THE
BRITISH
REVIVAL
could gather more
momentum this year if the
latest contender—Samson
Dauda—proves to be half as
mighty as his name suggests.
According to the Bible,
Samson was blessed with
superhuman strength but
lost it when his hair was cut.
Although this Samson is
considerably stronger than
most mortals, he’s actually
better known in bodybuilding
circles for his aesthetics
rather than for being able to
pull apart pillars. Perhaps he
needs to drop the bald look.
In fact, Dauda—whose family
moved from Nigeria when he was
12—used to be a bit puny. “I was
always known as ‘that tall, skinny
guy’ ” he says. He started lifting
weights at the age of 25 to bulk up
for rugby, as he weighed just 165
pounds. Since then he has piled
on almost 100 pounds of muscle.
His potential soon became
apparent, but he almost had to be
dragged onstage for his first
contest in 2014. “I refused point
blank to enter at first because I
didn’t feel comfortable stepping
in front of hundreds of people
wearing just my underwear,” he
says. He agreed to do just one
contest, but when he won the
first-timers and the overall, he
thought he might be on to
something. When he finished third
in the super-heavyweights at the
following year’s British
Championships, he knew he was.
At last year’s national
championships, he finished second
to the drier James Hollingshead,
who has also turned pro. A week
later Dauda nailed his condition at
the Diamond Cup in Italy to win
the overall and join the paid
ranks. “I went on the stage with
the best combination of size,
aesthetics, and conditioning that I
have achieved so far,” he says.
ARMED FOR BATTLE
Dauda is the first to admit he
needs more size to cause a ripple
in the pro league. Aesthetics alone
won’t be enough. His daily diet
includes two chocolate brownies
and a flapjack just to get enough
calories in.
“I struggle to put on mass,” he
says. “I have a crazy metabolism
that can find me dropping pounds of
weight in very little time regardless
of how much food I put in.”
But having gained so much
size so quickly, he knows it can be
done. His goal is to reach the
Olympia, and he doesn’t have to
look far for inspiration. “Nathan
inspires me,” he says. “One year I
was watching him on a British
stage, then suddenly he was at
the Olympia. I think if he can do it,
what’s holding me back?”
Dauda wants to emulate the
physiques from the last time British
bodybuilders were successful.
“The ’90s was one of the best eras,”
he says. “That’s what I aspire to,
and I think I have the same shape
and muscle bellies. I won’t be the
biggest guy onstage, but if I can
bring in tight condition and detail I
DAUDA’S ARM WORKOUT
EXERCISE
SETS
REPS
BICEPS
142
EXERCISE
SETS REPS
4 20
(warmup)
TRICEPS
Dumbbell Curl 1 20 (warmup)
Dumbbell Curl 3 12–14
EZ-bar Curl 4 15, 12, 12, 12
FLEX | MARCH ’18
Close-grip Bench
Pushup
Rope Extension 4 12
Overhead Extension 4 12
DAUDA’S
TRAINING
SPLIT
MONDAY
Chest and arms
TUESDAY
Quads
WEDNESDAY
Shoulders
and calves
THURSDAY
Back and traps
FRIDAY
Hamstrings
and glutes
SATURDAY
Shoulders
and sometimes
back
SUNDAY
Rest
DAUDA’S
SAMPLE
MEAL
PLAN
MEAL 1
5 scrambled eggs
cooked with
butter or clarified
butter and 100g of
oats
MEAL 2
Dumplings with
pork steak,
avocado, and chili
sauce, plus a
chocolate brownie
MEAL 3
Potatoes with
beef steak and
avocado plus a
flapjack
MEAL 4
Rice with chicken
breast, avocado,
and chili sauce,
plus a chocolate
brownie
MEAL 5
(PRE-WORKOUT)
Minced beef, rice,
and vegetables
POST-WORKOUT
Mass gainer
MEAL 6
Noodles and
chicken breast