Quick study: 2005 NPC Teen Nationals winner Gerald Williams came to California for a photo shoot—and a lesson about bodybuilding from some of the best in the business

Flex, Dec, 2005 by Greg Merritt

Proper nutrition was the biggest challenge. "Dorm food sucks for bodybuilding," he says with a laugh. "It's all burgers and pizza and stuff. I buy all my own food. I help other students eat as clean as they can in the cafeterias, but it's never ideal. Living on campus is not healthy."

PSYCHOLOGY | The bodybuilding big time The day after he won the Teen Nationals, FLEX flew the new champ to Los Angeles to shoot with one of our top photographers, visit the mecca of bodybuilding and meet industry insiders. This victory lap is part of our continuing support of bodybuilding's future.

During Jazz Williams' photo shoot in Gold's Gym Venice, he met Gunter Schlierkamp, Bob Cicherillo, Will Harris, Tom Prince and 21-year-old phenom James "Flex" Lewis. He also got a sneak peek at Jerome Ferguson posing in the golden light of the famous first-room mirror at Gold's just five days before his second-place finish in the USA Championships super-heavyweight class.

Master trainer Charles Glass sized up Williams and offered the following advice. "The main thing he has to do now is put on some size to fill out areas like his arms and front delts. Moving up from the teen ranks to open classes, it's a whole different ballgame. At his height [5'7"], he has to start competing at 210 or more or he's going to get hammered against open [class] guys. Being 19, he has plenty of time to fill out."

Williams also hung out at two other Venice bodybuilding institutions: the Firehouse restaurant and the Max Muscle store. After putting Williams through the compulsories in the Gold's posing room and knocking him out in a PlayStation boxing match at Max Muscle, Chris Cormier joined us for a Firehouse meal and an hour of nonstop laughter.

Two days later, Jazz returned to Gold's to train with Cicherillo and meet up again with the Real Deal. Williams loved the bodybuilding big time so much, he changed his travel plans, journeying from Los Angeles to Las Vegas instead of home to Oakland in order to take in the USA Championships, hang with his new friends and meet still more bodybuilding celebrities.

STUDY QUESTION | Do you want to see the photos on Cormier's cell phone? Hell, yes! (WARNING: Must be over 18, on very good terms with Cormier and not easily offended.)

SUMMARY | Gerald "Jazz" Williams has a busy but balanced life. He attends one of America's best colleges, he plays in what many consider America's best collegiate jazz band, and he was judged America's best teen bodybuilder. He wants to take two years away from the posing platform to focus on studies and music and to gain the necessary size to win open divisions.

If you don't hear about him in the meantime, that doesn't mean he's not growing. A successful transition from youth to adulthood--in bodybuilding, as in all aspects of life--is largely a matter of making choices, learning lessons and patiently pursuing the correct route. For those under 25, time is on your side, but never forget time is a precious commodity. Spend it wisely.

BY GREG MERRITT