Arthur Bui Interview
February 2014 - Arthur Bui
Please introduce yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where were you born? Etc. Give the readers some background about yourself.
My name is Arthur Bui, I am 21 years old, and I attend Valdosta State University. I am about to transfer to Georgia Tech after this semester. I was born in Oklahoma City and moved to Georgia when I was in the 4th grade because my dad got a new job at the Warner Robins Air Force Base. I went to Houston County High School and it was my senior year when I started working out. I didn’t get into powerlifting until October 2013.
Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both and what weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?
I have competed in Raw but my next competition I will be competing equipped. I will continue to do both however because I know the importance of the raw strength. I compete in 165/163 weight class in open/ junior/ and collegiate.
What was your last competition and how did you do?
The last competition I competed in was the Georgia Winter Classic. I finished 9 for 9 with 451, 281, 523. I weighed in at 156 and my coach (Pete Bush) was upset! Finished with a 421 Wilks, and taking overall teen/junior and raw lifter at the meet.
When was your first competition?
My first competition was November 9, 2013. It was the Georgia and Southern State meet.
How did you improve from your first competition to your most recent?
For my first competition I didn’t get to train in a full cycle and was just going with the flow for training. Didn’t know all the form for everything but just wanted to do it. Ended up with a 419, 270, and 485. For this last meet I got to do a semi cycle and fixed form and ate a lot better.
What is your next competition?
My next competition is going to be Collegiate Nationals in Orlando, Florida! This will be my first ever geared meet. My next meet after that will be Raw Nationals.
What do you plan on doing differently for that meet if anything?
I will be in gear so training will be completely different. And I will definitely be doing a lot of assistance work for this meet. I need to focus on my Rhomboids more and getting tighter and faster(you can always be faster and tighter).
Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?
I live in Warner Robins and when I am at home I either lift at Dino’s Gym or at Mark Freeman’s garage gym. When I am at school in Valdosta, I train at the campus Rec with my roommate Jesse Nguyen and Coach, Pete Bush.
What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?
I don’t have much hobbies but I Love playing MMO’s (favorite right now is Rift), reading about new technologies that are out, and I enjoy computer programming when it isn’t for school. Most of all I love playing with lasers.
Who is your role model and why?
There is no way I can pick a single Role model. My role models would have to be my parents and my uncle Thuy! They all came from nothing and made something of themselves. They were refugees from Vietnam when they came to America. My mom and uncle had to take care of themselves when they were young because my grandma was a single mother trying to raise 6 kids. They never take anything for granted because they know what it was like. They taught me the same life lesson. If I could even be half the person they are it would be awesome.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
Something that most people don’t know about me is that I am still a kid at Heart! I jump at the chance to watch Dragon Ball Z, Hercules and any old Disney movies I watched growing up.
Is there anything about powerlifting you would like to change or wish was different?
There is not anything I would change right now! I haven’t been in the sport long so there isn’t anything I want to change as of now. (ask me in a year)
What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?
I am a personal trainer for D&T Personal Training, and yes it does interfere with training. School, work, and trying to train is a lot on the plate, but I make it happen. Training for Collegiate Nationals is going to take a lot of my time so I have decided to cut back on my personal training.
How did you get into powerlifting and how many years have you been competing?
I got into powerlifting last October so I have only been in it for a few months. I was at the school gym and I saw a guy (Pete Bush) walk into the gym with squat shoes and wraps. Immediately I knew he was a power lifter and started talking to him. He said he was training for a powerlifting competition and I said I wanted to do it and signed up for the state meet that night.
Are you involved in powerlifting in any way besides as a competitor?
I haven’t been previously but now I am. I am helping Pete coach my roommate and a fellow friend and competitor, Kevin Jackson.
What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers? And how do your best training numbers compare to your best competition numbers?
My biggest Squat is 451, bench 281, deadlift 523, and total is 1255. My best training numbers are 435,270, and 485. Pete says I am a meet lifter and I excel and thrive off the atmosphere.
What advice would you give a new lifter just starting out?
I still consider myself new to the sport but the best advice I could give to a new lifter starting out is to find someone that has been in the sport and know what they are doing. Look in the city, look around online, anywhere honestly. They Powerlifting community is extremely nice and people are always willing to help. I would say start talking to them and ask for help. Listen to everything they have to say and take your pride out of it. It isn’t about your pride but your progress. If someone is willing to help take it. If Pete was not helping me I would not be doing as well as I am.
What are your short term goals now as a lifter?
My short term goals as a lifter is to place at collegiate nationals( first equip meet), and to win Raw Nationals.
What are some long term goals you would like to achieve?
Long term goals I would like to achieve is to place at Worlds.
Who is your favorite powerlifter of all time?
My favorite powerlifter of all time would have to be Olech. He is the definition of a freak of nature. I love watching him lift. I love watching Pete lift. Many of you get to see his lift prep and stance every once in a while but I get to see it every week.
Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session?
My training philosophy is simple, Progress over pride. I might not be the strongest or the most talented. But I will work the hardest. The typical training session in squat for me would be stretching and rolling out for about 30 mins. After that I would warm up to my working sets. Do those, and then pause squats. After that I would do sumo dead lifts.
What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three and why?
My favorite lifts would probably have to be squat and deadlifts. I Hate bench. I love squat and dead lifts because even when it feels like you can’t do it and you want to give up, you still can. The first time I ever dead lifted with Pete, I puked all over the place in the middle of a rep but I refused to stop or quit and went straight through it. I always liked the lower body strength more than the upper body.
Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?
The most impressive lifter I have competed against would easily have to be James Vang.
Do you have any rivals in powerlifting?
For now I do not, but I feel like that will change soon.
If we're sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it's been for you, what would be the reason?
I placed at Collegiate nationals and prepping for another. I won Raw Nationals, setting new American Records, and possibly a new World record, and on my way to Raw Worlds as well.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I couldn’t have done this without my coach and training partner Pete Bush and Jesse Nguyen, along with James Vang making me a better lifter. I can’t forget about team Power Socks Incorporated under Pete Bush. Expect to see us in May at Columbus. It will be fun to be on the coaching side. Remember Progress over Pride.