Ade Rai dreams of opening up gym for juniors

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): The name I Gusti Agung Rai Kusuma Yudha may mean nothing to sports lovers, but if they knew that it was the real name of Ade Rai they would surely respond differently.

Ade is the country's top bodybuilder at 27 years old. An idol of many women, he is young, gorgeous, smart, friendly and well- educated. Never before has a bodybuilder in Indonesia had so many fans.

Born in Jakarta on May 6, 1970, Ade graduated from the University of Indonesia's school of political and social sciences in August 1996.

Last year, Ade received the Best of the Best Muscle Mania award at Redondo Beach, California. He grabbed the Mr. Asia title in Macau the same year, and in 1995 won the Southeast Asia bodybuilding championships in Singapore.

He is very eager to speak about bodybuilding and always tries to inform and promote his sport to every journalist he meets.

"Bodybuilding is my lifestyle because it has much to do with an orderly habit. We have to eat, practice and rest as scheduled," he said.

Ade, standing 182 centimeters, said his reason for popularizing bodybuilding is to promote a healthy lifestyle.

"What I want to promote is not the need to have a big body like mine, but a healthy lifestyle."

People still have the wrong idea about bodybuilders. They think that bodybuilders have huge bodies, which is not entirely correct.

"People don't believe it if a thin person say he practices bodybuilding. They will ask why his body is not big. This is wrong because the most important thing in bodybuilding is to keep the body healthy, not make it bigger."

Ade said that bodybuilding is not just for young men, but for women and older people as well.

"Bodybuilding is for everyone," he said. "But each person has a different ability to exercise."

When is a good time to start bodybuilding?

"People can start bodybuilding at any age. It doesn't matter if they start at 30 or 40. As long as we have the intention to lead a healthy life, we can do it."

Ade, the second son of I Gusti Rai Widjaja and Selena Susanti, said that at the beginning, his parents did not like his bodybuilding activities. They urged him to finish school instead of wasting time and money on bodybuilding. But Ade was able to convince them of the benefits of bodybuilding and gain their support.

However, he needs support not only from his parents, but also from the public. He added that bodybuilding would develop faster with the support of businesspeople.

Another problem faced by most national bodybuilders is a lack of information, facilities and financial support.

"Sometimes they don't know who or where to ask about bodybuilding. I myself learned from magazines and discussions with experts."

Many national athletes have never had a chance to practice in a well-equipped gym.

"I'm lucky that I have the facilities of Klub Rasuna. Not many bodybuilders are as lucky as me."

Ade said his dream is to have his own gym.

"I want to build a well-equipped gym that gives special rates and allow young people to use the facilities for free. I know how hard it is for them to find a good gym to practice in."

Ade also wants to start a national bodybuilding championship here.

"Hopefully I'll be able to organize it in the near future."

Ade has a strict diet that prohibits any form of junk food. Bodybuilders have to reduce their consumption of sugar, salt, margarine and fat and consume more protein and carbohydrates.

He eats every two hours and 20 egg whites a day. The portion might double when he is preparing for a contest.

Ade undergoes two 45 to 90-minute training sessions per day.

He-man

Ade used to play badminton until he was introduced to bodybuilding in 1990 by his campus mates. He enrolled in Parahiyangan University, Bandung, in 1989, and several months later he began bodybuilding with members of the university's self-defense club.

In 1990 he moved to Jakarta to study at the University of Indonesia, where he was quickly given the nickname He-man.

"Only a few people knew my real name in my first year. They were more familiar with my nickname," he said, laughing.

Ade stopped practicing bodybuilding due to a lack of friends interested in the sport.

In 1992, he started to practice again. After winning several championships, offers to act in sinetron began pouring in. But he said he did not want to get involved in movies or TV series if it only meant showing off his muscles.

"I'll only take a part in the movie or TV show which will help support my sport.

"I don't want people to get a bad image of bodybuilding."

Ade said he does not want to turn into Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was Mr. Universe in the 1980s.

"Some people work hard to have a good body to support their movie ambitions, I want to do the opposite. I want to promote bodybuilding by playing in a movie or TV series."