The willpower to rise for 6 a.m. intense workouts, the right diet and a solid work ethic are what create a professional bodybuilder.

University alumnus Brandon Hendrickson was awarded his professional bodybuilding card after winning the National Physique Committee, or NPC, National Bodybuilding Championship in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Nov 23.

While his family is originally from Trinidad, Hendrickson was born in Chicago and raised there by parents David and Anne. He graduated from SIU in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management.

David now works as a technician at a printing company, while Anne recently retired from her job as an accountant at United Airlines.

Anne Hendrickson said while growing up, her son was rambunctious boy, who always loved sports, and was not surprised when he had mentioned wanting to become a body builder.

“We had him in everything from swimming, karate, football, (and) soccer,” she said. “Just name it and he was in it. Whatever he wants to do, he will do.”

During high school, Hendrickson ran track, wrestled and played football. This is where he says he really got into lifting weights.

“I was working out like three times a day,” Hendrickson said.

While in college, Hendrickson was a part of a modeling organization called Essence Fashion Models, where students practice runway walking, posing and are able to travel and compete in fashion shows.

Upon graduation, Hendrickson worked as a manager at Central DuPage Hospital.

Hendrickson said his time at SIU helped him understand the anatomy of the body and how it responds to different diet and training methods.

He attended his first amateur show in 2012, and was instantly inspired to begin bodybuilding.

“I just pictured myself up there because I knew I had the potential and the foundations for it,” he said. “I just needed to start working out again and eating right.”

Hendrickson began his training in March 2012, and took second place in his first competition at the July 2012 NPC Chicago Extravaganza. Since then, he has competed six other times in amateur shows.

On May 18, Hendrickson met his soon to be friend and coach, Mandus Buckle at the NPC Grand Prix bodybuilding show in Rockford.

“I told him I said, ‘Hey kid, you’re going to win the overall, go send me your paperwork to be sure you’re eligible to go to junior nationals,’” Buckle said, “And he says, ‘No, you haven’t seen anybody else and I haven’t been on stage yet’ and I just kind of laughed and said, ‘File your paperwork and if you need any help give me a call.’”

After not keeping in touch for a full month, they were reunited again at junior nationals on June 15.

“Right after junior nationals, he got off stage, he placed, I believe sixth or seventh at juniors,” Buckle said. “Then when I saw him he approached me and said, ‘Man I need your help,’ and I said, ‘Lets do it.’”

Competitions consist of several events throughout the day, such as bodybuilding, women’s figure and women’s bikini. Hendrickson competes in the men’s physique division, which is divided into height classes. Hendrickson is in class B, for heights 5’7 and three quarters to 5’8 and three quarters.

Hendrickson said local shows usually have five judges whereas national ones have around 10.

“Everyone stands there in front of the judges and the judges check us out. Then they do single posing, so each competitor goes up there and poses by themself,” he said. “Then they put us in a group and call out top five.”

Buckle said many components are examined while judging these shows, and that stage presence is a huge variable.

“They’re looking for structure, shape, obviously conditioning and also presentation on stage,” Buckle said. “You know, you can have a great physique, but if you don’t know how to show it, present it, it doesn’t look that good on stage.”

In order to keep and improve his figure, Hendrickson frequents the gym twice a day, five days a week. He consistently trains with heavy weights doing low repetitions, and runs in the morning.

Buckle said he is big on giving Hendrickson motivational talks, which help him get excited for a long day of vigorous training.

“He’ll get pumped up and go and do another killer workout,” he said. “He’s just really happy and positive all the time, we just feed off of each other’s energy constantly.”

Hendrickson said his diet consists of six meals a day, with plenty of oats, chicken, sweet potatoes and vegetables, and always with egg whites as his last meal of the day. He said this can become quite expensive.

“It can become a little pricey because you’re consistently eating six meals each day,” he said. “I’m going through a carton of eggs a day.”

Depending on the show, bodybuilders can make a good living, especially when endorsed by brand-name companies.

Since becoming a professional, Hendrickson is in the process of sending letters to companies looking for sponsorships, which if approved, will pay for supplement products and help travel fees.

Hendrickson said becoming a bodybuilder is easier than most would imagine, and with much perseverance, can be a goal met by anyone.

“The hard part is getting over that hump where you have to start dieting and being consistent and having discipline,” he said. “You just have to do it.”

Buckle said bodybuilding is still a growing sport, and until the recent addition of women’s bikini and men’s physique, many athletes were uninterested in the sport, as it would take years of commitment to be successful.

“They don’t want to start something and say they know they’re really not going to make it big until 7, 8, 9 years from now,” he said. “Whereas bikini and men’s physique, it’s more about genetics, but then hard work for sort of 1 to 3 years.”

In January, Buckle plans to open his new training gym, Underground, in Chicago and where Hendrickson will serve as fitness manager.

Hendrickson’s mentor, Darryl Phillip, 33, said although he is Hendrickson’s older cousin, they act as brothers, always looking out for one another. Phillip said being closely related helped him keep Hendrickson’s focus on what is important.

“With his recent successes, I was just trying to help him to keep his mind in the right place and really just try to keep him as positive as possible,” Phillip said.

Hendrickson said he is also hoping to work with a modeling adverting agency in the future, but for now, has his eyes on the 2014 Olympia Bodybuilding Competition.

“(It’s) the biggest show, the Olympia, first place gets $20,000 dollars,” he said.

The competition will be held next year in Las Vegas on September 18 through the 21.

“Our goal and our plans are to have Brandon on the Olympia’s stage in 2014 in his rookie year and we’re planning on what we need to do to get to the Olympia,” Buckle said.

In order to make the Olympia, Hendrickson must win a professional showcase or qualify with enough “professional points” by the end of the year.

“So depending on where you place in your pro shows you earn points, and the top five point earners then qualify so it’s very, very tough to make it to the Olympia stage,” Buckle said. “There will literally be hundreds of guys across the country that all want to accomplish the same thing.”

While Buckle is confident Hendrickson will stand out and succeed his goal, only about 15 to 20 competitors will make it to the Olympia stage.

“We’re not being cocky, but our plan is to have Brandon on the Olympia stage and we believe that’s going to happen, so that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.

Luke Nozicka can be reached at [email protected] 

or 536-3311 ext 254.