A young Kai with a massive future.

It’s been said once and it’ll be said for all eternity: bodybuilding is all about genetics. Or at least plays a big role. Genetics isn’t an excuse to ignore the importance of training hard, eating correctly, and doing all the right things to see the best result. What many people don’t understand is that bodybuilding is also about philosophy and having a healthy state of mind. As much as building muscle is about putting yourself through physical trauma in order to see great results, you have to take into consideration that how you approach the endeavor mentally is just as significant, if not more.

Ambition. It’s what an athlete needs if they wish to be a professional competitor in whatever sport they choose. Anyone whose thinking they can half ass it and become a pro athlete is going to have a pretty nasty wake up call. It takes single minded focus, a dedication that could even border on obsession in order to achieve greatness at the highest levels of professional athletic competition.

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For a bodybuilder it’s seeing where you want to take yourself and body in order to the best in the world. You have to be willing to climb the mountain of success until you reach the summit. You have to be willing to take the long an arduous road of trial and error until obtaining a physique that can challenge the other greats that came before. That word ambition is one to live by not only as a bodybuilder but as a person who craves success.

Apparently it’s a word that Kai Greene learned early on in his career. At only 17 the young Greene had already achieved a physique that most classic bodybuilders would have appreciated. He proved that his mindset was just as important as putting in the hard work to see change. It’s easy to look at Kai now and understand why he’s such an iconic bodybuilder. But take a look at this throwback pic of Kai at 17 and try to argue that he wasn’t a mentally focused young man already showing signs that he would one day become one of the greatest in the world.

#Tbt An ambitious 17 year old with laughable unrealistic goals, with one plan and one plan only #PlanA #BodyBuilding #KaiGreene

A photo posted by Kai Greene (@officialkaigreene) on Nov 5, 2015 at 5:10am PST

So what matters more, genetics or mental strength? Let us know what you think in the comments and forums. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

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