Martins Licis can’t be stopped, not even during quarantine.
Martins Licis has been busy during this quarantine working to keep himself in top shape while also taking time to partake in hobbies that seem to take a back seat. After winning the World Strongest Man in 2019, he was off to an electric start in 2020 before the pandemic hit. Winning the Arnold USA Strongman Classic and finishing third at the Arnold Strongman Classic in March, behind Hafthor Bjornsson and Mateusz Kieliszkowski, Licis appeared to be at the top of his game.
Since the pandemic hit, the Latvian-American strongman has worked tirelessly to stay in peak shape while also exploring those activities that tend to be left behind when such a busy schedule comes calling. Aside from training to lift monster trucks and squat insane amounts of weight, Licis has been able to take a step back and prioritize some of those overlooked necessities required for a professional athlete. Working with Squat University’s Dr. Aaron Horschig, Licis has been able to rehab some of the nagging problems that have caused pain and discomfort in competitions. Oh, and he’s been able to play video games and even paint during this social-distancing time in order to keep his mind and body in a healthy place.
Staying Fit
Licis has continued his training with a consistent and effective plan so when competition resumes, he remains a fierce contender for that top prize. In keeping with a consistent schedule, Licis has hosted virtual livestream workouts of he and Bjornsson. Having a fellow strongman to bounce ideas and workouts off of, while also maintaining that level of competition, albeit friendly, is crucial to staying at a high level. His “pop-up gym” videos give people ideas on how to stay fit during the pandemic when gyms remain closed or at minimal capacity. These offer him the platform to not only work out himself, but share advice on how to properly lift with solid and safe form to get the maximum benefit of each workout.
The quarantine has also allowed Licis to focus more on his diet and has provided ample opportunity to cook more. With his busy schedule on hold, he’s been able to experiment with his calorie intake and explore other options when it comes to nutrition. Without the pressure of fueling up for competitions, Licis has taken this opportunity to eat healthier and smarter.
Leading up to competitions, he usually consumes a mass amount of calories in the ballpark of 7,000 to 10,000 calories, but since the pandemic hit, he has shortened it to around 5,000 calories daily. Although significantly lower, his intake remains quite high. Eating at least three decent sized meals, with smaller ones sprinkled in between, his diet consists of eggs, English muffins, vegetables, fruit, and of course, more hearty options like steak, potatoes and an assortment of greens. Despite the mass amount of calories he still consumes, he certainly eats incredibly healthy.
Rehabbing
As a professional athlete, Licis is no stranger to working through pain and although he is able to do so, it doesn’t mean he should. This time off has allowed him to rehab and fix those issues that have plagued him for so long. His left knee had been a constant source of discomfort for close to two years and an MRI showed a slight tear in his meniscus, a thin cartilage between joints, and minor degradation in the cartilage surrounding the knee. His right hamstring tendon also caused Licis pain for close to a year and a half. Teaming up with Dr. Aaron Horschig at Squat University, the two have been able to work through ways to beat the pain and get Licis to a better spot competitively.
After careful evaluation, surgery was ruled off the table and Licis began a physical therapy regiment that consisted of various hip exercises and joint mobilization exercises to improve both strength and function. Working with squats in particular, for his knee and hamstring pain limited his ability to attack squats to his full potential, Licis was able to lift lighter and perfect this technique and within no time, he was back to squatting those insane numbers. To think that Licis was such a force with all of these nagging injuries and ailments should scare the rest of the field for when competition resumes, he will be stronger than ever both physically and mentally.
More Time For Hobbies
You may not expect that Licis, nicknamed “King Dragon”, would have hobbies, but it appears he’s just like the rest of us. Aside from his consistent workout regiments, increase in culinary skills, and rehabbing, Licis has picked up the brush and begun to paint. He has said he enjoys acrylics more than oils showing this is something he genuinely enjoys. “I love painting people”, Licis said. “Our brains are wired to see imperfections or notice things are off in the human face or figure more than anything else in nature.” He added that he loved the challenge of it all and knowing his competitive personality, it should be no secret that Licis views painting with the same approach as competition.
Along with painting, Licis has enjoyed unwinding with video games and Overwatch is his primary choice. In the world of Esports, Overwatch has become a staple game and Licis has been vocal about how much he loves it. He also posts regularly to his YouTube account which has amassed over 160,000 followers.
An Unstoppable Force
Licis is truly a force of nature and fans should be excited to see what he does once competition resumes. It seems that the pandemic and quarantine haven’t stopped this strongman from overcoming all challenges in order to progress competitively, while also keeping his mind and body in peak shape. The 2020 World’s Strongest Man Competition has been postponed to November and Licis is sure to be a stark competitor as he looks to defend his title of the world’s strongest man.
Let us know how you think Martins Licis will do once quarantine ends! Be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Martins Licis Instagram
