Who is Charles Dixon?
Charles “The Tank” Dixon is a South Carolina-based IFBB professional bodybuilder. Since receiving his pro card in 2007, when he was 35 years old, he has been moving up the ranks.
Short Career of Charles Dixon
Growing up, Charles Dixon played football, baseball, basketball, and track because he was so passionate about them.
While in college, this passion for sports eventually led to an interest in bodybuilding. He met a mentor who saw potential in him, and the two of them put in a lot of effort right away to be the best.
Charles was successful in amateur contests thanks to his diligence; he won several NPC shows and received his pro card in 2007.
This was only the beginning for Charles. He won more professional contests after this one and frequently competed at Mr. Olympia.
Charles is still on the road and seeks to assist others in their quest for bodybuilding. He offers guidance to older individuals who wish to return to bodybuilding, like himself. Charles’ tale is as follows:
Body Measurements of Charles Dixon
| Full Name: | Charles Dixon |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 1972 |
| ERA: | 2000, 2010 |
| PROFESSION: | Sponsored athlete and IFBB professional bodybuilder |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| ALIAS: | The Tank |
| HEIGHT: | 5’4″ (162.5cm) |
| WEIGHT: | 205 to 215 lbs. (88.5 – 93.0kg) |
Accomplishments
Competitions
- 2003 NPC Junior USA, 1st
- 2005 NPC Nationals, 14th
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2006 NPC USA Bodybuilding And Figure Championships (IFBB Pro Qualifier), 9th
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2007 NPC National Championships, 1st
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2007 NPC National Championships, 1st
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2008 IFBB New York Men Pro 202, 4th
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2008 IFBB New York Men’s Pro, 10th
- 2008 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 10th
- 2008 IFBB New York Pro 202, 4th
- 2008 IFBB New York Pro, 10th
- 2009 IFBB Mr. Olympia, 11th
- 2009 IFBB Europa Super Show & Supplement Expo, 2nd
- 2009 IFBB Jacksonville Pro, 4th
- 2011 IFBB Iowa Pro 212 & Bikini Championship, 6th
- 2012 IFBB Valenti Gold Cup Pro, 3rd
- 2013 IFBB Europa Phoenix Pro, 4th
- 2013 IFBB New York Pro, 10th
- 2014 IFBB Olympia Weekend, 10th
- 2014 IFBB Wings of Strength Chicago Pro, 1st
- 2014 IFBB Arnold Classic, 6th
- 2015 IFBB Europa Phoenix Pro, 1st
- 2015 IFBB Olympia Weekend, 7th
- 2015 IFBB St. Louis Pro, 1st
- 2015 IFBB Arnold Sports Festival, 5th
Biography
Introduction To Lifting Weights
Charles Dixon was raised in Greenville, South Carolina, where he was born (USA). He began lifting weights for the first time when he was 8 years old.
Charles’ father, who had a strong interest in physical health, gave him a weight set for his birthday. According to Charles, he embraced the action right once and became inseparable from the crew, lifting “every day for about 4 months.”
At one point, his father took the weights away from him because he was so preoccupied with them. He thought that overtraining Charles may potentially retard his growth.
Sports Starting Points
Charles recalls that when he first started school, he was highly active in sports, excelling in football, baseball, basketball, and track. He recalls that he gained muscle easily while participating in these sports.
Football was his favorite sport and he played it professionally after receiving a scholarship to play at Carson Newman College. He excelled as a running back in college and put in a lot of time in the gym to bulk up.
Creating a Bodybuilding Passion
At this point, Charles had learned about bodybuilding through a friend who was a professional bodybuilder named Mark Hudson.
The two had time to get to know one another after Charles started attending a local Gold’s Gym where Mark trained after returning from college.
Charles was advised by Mark that he possessed the genetic potential to excel in the sport. Charles became quite inquisitive about this and began to treat his training more seriously.
Additionally, he started reading the literature Mark had suggested, learning about healthy eating and competitive posing.
Understanding Losses
Charles quickly saw changes to his physique as a result of his intense workouts. He decided to compete at this point, therefore he started adhering to a professional dietary plan.
2003 saw Charles compete in his first junior competition, which was a huge success. He won first place at the NPC Junior USA, and he considers this competition to be the beginning of his fitness career.
After that, he focused on the 2006 NPC USA adult championships. He put years of preparation into winning the title, and when the moment arrived, he was poised and ready to dazzle.
Although he did a good job with his posing routine, he only managed to place ninth overall, which was quite disheartening for him.
In retrospect, he claims that the show was a true “eye-opening” for him. He claims he was completely outmatched and realized he would need to improve if he wanted to pursue bodybuilding as a vocation in the future.
Bringing home the trophy
Charles returned to the stage in 2007 to compete in the NPC National Championships. This time, he claims he was extremely well-prepared and had cut to show off his physique to the fullest.
He ultimately triumphed in this contest and received his Pro Card as a result.
Charles recalls this day as “one of the best feelings” he has ever felt as an adult and calls it “one of the best feelings.” He claims that despite being the underdog and the unknown, he was able to succeed and prove his mettle to the world.
Getting Expert Assistance
Charles understood that he would need to work with a coach if he was to become the real champion he desired to be.
Trey Hodge was the perfect instructor for him to work with, and the two got to work on adjusting Charles’ diet and exercise regimen.
Charles was able to win the 2014 IFBB Wings of Strength Chicago Pro and the Europa Phoenix Pro in 2015 as a result of the team’s dedication and commitment. Additionally, in 2008 and 2009, he qualified for two Mr. Olympia weekends.
Training
Early Training Years
Heavy deadlifting and squatting were essential exercises in Charles’ early bodybuilding years. He was able to squat similarly big weights while deadlifting 605 pounds for a single rep.
Looking back on this time, he says he “wouldn’t even attempt” to lift the weights he was using at the time.
Charles’ career started to take off in his 30s, and he started lifting these weights in his 20s, so it makes sense that he doesn’t want to take a chance of getting hurt by continuing to do so in his 40s.
A Man With A Wide Back
Charles is renowned for having a broad back that he worked hard to develop over many years. His incredibly wide clavicles, which have given him a wonderful platform to add muscle to, have led to comparisons to Franco Columbu.
He was 40 years old, stood 5’4″, and had the broadest back the sport had ever seen.
“My body suddenly fully started shifting the day I turned 40… My size began to increase, and so did my physical condition.
Charles Dixon finishes a row.
Return Procedure
“When it comes to the back, I want to get into the tensest position and then keep that tension.”
The back exercises Charles performs are taxing. He only takes extremely brief pauses, completing the workout in little more than an hour, and he makes sure that every set counts.
Charles claims that he “likes to keep it moving” when it comes to his workouts in general. The following is a list of his regular activities:
- Pullup: 3–4 sets, 15–20 reps
- Front Pulldown: 4 sets, 10–12 reps
- Standing Cable Row: 4 sets, 10–12 reps
- One-arm Dumbbell Row: 4 sets, 10–12 reps
- Barbell Row or T-bar Row: 3 sets, 10–12 reps
- Deadlift: 3 sets, 10–12 reps
- Back Extension: 4 sets, 15 reps
Pullups And Pulldowns
He starts each workout with eight sets of pullups and pulldowns, which are width exercises. In the off-season, his body weight, which is roughly 240 pounds, is used for the first set of pull-ups.
These pull-ups, he claims, “warm up” his lats. For four sets, Charles often performs them with a wide grip, but on occasion, he closes his hands. He will occasionally combine these exercises with cable pulldowns to achieve the desired “deep burn.”
Deadlifts and Rows
His third workout is a cable row after this. Charles prefers to tie a rope to a short cable and use it for this activity.
He maintains that the workout keeps him from swaying because he is standing up. He can also exert a stronger contraction with the rope than he can with other implements.
His routine’s second half is heavily weighted with free-weight rows and deadlifts. Charles hopes to concentrate on his upper back and get rid of swinging, just like with the cable rows.
To start, he performs one-arm dumbbell rows, targeting his upper back, lats, and traps. This workout is an excellent warm-up for his upcoming barbell row routine.
He wants to work his upper back and lats as much as possible during this exercise, so he lifts hefty weights and works hard.
He performs three sets of deadlifts and four sets of back extensions to complete his exercise. His deadlifts in particular are challenging because they come towards the end of the exercise.
They hit the already massively pumped lats and traps, working more muscles there than anyplace else on his body.
Over-40 Bodybuilders’ Tips
Charles, an older bodybuilder himself, strives to give as much guidance as he can to older males. They should always include a warm-up, which is one of his primary pieces of instruction. Without doing so, injuries frequently happen.
Charles adds that elderly men shouldn’t lift “for their ego,” in addition to this. He maintains a stable and safe weight even though he doesn’t personally go as heavy as he used to since he believes that being healthy is the most important aspect.
Observe your body. Please take a day or two off if you are in pain. That’s preferable to attempt to push through discomfort and perform subpar exercises or hurt yourself.
Nutrition
Having Difficulty Preparing For a Competition
The hardest aspect of bodybuilding, in Charles’ opinion, is nutrition. Early in his career, he struggled with dieting while preparing for competitions, but by concentrating on his professional objectives, he overcame his innate human desire for fatty food.
However, Charles is at his best while dieting during the off-season. He loves to eat, so he takes advantage of the opportunity to fit in occasional cheat meals and big dinners.
Influences and Idols
Charles claims that his parents and his brother have had a significant impact on him. He claims that if it hadn’t been for their early support, he would not have progressed as far in his sport as he has.
Trey Hodge, his coach, has also played a significant role in Charles’ life. The bond that Trey and Charles have forged is typical of the extraordinarily close relationships that bodybuilding instructors and their athletes must forge.
What Charles Dixon Can Teach Us?
In his 40s, Charles is still actively competing and lifting heavily. He has spent his entire life engaging in physical activity, and he sees no reason to slow down just because he is becoming older.
Along with being far bigger, stronger, and more attractive than many professionals half his age, he has also developed a globally renowned back.
Charles Dixon demonstrates that you may start a fitness journey at any time. Charles could be the perfect motivator for you if you are in your 40s and need that additional push to start working out.