INBA kid athlete Sojah Jackson discusses superstar vision in a Generation Iron interview.
The Generation Iron team had a phone interview with International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) kid athlete Sojah Jackson’s father and coach, Diontay Jackson. We discussed Sojah Jackson’s rise to 2021 Natural Olympia champion and the big aspirations Sojah Jackson plans to achieve.
Sojah Jackson is an INBA Kids and Teens Fitness competitor. He’s 12 years old and was the gold medal winner in the kid’s class at 2021 Natural Olympia in his second year competing. Sojah comes from a sports background and engaged in various sports before adding natural bodybuilding to his arsenal. He plays football and many combat sports, including boxing, muy Thai, and wrestling.
Sojah Jackson’s father, Diontay Jackson, says he structures Sojah’s training regimen based on the sports season. However, Diontay admits that it can be challenging to structure his bodybuilding training around his sports. For example, he has to be careful with leg hypertrophy during certain parts of the year depending on the sport Sojah is playing because it can affect his performance.
“If I loaded his legs, then it’s going to take away from his speed and agility training. I had to find a way to manipulate his training program with this.”
Segue to Natural Bodybuilding
Sojah’s favorite superhero is the Hulk, which first piqued his interest in bodybuilding. According to Diontay Jackson, Sojah aspired to look like his favorite superhero and was constantly flexing his muscles from a young age.
“Since he was little, his favorite character was Hulk. Ever since he was little we call him baby Hulk.”
Sojah asked his dad, “how can I look like superheroes?” Diontay encouraged his son that he could build the physique of a superhero, although he must do so naturally. That’s when Diontay did extensive research and knew that the INBA PNBA was the right move for his son.
Sojah Jackon’s Training and Nutrition
Below is a training clip of Sojah Jackson.
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Sojah’s workouts don’t include any weight training and instead have various other resistance training, such as calithenics, tire flips, waterbags, and sandbags. Jackson loads his muscle by increasing his muscle’s time under tension via prolonged reps – one rep will go through a 30-second eccentric (muscles lengthen) and 30-second concentric phase (muscles contract). He keeps in the 6-8 rep range and performs three sets.
Sojah trains about four days a week, but on his off days, he still puts in work in other ways, e.g., meditation and education. And on the seventh day, Sojah and his father have fun. They like to say the catchphrase “load and grow.”
Sojah Jackson limits processed foods and eats a high protein diet of 1.5g/lbs of bodyweight. As a result, he’s more flexible with carbs and fat, but his sugar intake is limited.
Sojah Jackson’s Aspirations and Personal LIfe
Sojah Jackson plans to be a superstar. He wants to be a WWE champion and bodybuilder. And his father told him one way to be a WWE superstar is through bodybuilding.
Sojah already chants the slogan, “Sojah Up.” Sojah’s name is an acronym for Showing Others Joy And Happiness. Diontay’s Jackson hopes his son can inspire other kids to enter the sport of natural bodybuilding.
Sojah Jackson spends his time outside of training and competing, learning about NFTs (non-fungible tokens) and cryptocurrencies. Jackson also likes riding scooters and being in nature. Sojah’s favorite bodybuilders include Arnold Schwarzeneggar, Ronnie Coleman, and Mike O’Hearn.
Sojah Jackson is currently prepping for the INBA PNBA’s upcoming show in May, Pikes Peak Classic, in Sojah’s Colorado home state.
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