UK-based Men’s Open powerhouse Nathan De Asha is mapping out his respective 2023 bodybuilding season. In an interview with Muscular Development, De Asha discussed training, injuries, diet, Samson Dauda, and his game plan for qualifying for this year’s Mr. Olympia.
“Yeah, I’ll be fuc**ng rock hard, I’ll be fuc**ng rock hard [If I meet Samson Dauda again],” De Asha shared discussing this year’s Olympia contest.
Despite his recent hiatus, Nathan De Asha is a proven force as a Men’s Open competitor courtesy of his massive arms, popping chest, and capped shoulders. He enjoyed a stellar 2021 season which saw him claim back-to-back titles at the Europa Pro Championships and Arnold Classic UK. En route to earning gold in the U.K., De Asha defeated a lesser-known Samson Dauda, who has since gone on to find great success in the league.
De Asha’s momentum in Europe wouldn’t stop in his native country as he made an appearance at the 2021 Yamamoto Cup, once again laying claim to the top prize, and in the process, outpointing bronze-finisher Samson Dauda as well as runner-up Roelly ‘The Beast’ Winklaar on the scorecards.
While De Asha has been nursing a pair of shoulder injuries for some time, it appears a comeback is on the horizon this year. The Open bodybuilding star joined Giles Thomas for an honest interview about where he intends to take his career in the coming months.
Nathan De Asha Lays Out Aggressive 2023 Mr. Olympia Campaign; Talks Battling Samson Dauda
De Asha’s goal is to win a number of pro shows in Europe to prevent other contenders from making their way to the Olympia stage.
“All these new pros coming through… saying the old guard is gone, my intention this year is to get all these new apparently top five Olympias, take their fuc**ng Olympia spots away. So I’m going to Spain, few Brazilians are going, I’ll beat them. Go to Spain and hopefully go to Italy and see where we’re at, maybe France also, one of them, maybe one or two of them.”
Even though he’s been away from competition for only one year, De Asha is convinced fans and competitors have forgotten the physique he’s capable of crafting. He added that he’s happier and the heaviest he’s ever been in the 2023 off-season.
“People think I’ve been gone for years in this sport, I’ve only missed a year. I’ve missed one year you know what I mean. People think you’re never coming back but I’m here to show them it’s possible. And you know obviously, all the guys… I’ll just smoke them again mate, it’s just one of those things. I think people forget what I can bring.”
“I’m happy and heavier I’ve ever been before,” said De Asha. “I don’t like him as a person but I like his physique I’ll be honest. I don’t like him as a person but you have to like his physique. I was a bit mad the way – I don’t understand the judging to be totally honest at the Arnold. Why? I don’t see why Nick Walker got second if Samson won it, you should have put Andrew Jacked second, I would have anyway.”
“Seeing him doing well for himself, I congratulate him it’s probably the best Samson I’ve seen on stage, probably the biggest I’ve seen him, 290 pounds or something – absolutely massive. He and Milos are doing great things together. Hopefully, he can bring it to the Olympia this year,” added De Asha.
De Asha Address Bicep Tears, Training Details & Diet
De Asha revealed his training intensity will ramp up at the end of May. He’s been careful during training sessions to avoid additional injuries.
“We been like training end of May, June, started getting back to training hoping we can qualify this year’s Olympia. We know we can qualify doing a late show. Obviously thought of Patrick Jordan, he got behind me and told me things to do. I’ve been to the Pinatta studios and they got some new machines. They have this new incline biceps curl, didn’t like it,” added De Asha. “I was careful, I felt my ankle, literally felt like I snapped me arm, I said I’m not happy, it’s sore, it’s sore. They keep telling me to go through, go through. Kept on trying to do that shit, and came home the next day in agony.”
Despite some depression, De Asha said he’s gotten over his injuries and is determined not to let the adversity affect his mental outlook.
“Yeah it was a big deal [to overcome that injury] but I never took it serious. A lot of these guys, their heads go because that’s all he got mate. They take it so serious. For me, I’m good at it, and its something I like doing. A lot of guys take it serious and it gets to them. I’m not going to lie I was depressed because I didn’t go to the Olympia the year before, I didn’t believe I would have been the strongest at Olympia, and then I was like, ‘Fu** I should have done it,’ and this and that. But that year, 2021, was more about the money rather than placing in the Olympia.”
As far as nutrition is concerned, De Asha plans to start taking his diet more seriously in July.
“I need a bit more work but it’s coming. I just got to keep plugging a lot. I think I start dieting in July probably.”
One of the last times fans heard from De Asha, he discussed the controversial compound trenbolone. The popular drug has become a common tool used in the fitness and bodybuilding sectors. Despite its reputation for altering the mood, De Asha prefers the powerful compound because it makes him feel stronger year-round.
With a constantly changing Men’s Open division, Nathan De Asha would certainly be a wildcard should he qualify for the 2023 Mr. Olympia. Given his history with Samson Dauda, fans would love nothing more than to see the two square off on stage again.
RELATED: Nathan De Asha Tests Himself With A Killer Shoulder Workout