Big Dave Smith: AMA Thread/Journal

[Big Dave Smith]

Hey people. I've been a member on the board for... damn near forever. Started competing in 2003 and am still actively competing. I'm one of the best of the worst bodybuilders (or one of the worst, best bodybuilders) on this board. I'm also a first degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and still actively training while bodybuilding. Throughout the years, I've worked with some really helpful people. The vets and sponsors on this board have treated me really well.

If all goes well with work and life, I'll be competing again in 2025 in the over 40 division.

I'm starting this thread for several reasons.
-To share training, PED, and diet stuff that I'm playing with.
-To be very honest and transparent about everything I do as a super heavyweight competitor.
-To answer any questions members may have.

Updates to follow.

 

[weedle]

Serious question.
How bad could you kick Mike Isreatels ass

 

[aimanabolic]

Very nice physique

How often are you training Brazilian Jiujitsu, I'm sure that burns a ton of calories.

 

[bbxtreme]

Excited to follow this and glad you decided to start the thread. Guys have a lot more to learn from the vets like you than they do the younger guys like me.

Your post and the other vets over the years molded me into the bodybuilder I am. Hope others can take away the same as I did.

 

[Big Dave Smith]

Serious question.
How bad could you kick Mike Isreatels ass

Mike and I trained BJJ together when he was purple into brown and when I was brown into black.

BJJ guys don't discuss training like that out of respect. What happens on the mat, stays on the mat. It creates a better environment for everyone.

He's a very smart grappler, strategic in his thinking. He doesn't use a full arsenal, his game is very top dominant. If he's on his back, he DOES NOT like to be there. Very efficient, but limited gas tank.

My game is very broad. Butterfly, half guard, leg locks, inversions. I'd rather sweep from bottom to get on top, or I'm cool working from my guard. Very lazy and sticky. I can roll for a long, long time without getting tired.

He uses more muscle, I use more misdirection and longer term planning (setting up subs and sweeps over the course of time).

Our games are similar in some ways, polar opposites in others. It made for GREAT training.

Honestly, I miss him as a training partner.

 

[Big Dave Smith]

Very nice physique

How often are you training Brazilian Jiujitsu, I'm sure that burns a ton of calories.

Right now, twice a week. When I get more time, I'll bump it to 3 days soon. Those days include active drilling with 5-10 hard rolls @ 5 min/round.

 

[luki7788]

I'm very curious about what your offseason will look like because it seems to me that at this point in your advancement you're not focusing on adding size but rather on improving some weaker muscle groups.

 

[juiceball44]

You look great and I’m jealous you do bjj I always wanted to start but my shoulders are shot one wrong pull and I’d be done.

I'd be interested in rough estimate of macros during off season and prep. Also height and weight during each. Thanks

 

[Big Dave Smith]

You look great and I’m jealous you do bjj I always wanted to start but my shoulders are shot one wrong pull and I’d be done.

I'd be interested in rough estimate of macros during off season and prep. Also height and weight during each. Thanks

I'm working on a food journal as we speak. In the past, I always estimated. Since August, I've been logging every morsel of food in a hand written journal.

Snippets will definitely be included, with photos and daily averages.

 

[Swifto]

How many cals do you need to grow?

Favourite bulking AAS stack, including doses?

Any drugs you just don't like/get on with due to side effects?

Current training split? Has your training changed over the years?

 

[bjjgear]

Hey Dave, thanks for doing this. Late 40's BJJ brown belt here. I've just started bodybuilding about 9 months ago and love the lifestyle, the sport, the training, the diet, and the PED's. I'm having a hell of a time balancing my training. Can you share your weekly schedule? How often do you lift versus grapple? Do you ever do 2-a-day's?

Regarding PED's, what do you think has the most positive impact on your grappling? I've found < 500mg test alone to be the only thing with a positive effect. Anything beyond that makes my lifting better but my training suffers in multiple ways, primarily on the cardio side. Care to comment on how you manage that? Thank you!

 

[FK86]

Your flexibility and mobility are great. Even more so given the amount of muscle you carry. You once mentioned in a thread you had better results from dynamic stretching than static. What type of routine and at what frequency do you use in order to get like that?

 

[nothuman]

You’ve been here FOREVER. Just posting to pay my respects

 

[Big Dave Smith]

I'm very curious about what your offseason will look like because it seems to me that at this point in your advancement you're not focusing on adding size but rather on improving some weaker muscle groups.

I’ll always take more size. My weak points are the result of genetic disadvantages and injuries, so it’s not like they’re going to grow a TON… but we’ll see.

I guess I just won’t be pushing body weight super high due to age and because I don’t want to risk getting too soft.

Hard to say because I haven’t “decided” to compete or add muscle in 7 years. 2024 was a last minute decision. No offseason. I was just maintaining and took the momentum of a causal summer cut into a prep.

Interested to see what the outcome of focusing on it for a year will bring.

 

[alfresco]

Big Dave. It would be great if you started a log (in the Members Logs) so we could follow your prep for competition and ask you questions along the way.

Give it some thought please. I know it would be closely followed.

 

[Yousef12O2]

So how is your diet and cycle looking like right now? Looking great btw brother

 

[Dens228]

I'll be following this for sure.

 

[td]

How often do you consult with @DOGGCRAPP and @homonunculus anymore? Planning on implementing anything new and promising for this competition?

 

[thethinker48]

Any advice on preventing injuries in BJJ (and/or rehabbing from injuries)

I started BJJ seriously after hurting my knee a year ago. It seems like I developed a very stiff spine as a result of heavy lifting for many years, and ended up hurting my neck (herniated disk) wrestling one day. Rehabbing and coming back to 100% slowly from that now but always looking to learn how to be more mobile/better.

 

[Thahulk]

Whats your contest prep stack look like as a super heavy? I know from past discussions with you that you usually dont push doses to high.