Gypsy Black
Gypsy Black
When Gypsy first signed up in 2025 I knew from day one that his work ethic would be unparalleled. His sporting background of professional rugby meant that training and being disciplined was in his DNA. We mapped out a twelve month timeline for him to get to stage and got to work. We first entered a gaining phase that allowed him to bring up body parts that would give his physique a little more balance. That was followed by a short dieting phase, a maintenance phase and then prep.
He grew tremendously in the gaining phase but he also learned how to present his physique as we placed a huge emphasis on posing. Prep began in Janurary 2026 and our target was PCA Naturals in May. Gypsy will be the first to tell you that to nail condition his cardio had to get super high and his food had to get super low, but not once did I hear him complain. In fact it was quite the opposite, with each passing week his motivation grew.
He was ready early so we jumped in PCA NW and competed in first timers bodybuilding, which he won. The following week he jumped in PCA NE and won novice bodybuilding. Then the week after that he stepped into class 3 at PCA Naturals and won. Three weeks in a row, three wins in a row, each week taking the step up category, a season which couldn’t have gone better but we are far from done.
Our target has always been to be PCA Natural British champion and that’s exactly what we are going to do come September.
Across his season Gypsy collected:
3 x 1st
Here is what Gyspsy had to say about his journey:
“When I first signed up with Vaughan, bodybuilding wasn’t even really on my radar. I’d never competed before and if I’m honest, I was just training aimlessly without a real purpose or direction.
Around that time, the anniversary of a close friend’s passing was coming up and I found myself in a bit of a physical and mental rut. I needed something to focus on, something that would challenge me and force me out of my comfort zone. Competing seemed completely crazy at the time, which was exactly why I decided to do it. From day one, Vaughan bought into the vision and helped turn what was essentially a random challenge into a genuine passion for bodybuilding.
The service has been outstanding throughout. Every adjustment has a reason behind it, every question gets answered, and he’s always taken the time to explain the process rather than just telling me what to do.
What has stood out most is the support and patience. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve doubted myself, worried about scale weight, questioned how I looked, or overthought things completely. Every single time, Vaughan has kept me grounded and focused on the bigger picture.
And I have to mention this because anyone who’s worked with a coach before will appreciate it – Vaughan is the absolute O.G. when it comes to replying to check-ins. No matter how busy he is, you’re never left wondering where you stand. The communication has been unreal from day one and that level of consistency gives you so much confidence in the process.
Something else that has always resonated with me is the kind of person he is away from bodybuilding. As a husband and father myself, seeing how much he values his family and the way he balances being an elite coach with being a family man says a lot about his character. In a world where people often put bodybuilding above everything else, it’s refreshing to see someone who genuinely values both.
The show day support has been incredible too. As a first-time competitor, having somebody there who knows exactly what they’re doing and genuinely wants the best for you removes so much stress and allows you to enjoy the experience.
The biggest thing for me has been seeing the standard of physique we’ve been able to bring to the stage and improve on every single time. What started as a challenge to get myself out of a rut has turned into a genuine love for the sport, and every time we’ve stepped on stage the package has been better than the one before.
More importantly though, I’ve found a passion that will probably stay with me for life. I genuinely don’t think this season would have happened without Vaughan’s guidance, knowledge, patience and belief in me.
I’d recommend him to absolutely anybody, whether you’re stepping on stage for the first time, looking to improve your physique, or chasing bigger goals in bodybuilding. You’re not just getting a coach, you’re getting somebody who genuinely cares about the outcome and wants to see you succeed.
We’ve achieved a lot already, but I honestly believe we’re only just getting started.”