Rashid Shabazz, known professionally by the nickname “Roc”, is an American IFBB Pro Champion, celebrity fitness trainer, and business owner.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Roc_Shabazz_2010.jpg/220px-Roc_Shabazz_2010.jpg)
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
editThe 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
editIn 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
editShabazz 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
editRoc 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
editYEAR | 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
edit- ^ a b c d "Roc's Reality Back Workout". Prosource. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
- ^ a b Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. pp. 182, 184, 186.
- ^ a b c McGlashan, Lara (July 2009). "School of Roc". MuscleMag International. pp. 230–?.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Roc Solid Back". Prosource. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
- ^ a b Roc Shabazz After Winning the 2010 Phoenix Pro 202!, retrieved 2022-09-06
- ^ a b "Roc Shabazz talks 202 before the Arnold". www.musculardevelopment.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ a b IFBB pro bodybuilding - 2010 Europa Orlando 202 pound class, retrieved 2022-09-06
- ^ a b c d Roc Shabazz After Placing 2nd at the 2010 Europa Show of Champions- Orlando 202 Class!., retrieved 2022-08-31
- ^ a b Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. pp. 182–188.
- ^ a b Valezquez, Eric (August 2007). "School of Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. pp. 198–202.
- ^ Goodlad, Terry (January 2007). "Roc-Solid Triceps". FLEX Magazine. pp. 108–110.
- ^ Goodlad, Terry (June 2005). "ROC HARD". FLEX Magazine. pp. 158–160.
- ^ Goodlad, Terry (January 2007). "Roc-Solid Triceps". FLEX Magazine.
- ^ a b Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 184.
- ^ Goodlad, Terry (January 2007). "Roc-Solid Triceps". FLEX Magazine. p. 111.
- ^ a b c d e f "USAMuscle | Rashid "Roc" Shabazz". usamuscle.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ a b "The Contest Guru March 04". musculardevelopment.com. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ Goodlad, Terry (June 2005). "ROC HARD". FLEX Magazine. p. 156.
- ^ Donnelly, Shawn (June 2005). "Abs Like a Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 186.
- ^ a b "2007 Ironman Pro Invitational - IFBB". www.musclememory.com. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
- ^ a b Roc Shabazz - 2008 New York Pro, retrieved 2022-09-06
- ^ a b "Contest Results | GMV Bodybuilding DVDs – Male & Female Bodybuilding DVDs – GMV Productions". www.gmv.com.au. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ a b Tampa Bay Pro Bodybuilding: Roc Shabazz, retrieved 2022-09-06
- ^ a b TRAINER | Roc Shabazz, retrieved 2022-09-06
- ^ Schmidt, Julian (July 2007). "From Hardgainer to Roc Hard". FLEX Magazine. pp. 231–236.
- ^ GoldenMuscles (2010-08-10). "Roc Shabazz motivates workouts". Anabolic Muscles. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ a b c vkim (2021-06-14). "Shaq's Trainer Wants to Challenge You to 'Roc' the Summer". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ Solomon, Dan (March 2020). "Shaq, He's One of Us!". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 16.
- ^ Ray, Shawn (2020-01-24). "Shaquille O'Neil named 2020 Mr. Olympia Honorary Ambassador". DigitalMuscle.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
- ^ a b Merritt, Greg (October 2006). "Looking Sharpe". FLEX Magazine. pp. 230–232.
- ^ a b Ferda, Tom (May 2011). "Roc Hard Fitness". Modern Luxury Magazine. p. 72.
- ^ "Ashley Bell". PoseDown Magazine. September 2011. pp. 22–23.
- ^ "Success Story: Sonja Lynch Bruce". Iron Man Magazine. February 2006. pp. 289–290.
- ^ "Back In The Saddle". Trendsetters to Trendsetters Magazine. May 2011. pp. 24–25.
- ^ Velazquez, Eric (August 2007). "School of Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 196.
- ^ "Central Texas Showdown". PoseDown Magazine. January 2012. p. 4.
- ^ "NPC ROC Atlanta Extravaganza". Southern Muscle Guide. August 21, 2021. p. 56.
- ^ "Roc Shabazz & Grigori Atoyan!". RX Muscle's "Heavy Muscle Radio". February 20, 2010.
- ^ "Trey Brewer, Roc Shabazz, & Shawn Ray". No Bull Radio. August 18, 2008.
- ^ Gardner, Tim (June 28, 2010). "Tricky Jackson, Roc Shabazz, & Jose Raymond". Muscular Development Radio.
- ^ "Talking with Brian Dobson and Roc Shabazz". BlogTalkRadio. 22 March 2009. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ Schmidt, Julian (June 2007). "Bringing Back Gym Class". FLEX Magazine. p. 70.
- ^ "Run the Rack with Rashid "Roc" Shabazz". FLEX Magazine. November 2008. p. 106.
- ^ Baker, Vicki. "Question of the Month: Rashid "Roc" Shabazz". FLEX Magazine. p. 277.
- ^ a b Teper, Lonnie (2010-02-22). "Thanks Shawn, Sorry Melvin -". www.ironmanmagazine.com. Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ a b "Not Middle of the Road". IronMan Magazine. March 2005. p. 168.
- ^ "Roc Shabazz talks 202 before the Arnold". www.musculardevelopment.com. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
- ^ Taylor, Jim. "The ABC's According to Roc Shabazz". Body Fitness Magazine (Spanish Edition). pp. 80–86.
- ^ "Roc Fitness - Sandy Springs, Ga". www.rocfitness.net. Retrieved 2022-08-31.
- ^ Seifel, Steve (February 2005). "5 Year Plan". FLEX Magazine. p. 50.
- ^ a b c Fuchko, Bekah (2017-02-09). "Bodybuilding, a woman's business". Retrieved 2022-09-06.
- ^ Velazquez, Eric (August 2007). "School of Roc". Muscle & Fitness Magazine. p. 198.
- ^ "2007 Sacramento Pro - IFBB". www.musclememory.com. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
- ^ dokelly (2008-05-11). "2008 NEW YORK PRO FINAL RESULTS". Muscle & Fitness. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Competitor History of the 202-212 Olympia | IFBB PRO". 2 March 2011. Retrieved 2022-09-06.