LEAD MAGAZINE | 2019
“I enjoyed the
strength side of it, as
well as the speed and
technical component.
I also appreciate the
psychological side of
competing, and the
internal challenge
of attempting a
weight you’ve never
lifted before.”
Phillip has now won the New Zealand senior
title in his weight grade three times, and picked
up a bronze medal on three occasions at the
Oceana Champs. He is the current national
record holder of the Snatch, Clean and Jerk,
and Combined records for his junior weight
grade. In 2017, Phillip competed in the World
Masters, finishing fourth in his weight/age
division. Despite a few serious injuries along
the way, Phillip remains passionate about
the sport.
“The fitness industry is a good one to work
in because health is the underlying element.
Without health a person’s quality of life is badly
compromised, regardless of their financial
status.”
But Phillip’s story doesn’t stop here.
A career in fitness ignited in Phillip a deep
love for teaching people. Not only did he
enjoy seeing people develop their knowledge,
witnessed the remarkable opportunities that
came with a boosted self-confidence. Yet,
Phillip identified massive holes in the way the
medical industry explains human movements,
making way for a deep interest in the history
and workings of the human anatomy. Opening
the door to another field of study.
Figurative art.
By now it was clear to Phillip that he gravitates
towards analytical thought as well as the
academia. He started to crave creative projects,
which inspired a furthermore intense study of
the works of Michael Angelo and Leonardo
Da Vinci. Phillip’s unique combination of skills
allowed him to view living anatomy from
creative and scientific viewpoints. To the point
where key interest in sculpture developed.
“The medical industry over complicate the way
in which they explain human movement. This
lead me to New York where I got involved in
a research project on anatomical models, with
an emphasis on living or functional anatomy.
From their Creative Technology Department
- one of teachers was on the research
committee that awarded grants. He could see
the potential of the project so called a meeting
to look at collaborating”.
What started as a collaborative project had
quickly turned into a focus on the animation
of three-dimensional anatomical models.
An invitation from the Academy of Art in
New York in 2016 has opened the doors to
working closely with Wellington’s Institute
of Technology (WelTec). Together with
their Creativity department, Phillip now
uses photogrammetry to determine the
measurements of three-dimensional models.
Not bad for a weight lifting champion!
“I guess my career has built itself up. It is like
a natural flow of my life and opportunities
which I have simply grabbed and went with
it. I don’t know where it will evolve to, but
I do pay attention to the flow of energy. The
construction industry had a negative energy
and anatomy seems to create a positive flow
for me”.
Phillip has tried to get into the New York
Academy of Art for a long time. Suddenly
things started to work when he spoke to one
of the Institution’s Coordinators who informed
him of their Residency Program, a unique
month-long Summer Residency Program in
New York City for talented and ambitious
undergraduates. One thing lead to another,
and soon Phillip found himself awarded
with a grant from the school. The Research
Department at WelTec then volunteered to
pay for Phillip’s travel expenses to New York,
and as they say, the rest is history.
Phillip never boxes himself into ONE belief
system or area of expertise. When asked what
sees him through the tough times in his life, he
had two answers. One, weight lifting defines
him as a person. And two, the idea that he
doesn’t give up easily. He beliefs that no
successful person ever had things just coming
their way without overcoming hardships and
issues.
“Psychology is the driving force getting you
to where you have your breakthrough. My
experience has taught me not to build your
success on resources, but on overcoming the
mind. You have to have conscious thoughts as
to what you value in life and you shouldn’t link
that to things or people”.
Phillip like to think that people will remember
him as someone that gave everything a
go, even against all odds. He certainly is
not someone who gives up on life. His
grandmother migrated to the United States of
America when she was only sixteen years old,
and that without the ability to speak English
and with no foreseeable return to Europe.
She taught Phil to see things through until
they work out and to never to give up until
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