramsamy have been my best friends and my training/stunt partners. I have travelled a lot with them. We have created a stunt demo team and done a lot of martial arts shows all around the world (United States, England, Bulgaria, France and Thailand). We have also done shoots together for TV, cinema and commercials.
How do you think the ordinary man in the street views bodybuilding and bodybuilders? I think he views bodybuilding as another sport where people train hard to attempt to achieve their goals. Even if they think some bodybuilders take drugs, they should know that in all sports some people take drugs.
Any aspects of your life you would like to comment on? When I was 18 I moved to Los Angeles. I met a lots of actors, sportsmen and women and bodybuilders. I’ve done shoots with professional photo---graphers as well as meeting Jean-Claude Van Damme, The Rock, James Caan, Julien Greaux and Seydina Balde and I have shot a pilot as an actor in California.
When I moved back to Paris I trained with stunt co-ordinator Alain Figlarz, did castings, photoshoots for magazines, shot some video clips, commercials and movies and did a lot of martial arts shows around the world. I have also worked as a stunt double for celebrities on TV. M&F
Contact details for guesting/seminars/letters, etc:
Greg Justin Costecalde:
www.gregjustincostecalde.book.fr
Agence commerciale:
Digital Artists, 9, rue Duphot 75001 Paris.
Tél : 0140 201 020, Fax : 0140 201 005
Agent commercial: Michael Dragan, tintin@digitalartists.fr
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