Rashid Shabazz

Roc Shabazz after winning 1st place at the 2010 Phoenix Pro in Arizona

Rashid Shabazz, known professionally by the nickname “Roc”, is an American IFBB Pro Champion, celebrity fitness trainer, and business owner.

Best known for his accomplishments in the bodybuilding industry, Roc spent many years under the mentorship of eight-time Mr.Olympia, Lee Haney.[1][2][3][4] He took home 1st place in the 2010 Phoenix Pro in Arizona,[5][6] and 2nd in the Orlando Europa Pro that same year[7][8]

Early life and education

The oldest of three boys raised by their mother, Rashid’s formative years were spent in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.[4] Upon graduating from Bay High School, where he was a letterman in football, baseball, and tennis,[9] Roc attended Jackson State University on a baseball scholarship to further his education.[3]

He graduated from JSU in 1990 with a Bachelor's degree in Business,[10] and was the first in his family to graduate from a 4-year institution. During his college years was also when Roc first found notoriety, having set an, at the time, all-time state record for a 318lb bench-press – when weighing in at only 132lbs (and 5’5) himself.[4][9]

Bodybuilding & IFBB career

In 1991, Roc moved to Atlanta to study under the tutelage of Lee Haney, who he credits with much of his success.[2][1][4][3] Under his guidance, Roc spent the next six years learning and living the intricacies of competitive bodybuilding.[11][12] During this time was also when Roc met his longtime training partner Jonathan Rowe.[13][4] In 1999, he chose to compete in his first local qualifying show, the Eastern Seaboard Bodybuilding Championship, where he took home the titles for Middleweight and Overall Champion. [14]

Desiring to compete at a higher level and earn IFBB Pro Status, Roc participated and placed in multiple National Physique Committee Nationals shows in the Light-Heavyweight Division between 2001 and 2003.[15] He earned his IFBB Pro status in 2004, when he took home the Championship title for the light-heavyweights at the NPC Nationals in Dallas, Texas.[16][17][1][4][18][19]

After obtaining Pro Status, Shabazz would go on to compete and place in numerous professional shows between 2006 and 2008, including: the Australian Pro Grand Prix, the San Francisco Grand Prix, the IronMan Pro in Pasadena,[20] the New York Pro,[21] the Europa Supershow in Dallas,[8][22] and the Tampa Pro in Florida.[23]

Business endeavors

Shabazz became a business owner in 2007 after opening his first fitness facility, Fitness Pros Wellness Center/Fitness Pro2000, in Georgia.[10] His focus was on developing and blending workout regimes with nutritional meal plans to suit the individual,[24][25] and has also stated a preference for training some clients in groups for the motivational effect.[26] He was named "Chief Fitness Officer" for Shaquille O'Neal,[27][28][29] and has trained other professional athletes[30][31] like Shannon Sharpe,[31][30] Ray Lewis,[27] and various physique competitors.[32][33][34]

In addition to personal training,[24][35] Roc has worked as a motivational speaker, IFBB special guest,[36] promoter and host,[37] and corporate consultant. He has also been featured in numerous publications, television shows, and radio specials,[38][39][40][41] including FLEX magazine,[42][43][44] Muscle & Fitness,[27] Iron Man magazine,[45][46] Muscular Development,[47] ProSource,[1][4] and Body Fitness.[48]

Shabazz currently owns and operates ROC Fitness, his fitness and personal training facility in Sandy Springs, GA.[49]

Personal life

Roc met and married his long-time friend, Gina,[50] in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. Also a fitness trainer and business partner,[51] Gina and Roc share three children together, two daughters and a son, from previous relationships[52][51]

Bodybuilding titles

YEAR COMPETITION CLASS PLACEMENT
1999 NPC Eastern Seaboard BB Championship, Atlanta Middleweight/Overall Champion[14]
2001 NPC Nationals, Atlanta Middleweight 8th[16]
2002 NPC Nationals, Dallas Light-Heavyweight 4th[16]
2003 NPC Nationals, Miami Light-Heavyweight 2nd[16]
2004 NPC Nationals, Dallas Light-Heavyweight Champion (earned IFBB Pro status)[46][16][17]
2006 Australian Pro Grand Prix, Queensland 8th
2006 San Francisco Grand Prix Pro Debut 9th
2007 IronMan Pro, Pasadena 13th[20]
2007 Sacramento Pro, California 13th[53]
2008 New York Pro[21] Open & 202 Class 11th (both)[54]
2008 Europa Supershow, Dallas 2nd[8][22]
2008 Tampa Pro, Florida[23] Open & 202 Class 14th (Open) & 5th (202 Class)[16]
2008 Mr. Olympia Showdown, Las Vegas 6th[51]
2010 Phoenix Pro, Arizona 202 Class 1st[45][55][5][6]
2010 Europa Pro, Orlando 202 Class 2nd[7][8]
2010 Mr. Olympia Showdown, Las Vegas 11th[56]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Roc's Reality Back Workout". Prosource. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  2. ^ a b Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. pp. 182, 184, 186.
  3. ^ a b c McGlashan, Lara (July 2009). "School of Roc". MuscleMag International. pp. 230–?.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Roc Solid Back". Prosource. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
  5. ^ a b Roc Shabazz After Winning the 2010 Phoenix Pro 202!, retrieved 2022-09-06
  6. ^ a b "Roc Shabazz talks 202 before the Arnold". www.musculardevelopment.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  7. ^ a b IFBB pro bodybuilding - 2010 Europa Orlando 202 pound class, retrieved 2022-09-06
  8. ^ a b c d Roc Shabazz After Placing 2nd at the 2010 Europa Show of Champions- Orlando 202 Class!., retrieved 2022-08-31
  9. ^ a b Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. pp. 182–188.
  10. ^ a b Valezquez, Eric (August 2007). "School of Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. pp. 198–202.
  11. ^ Goodlad, Terry (January 2007). "Roc-Solid Triceps". FLEX Magazine. pp. 108–110.
  12. ^ Goodlad, Terry (June 2005). "ROC HARD". FLEX Magazine. pp. 158–160.
  13. ^ Goodlad, Terry (January 2007). "Roc-Solid Triceps". FLEX Magazine.
  14. ^ a b Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 184.
  15. ^ Goodlad, Terry (January 2007). "Roc-Solid Triceps". FLEX Magazine. p. 111.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "USAMuscle | Rashid "Roc" Shabazz". usamuscle.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  17. ^ a b "The Contest Guru March 04". musculardevelopment.com. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  18. ^ Goodlad, Terry (June 2005). "ROC HARD". FLEX Magazine. p. 156.
  19. ^ Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 186.
  20. ^ a b "2007 Ironman Pro Invitational - IFBB". www.musclememory.com. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  21. ^ a b Roc Shabazz - 2008 New York Pro, retrieved 2022-09-06
  22. ^ a b "Contest Results | GMV Bodybuilding DVDs – Male & Female Bodybuilding DVDs – GMV Productions". www.gmv.com.au. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  23. ^ a b Tampa Bay Pro Bodybuilding: Roc Shabazz, retrieved 2022-09-06
  24. ^ a b TRAINER | Roc Shabazz, retrieved 2022-09-06
  25. ^ Schmidt, Julian (July 2007). "From Hardgainer to Roc Hard". FLEX Magazine. pp. 231–236.
  26. ^ GoldenMuscles (2010-08-10). "Roc Shabazz motivates workouts". Anabolic Muscles. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  27. ^ a b c vkim (2021-06-14). "Shaq's Trainer Wants to Challenge You to 'Roc' the Summer". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  28. ^ Solomon, Dan (March 2020). "Shaq, He's One of Us!". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 16.
  29. ^ Ray, Shawn (2020-01-24). "Shaquille O'Neil named 2020 Mr. Olympia Honorary Ambassador". DigitalMuscle.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  30. ^ a b Merritt, Greg (October 2006). "Looking Sharpe". FLEX Magazine. pp. 230–232.
  31. ^ a b Ferda, Tom (May 2011). "Roc Hard Fitness". Modern Luxury Magazine. p. 72.
  32. ^ "Ashley Bell". PoseDown Magazine. September 2011. pp. 22–23.
  33. ^ "Success Story: Sonja Lynch Bruce". Iron Man Magazine. February 2006. pp. 289–290.
  34. ^ "Back In The Saddle". Trendsetters to Trendsetters Magazine. May 2011. pp. 24–25.
  35. ^ Velazquez, Eric (August 2007). "School of Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 196.
  36. ^ "Central Texas Showdown". PoseDown Magazine. January 2012. p. 4.
  37. ^ "NPC ROC Atlanta Extravaganza". Southern Muscle Guide. August 21, 2021. p. 56.
  38. ^ "Roc Shabazz & Grigori Atoyan!". RX Muscle's "Heavy Muscle Radio". February 20, 2010.
  39. ^ "Trey Brewer, Roc Shabazz, & Shawn Ray". No Bull Radio. August 18, 2008.
  40. ^ Gardner, Tim (June 28, 2010). "Tricky Jackson, Roc Shabazz, & Jose Raymond". Muscular Development Radio.
  41. ^ "Talking with Brian Dobson and Roc Shabazz". BlogTalkRadio. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  42. ^ Schmidt, Julian (June 2007). "Bringing Back Gym Class". FLEX Magazine. p. 70.
  43. ^ "Run the Rack with Rashid "Roc" Shabazz". FLEX Magazine. November 2008. p. 106.
  44. ^ Baker, Vicki. "Question of the Month: Rashid "Roc" Shabazz". FLEX Magazine. p. 277.
  45. ^ a b Teper, Lonnie (2010-02-22). "Thanks Shawn, Sorry Melvin -". www.ironmanmagazine.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  46. ^ a b "Not Middle of the Road". IronMan Magazine. March 2005. p. 168.
  47. ^ "Roc Shabazz talks 202 before the Arnold". www.musculardevelopment.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  48. ^ Taylor, Jim. "The ABC's According to Roc Shabazz". Body Fitness Magazine (Spanish Edition). pp. 80–86.
  49. ^ "Roc Fitness - Sandy Springs, Ga". www.rocfitness.net. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  50. ^ Seifel, Steve (February 2005). "5 Year Plan". FLEX Magazine. p. 50.
  51. ^ a b c Fuchko, Bekah (2017-02-09). "Bodybuilding, a woman's business". Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  52. ^ Velazquez, Eric (August 2007). "School of Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 198.
  53. ^ "2007 Sacramento Pro - IFBB". www.musclememory.com. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  54. ^ dokelly (2008-05-11). "2008 NEW YORK PRO FINAL RESULTS". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  55. ^ etheme.com. "ANDREW OYE'S IFBB PRO CONTEST REPORT: IFBB PRO ROC SHABAZZ ROCKS TO VICTORY AT PHOENIX PRO BODYBUILDING CHAMPIONSHIPS 202 DIVISION". Prosource. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
  56. ^ "Competitor History of the 202-212 Olympia | IFBB PRO". 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2022-09-06.