Welcome to this insightful interview with the multi-talented strength sport athlete, Ramil Javier. From his journey to qualifying for the Static Monsters world championships to his experiences in various disciplines, a pocket-rocket of an athlete who’s constantly pushing his limits and dominating his weight class in the sport of strongman. Join us as we explore his take on training and competition.
Carlos: Talking about static monsters, tell us about the journey from qualifying for the world championships to actually competing in London?
RamiI:The qualifiers last year was my first time ever doing Static Monsters, I thought it was your typical strongman show, with the moving events. I didn’t feel it was a mistake in joining but I didn’t know it was a qualifier. Legitimately had no idea. I was in the middle of prepping for a team crossfit competition that didn’t materialize because of a teammate getting injured so yeah.
Carlos: When you finally learned that you got qualified for Worlds in London how did you feel with that?
Ramil: It took me a week to think about it. I am at a point in my life where I’m competing more with other people. When I became less competitive with other people and more with myself, that’s actually when I got better. The irony of it. The ultimate reason was also it might probably be my only and last chance so I went with it even if I ranked #9 out of the 10 qualified athletes and you know how that turned out.
Carlos:It’s a great milestone for sure my bro! Congrats again.
Carlos:Let’s backtrack a bit and talk about how you got started, I know you do weightlifting and I know you did crossfit but how was your journey like to who you are today?
Ramil:Can we backtrack to like 2005? As an athlete I started with karate, I competed and got as far as nationals, my highest finish ever was a bronze medal finish with sparring at a national level. Got the chance to enter the national reserve pool but I didn’t last very long, I wasn’t in the right place mentally and squandered the opportunity. A year later I got into crossfit around 2012. The person who introduced me to strongman was Ken Cedrick Tan our mutual friend around 2018
I qualified for Philippines Strongest Man that year and you know what happened there but that’s okay, I put on a good show.
Carlos: With all these disciplines that you train, all these modalities are being brought up at the same time. Do you still do your Kata?
Ramil: For meditation purposes, yes.
Carlos: You do powerlifting,weightlifting, strongman and Crossfit, how did your training develop over the years as a multiple sport athlete?
Ramil: During the pandemic, I had a rude awakening. I learned the hard way that doing everything at the same time can only get you so far. If I wanted to get to the next level I had to specialize, It is what it is.
Carlos: Speaking of specialization, what lies in your heart right now? What are you currently gunning for?
Ramil: Right now, putting it on record, I wanna continue and compete in powerlifting and strongman.
The reason I competed in the qualifiers last year was because I missed strongman. This year I decided to not compete in full strongman shows to focus solely on Static Monsters prep and focus on it.
Carlos: Now that Statics are done, what’s next?
Ramil: Offseason and one powerlifting event next year.
Carlos: What will be the focus on the off-season?
Ramil: Gonna focus on building my base again and more volume, chances are I’ll do the qualifiers for Static Monsters for October.
Carlos: And chances are you’re going to qualify again. Are you ready for that?
Ramil: Let’s see you’ll never know.
Carlos: Do you have specific movements in mind to build up in the off-season?
Ramil: As strength athletes we like to minimize the range of motion, let’s be honest with that. What I’ll be doing is the opposite, I’ll be lengthening my range of motion and doing harder variations. Narrow back squats, stiff legged deadlifts, paused strict presses, larsen presses. Also adding metabolic condition again, cause let’s face it if you don’t have that in strongman you’re not gonna make it.
Carlos: Aside from being an athlete you’re a coach yourself, how’d you get started with coaching?
Ramil: I started coaching as a part-time gig in 2015. Eventually it grew into something that I love and I consider it as a gift so eventually pursued it full-time in 2019. I’ve learned from a lot of people on how to program throughout the years but I love programming my own training and discovering what can work for me and for other people. Part of it is my professional pride. There are many ways to make someone stronger and condition them. I wanna improve my skill set and I’ve wanted to try for the longest time to program for myself. The prep for this year’s Static Monsters Worlds was the litmus test, so to speak.
Carlos: How long have you been coaching?
Ramil: As far as total time and part-time we’re talking eight years, full time four years. Unlike other coaches I like training gen-pop people. People might not believe it but I love it. There are very different goals for everyone. I have that fear that I might become too short-sighted seeing only everything in the spectrum of strength. There are so many qualities to make me fitter. I have a soft spot for coaching elderly people and women.
Carlos: Side stepping a bit because I know you’re crazy about Japanese role playing games like me. Top 5 JRPS of your life?
- Final Fantasy 6
- Xenogears
- Dragon Quest 8
- Final Fantasy 7
- 2nd Super Robot Wars
Carlos: How would you say mental prep and fortitude is important and how do you prepare for it?
Ramil: I’m gonna work backwards to answer this question, the key word is confidence. Speaking for me I tend to be too nervous so what I do is talk to a lot of people to calm my nerves but ultimately I know if I focus I can calm down.
Attempt selection matters, so whatever will rack up my confidence till the event finishes that’s what I’ll lift. When it comes to training I put myself in harder scenarios. In training, I tell myself you can’t complain and prepare yourself for the worst case scenarios..
Carlos: I’ve never seen you nurse any injuries and be in pain over the years we’ve known each other. What’s the secret?
Ramil: I have aches and pains but the secret I think is, I like to stretch a lot. Actually that’s it. It all boils down to that. I can do splits better now than when I was doing karate when at my lightest I was 54-55 kg. Big believer of stretching to the point of not just doing it as a cooldown but as a separate day and a separate training plan. I feel cold. I don’t believe in stretching as a cooldown. The only question with that is since you stretch cold you have to stretch lower.
Carlos: Do you even have time for yourself outside of training? You have lots of clients
Ramil: I like coffee, I didn’t inherit my dad’s cooking skills but coffee is my thing.
Carlos: Also, I would say that there’s not much dual athletes competing in your weight class, what is your advice for people that aren’t necessarily big men that really wanna get into strength sports?
Ramil: There’s a strictly under 70kg competition in September in London, I can’t join there but to get to my point I just envision that hopefully within SEA we’ll have something similar. The advice part number 1 have a wide base, being strong in strongman is not enough. Number 2 since we’re lightweights moving events will be a thing so have your condition on check. Number 3, I’ve observed this at Static Monsters is Technique. As a lightweight person you’re not gonna survive in strongman if you just use brute force.
Carlos: G 2023 PSM?
Ramil: I put all my eggs in that Static Monsters basket so I’ve made up my mind on it and skipping this year.
Carlos: Have you ever thought of quitting?
Ramil:Yes
Carlos: What kept you going?
Ramil: Simple. I only have one shot. If I give up now I won’t have any other shots.
Carlos: Parting words? Ramil: Get strong, get conditioned, improve your technique and that’s it.
Rams story is a testament to the dedication and passion that fuels an exceptional athlete. From his beginnings in karate to his dynamic journey through crossfit, weightlifting, powerlifting, and strongman, he’s demonstrated the power of relentless pursuit. As he continues to evolve one thing is clear: Ramil’s commitment to growth and overall conditioning is a roadmap for anyone seeking to achieve great results in the realm of fitness. So, remember his parting words: Get strong, get conditioned, improve your technique, and who knows what remarkable feats you might achieve.
Ramil’s mental preparation is as impressive as his physical prowess. Confidence, careful attempt selection, and embracing challenging training scenarios have been his tools to conquer nerves and excel in competitions. His dedication to stretching, even dedicating separate days to it, has been a secret weapon for avoiding injuries and maintaining flexibility.
Through his commitment to growth, Ramil has paved a way for those aspiring to enter the realm of strength sports, especially for individuals not fitting the traditional mold of “big men.” His advice is clear: build a wide foundation, prioritize conditioning, and refine technique to excel even as a lightweight competitor.
Ramil’s journey is a testament to the spirit of relentless pursuit and continuous improvement. His words resonate as he urges everyone to get stronger, enhance their conditioning, and refine their techniques. In a world of evolving challenges and competitions, Ramil Javier stands as a shining example of what it means to be a true force in the world of strength sports.
In the world of strength sports, Ramil Javier’s journey is a symphony of dedication, resilience, and growth. From his karate beginnings to his multi-disciplinary approach, he has crafted a story that inspires and uplifts. His unyielding commitment to improvement, both physically and mentally, underscores the importance of pushing boundaries and embracing challenges.
As we wrap up this insightful interview, Ramil’s words echo in the minds of aspiring athletes: “Get strong, get conditioned, improve your technique.” With each step forward, with each weight lifted, and with each challenge conquered, Ramil’s story continues to resonate as a beacon of unwavering determination. So, wherever your path in the world of strength sports takes you, let Ramil’s journey remind you that the pursuit of excellence knows no limits.
