Robby Robinson Profile & Stats

The biography, life, and accomplishments of Robby Robinson

Robby Robinson, also known as “The Black Prince” and “Mr Lifestyle”, is an American former professional bodybuilder. Known early in his career as Robin Robinson He competed in and won various competitions including Mr America, IFBB Mr. World, Mr Universe, Masters Olympia, and other titles of the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness (IFBB), and appeared in several films, including the infamous Pumping Iron, which also heavily profiled Arnold Schwarzenegger. His career as a professional bodybuilder lasted 27 years until he retired from competition in 2001 at the age of 55.

Below is a complete breakdown of his profile, stats, biography, training, and diet regimens.

Robby Robinson Biography

Robby Robinson was born in Damascus, Georgia, but he was raised in Tallahassee, Florida. His mhis father was a bootlegger who later abandoned his 14 children, and his mother was illiterate. After high school, Robinson attended Florida A&M University, where he competed in both football and track & field, showing that he had an athletic background. However, while he was training for those sports he noticed that his body had a great responsiveness to weight training, easily putting on muscle mass and keeping body fat low.

This motivated him to enter his first bodybuilding competition, and after competing in more than 300 amateur competitions, Robinson turned professional in 1975, and by that year he was married with three children.

Life as a Professional

In only his first year of being pro (1975), Robby Robinson won the IFBB Mr America, Mr World and Mr Universe titles. From there, Robbinson went on to win many IFBB contests, such as the first annual Night of the Champions in 1979 and the first Masters Olympia in 1994. He was the Masters Mr. Olympia overall champion the first year that the event was held in 1994. He also won the 50+ division at the same contest in 1997 and 2000.

In the 1977 part-scripted, part-documentary film on bodybuilding Pumping Iron, Robinson appeared as himself. His acting career did not end there however, as he also appeared in a 1989 TV documentary, in the 1997 documentary Stand Tall, and (uncredited) in the 1976 film Stay Hungry.

Now, Robinson is getting his own documentary, which we will touch on later.

Robby Robinson’s Retirement

Before he retired, it was discovered that Robinson suffers from intermittent bouts of sickle cell crisis. These episodes would often occur during contest preps, and became one of the reasons he decided to stop competing.

Robinson’s career went for 27 years until he retired from professional bodybuilding at the age of 55, but he has remained active in various ways, including being a personal trainer, lifestyle and bodybuilding coach, athlete, artist, and actor.

As a published author, Robinson published his autobiography, The Black Prince, in 2013. Another thing worth noting is that since his retirement in 2001, Robby has opposed steroid use in bodybuilding, saying that “it’s taking away from the beauty of bodybuilding, the artistry of it.”

Robby Robinson Competition History

Robinson’s competition history is as follows:

• 2000 – Mr Olympia – Masters Over 50, 1st
• 1997 – Mr Olympia – Masters Over 50, 1st
• 1994 – Mr Olympia – Masters – IFBB, Winner
• 1991 – Musclefest Grand Prix – IFBB, Winner
• 1989 – World Pro Championships – IFBB, Winner
• 1988 – Niagara Falls Pro Invitational – IFBB, Winner
• 1987 – Mr Olympia – IFBB, 5th
• 1981 – Mr Universe – Pro – NABBA, Winner
• 1979 – Pittsburgh Pro Invitational – IFBB, Winner
• 1979 – Night of Champions – IFBB, Winner
• 1979 – Grand Prix New York – IFBB, Winner
• 1979 – Best in the World – IFBB, Professional, 1st
• 1978 – Professional World Cup – IFBB, Winner
• 1978 – Night of Champions – IFBB, Winner
• 1978 – Mr Olympia Heavyweight, 1st
• 1977 – Mr Olympia – IFBB, Tall, 1st
• 1976 – Mr Universe – IFBB, MiddleWeight, 1st
• 1976 – Mr Universe – IFBB, Overall Winner
• 1976 – Mr International – IFBB, Medium, 1st
• 1976 – Mr International – IFBB, Overall Winner
• 1975 – Mr Universe – IFBB, Medium, 1st
• 1975 – Mr World – IFBB, Medium, 1st
• 1975 – Mr World – IFBB, Overall Winner
• 1975 – Mr America – IFBB, Medium, 1st
• 1975 – Mr America – IFBB, Overall Winner

Robby Robinson Workout Routine

Robby Robinson’s training routine is old school with attention to detail, he mixes up machines as well as free weights and claims that he never got any training related injuries from it. Unlike modern bodybuilders, he does not overly rely on modern machinery and equipment and is a big believer of basic compound exercises.

Robinson’s training split lasts for two weeks and is divided into two parts: the heavy week and light week. Robbinson follows a three days on, one day off routine and structures the workouts to the last detail.

During the heavy week, the focus lies on putting the muscles under tension for as long as possible; and during the light week emphasizes on getting a good pump and stimulating the muscles to stay active. It is like a powerbuilding routine. Workouts in the light week are far less structured and the veteran bodybuilder goes with the feel. It also includes more supersets, giant sets and volume work.

Chest

• Incline Dumbbell Press – 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps
• Bench Press – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps
• Dumbbell Flyes – 4 sets of 10 to 12 reps
• Pec Deck Flyes – 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps
• Decline Push-ups – 4 sets of 15 reps

Back

• Pull-ups – 4 sets of 10 reps
• Wide Grip Lat Pulldown – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps
• Bent Over Dumbbell Rows – 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps
• Bent Over Barbell Rows – 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps
• Dumbbell Pullover – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps

Shoulders

• Standing Overhead Barbell Press – 4 sets of 6 to 12 reps
• Seated Dumbbell Overhead Press – 4 sets of 10 to 12 reps
• Reverse Pec Deck Flyes – 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps
• Cable Lateral Raises – 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps
• Plate Front Raises – 4 sets of 10 to 12 reps

Legs

• Superset – Leg Extensions and Lying Leg Curls– 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps for both exercises
• Hack Squats – 4 sets of 6 to 12 reps
• Leg Press – 4 sets of 6 to 12 reps
• Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlifts – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps
• Standing Calf Raises – 4 sets of 15 to 20 reps

Arms

• Cable Triceps Pushdowns – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps
• Close Grip Bench Press – 4 sets of 10 reps
• Bodyweight Dips – 4 sets of 10 reps
• Seated Dumbbell Curls – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps
• Standing Barbell Curls – 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps
• EZ Bar Preacher Curls – 4 sets of 10 reps
• Reverse Barbell Forearm Curls – 4 sets of 10 to 12 reps

Nutrition

While training is imperative, so too is the work done in the kitchen, and Robby Robinson had some great attention to detail with nutrition and supplementation. Check out his diet routine:

Meal 1

• Muscle Building Multivitamin
• Steak
• 1 Large Omelet

Meal 2

• Ground Beef
• Vegetables
• Toast

Meal 3

• Ground Beef
• Vegetables
• Toast

Meal 4

• Steak
• Baked Potato
• Vegetables
• Magnesium for Muscle recovery

Robby Robinson’s Blueprint

Wrap Up

Overall, Robby Robinson is someone who demonstrates that what happens in life does not have to hold you back from obtaining your dream physique. He left a mark on the bodybuilding industry by crafting quite the physique. That being said, is there anything holding you back?

Let us know! Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.