Eddie Robinson – Complete Profile, Workout And Diet

Eddie Robinson is a retired American bodybuilder and powerlifter who competed in the 1980s and 1990s. A genetically gifted athlete with all the necessary attributes to make it big in sports, Robinson is known for breaking bench pressing world records and also for his incredibly muscular and well-defined physique. This is his complete biography, career statistics, training routine, and diet.

Eddie Robinson (Bodybuilder)

Born: September 22, 1964
Birthplace: Akron, Ohio, USA
Residence: Safety Harbor, Florida, USA
Nickname: Major Guns
Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm)
Competition Weight: 220 lbs (100 kg)

Eddie Robinson Biography

Early Life

Eddie Robinson was born on September 22, 1964, in Akron, Ohio, USA. He was an athletic kid while growing up and his fitness journey started with participation in boxing as well as American football.

He started gaining popularity as one of the best players and focused extensively on the goal of becoming a professional football player. It was during this time that Robinson started weight training to get stronger and build an athletic physique.

But his family’s financial situation deteriorated when he was a teenager and they had to move to Florida. Robinson went through tremendous mental struggle as he could no longer afford to pursue the dream.

He started working at an early age to support his family and had to temporarily pause his athletic pursuits as well.

Powerlifting Career

With consistent hard work and efforts, his family overcame the financial misfortune, and Eddie Robinson was once again free to chase his dream.

This time, however, he decided to follow his passion for lifting and turned it into a career as a powerlifter. Robinson made quick progress in the powerlifting circuit and started dominating the regional scene soon after competing actively.

“As a teenager, I was able to accomplish winning just about every bodybuilding and powerlifting meet in the state of Florida.”

Robinson’s powerlifting debut came at the 1982 Mr. Largo where he decimated the competition en route to a dominant victory. During his powerlifting career, Eddie Robinson made two world records.

His first record, a 575-pound bench press came at the 1985 Buckeye Strongman competition. He broked another bench pressing record at the Florida State Bench Press Rick Poston 1986 with a massive 610-pound bench press.

Bodybuilding Career

While improving his strength for American football and powerlifting, Eddie Robinson was also building a massive and spectacular physique s a by-product. The thought of becoming a professional bodybuilder had never touched him. However, the Ohio native decided to try his hand at this sport after friends and colleagues encouraged him to do so.

Robinson made his bodybuilding debut at the 1986 NPC Junior Teen National Championships. He won the contest in the heavyweight category and also became the overall winner. The massive success served as a great confidence builder as the former powerlifter now started focusing his energies on advancing further in the sport.

After several bodybuilding competitions, Eddie Robinson earned the IFBB Pro card when he became the 1989 USA Championships overall winner. The veteran bodybuilder appeared in several professional bodybuilding competitions in the 1990s and competed at some of the most prestigious shows like the Arnold Classic, Ironman Pro Invitational, and Mr. Olympia.

Although Eddie Robinson did not have a legacy-defining major pro show win to his record, he always registered a strong presence on the stage and gave his best effort. The veteran bodybuilder decided to retire from competing following an eighth-place finish at the 1999 Toronto Pro Invitational.

After retirement, Robinson implemented his bodybuilding knowledge to become a personal trainer. Over the years, he has helped several people achieve their fitness and bodybuilding goals.

Robinson also worked as a consultant for dietary supplement companies, helping them with sales, manufacturing, and product development.

Competition History

• 1982 Mr. Largo – 1st place
• 1982 Mr. Gulf Coast, Teenage Middleweight – 1st place
• 1982 Mr. Gulf Coast – Overall winner
• 1982 Mr. Teen Tampa Open – 2nd place
• 1982 Mr. Teen Southern States – 2nd place
• 1982 Mr. Suncoast – 1st place
• 1983 Mr. St. Petersberg – 1st place
• 1983 Mr. Teen Florida – 1st place
• 1983 Mr. Teen Gulf Coast – 1st place
• 1983 Mr. Southern USA, Men’s Open – 1st place
• 1984 Mr. Teen USA – 1st place
• 1984 Mr. Florida Bodybuilding Championships – Overall winner
• 1984 Poston’s Bench Press Championships, 220-pound weight class – 1st Best Lifter, 510 pounds
• 1984 East Coast Strongman Championship – 1st place
• 1984 West Coast Bench Press Championship, 220-pound weight class – 1st place (525 pounds)
• 1984 Tampa Bench Press Championship, 220-pound weight class – Overall winner (550 pounds)
• 1985 Buckeye Strongman, 220-pound weight class – Overall winner & Best Lifter (575 pounds bench press, 825 pounds squat)
• 1985 Florida State Bench Press Championship – 1st best lifter, (560 pounds)
• 1985 Jacksonville Strongman, 220-pound weight class – 1st, (560 pounds bench press)
• 1986 Jacksonville PAL Bench Press Championship, 200-pound weight class – (575 pounds)
• 1986 NPC Junior Teen National Championships, Heavyweight – 1st place
• 1986 NPC Junior Teen National Championships – Overall winner
• 1986 Florida State Bodybuilding Championship – 2nd place
• 1986 Jacksonville PAL March of Dimes Bench Press – Overall winner (Top Bench was 515lbs, so Eddie opened with 515lbs and did 8 reps, 1 for each disabled child at the show)
• 1986 Florida State Bench Press Rick Poston, 220-pound weight class – (610 pounds, new world record in the 220-pound weight class – Teenage and Men’s Open)
• 1988 Atlanta National Championships – 5th place
• 1989 Mr. USA Championships – Overall winner (Won the IFBB Pro card)
• 1990 Night of Champions – 6th place (First pro show)
• 1990 Mr. Olympia – 10th place
• 1991 WBF – 4th place (first drug-free show)
• 1992 WBF – 6th place
• 1995 Night of Champions – 7th place
• 1995 Grand Prix France – 8th place
• 1995 Grand Prix Russia – 7th place
• 1996 Canada Pro Cup – 4th place
• 1996 Florida Pro Invitational – 5th place
• 1996 Night of Champions – 8th place
• 1997 Arnold Classic – 7th place
• 1997 Ironman Pro Invitational – 8th place
• 1998 San Francisco Pro Invitational – 13th place
• 1998 Toronto Pro Invitational – 11th place
• 1999 Toronto Pro Invitational – 8th place

Eddie Robinson Workout

During his powerlifting days, Eddie Robinson trained with minimal equipment and trained with what he calls the ‘ball to the wall’ training principle. He claims to have never used lifting straps, bands or any other equipment to aid with lifting.

“I call it instinctive training with the no-holds-bared attitude to move some weight.”

Robinson changed things up quite a bit after transitioning to bodybuilding. Unlike the powerlifting days, he was far more calculated and focused on working all the muscles at least once every week.

He emphasized both compound and isolation movements. Additionally, the veteran bodybuilder was conscious about working the muscles from different angles and positions to bring about complete development.

While he continues to work hard to this day, a typical training week in Eddie Robinson’s workout routine at the peak of his bodybuilding career looked like this:

Monday – Abs, Chest, and Triceps

• Crunches – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Hanging Leg Raises – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Standing Bent-over Twists – 2 sets of 50 reps
• Bench Presses – 1 warm-up set of 15 reps, 4 working sets of 10, 8, 8, and 6 reps
• Dumbbell Chest Flyes – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Incline Dumbbell Press – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps 
• Incline Dumbbell Flyes – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Decline Bench Presses – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Decline Dumbbell Flyes – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Cable Chest Flyes – 2 sets of 15 to 20 reps
• Triceps Dips – 5 sets of 10 reps
• Cable Triceps Pushdowns – 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps
• Overhead Cable Triceps Extensions – 4 sets of 8 to 10 reps
• Skullcrushers – 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps

Tuesday – Abs, Back, and Biceps

• Crunches – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Hanging Leg Raises – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Standing Bent-over Twists – 2 sets of 50 reps
• Deadlifts – 1 warm-up set of 15 reps, 4 working sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Seated Cable Rows – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps 
• Lat Pulldowns – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• T-Bar Rows – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• T-Bar Rows (Negatives) – 4 sets of 10 reps
• Wide Grip Preacher Curls – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 8 reps
• Close Grip Preacher Curls – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 8 reps
• Incline Dumbbell Curls – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 8 reps
• Dumbbell Concentration Curls – 2 sets of 10 to 12 reps

Wednesday – Rest Day

Thursday – Abs, Quads, and Hamstrings

• Crunches – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Hanging Leg Raises – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Standing Bent-over Twists – 2 sets of 50 reps
• Squats – 1 warm-up set of 15 reps, 4 working sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Leg Extensions – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Leg Curls – 5 sets of 8, 8, 6, 6, and 4 reps
• Barbell Lunges – 4 sets of 10, 8, 6 and 6 reps

Friday – Abs, Shoulders, and Calves

• Crunches – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Hanging Leg Raises – 4 sets of 25 to 30 reps
• Standing Bent-over Twists – 2 sets of 50 reps
• Military Press – 1 warm-up set of 15 reps, 4 working sets of 10, 8, 8, and 6 reps
• Barbell Upright Rows – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Dumbbell Lateral Raises – 4 sets of 10, 8, 8 and 6 reps
• Seated Bent-over Lateral Raises – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 8 reps
• Standing Calf Raises (warm-up) – 1 set of 15 reps
• Standing Calf Raises (toes in) – 3 sets of 10 reps
• Standing Calf Raises (toes out) – 3 sets of 10 reps
• Seated Calf Raises – 3 sets of 10, 8, and 8 reps

Saturday and Sunday – Rest Day

Eddie Robinson Diet

Eddie Robinson owes all of his success to nutrition. He was fortunate enough to learn about nutrition at a very early age and a gentleman named Mr. Yoder taught him a lot of things about diet and nutrition, including the importance of good bacteria that are found in milk, yogurt, and other products like raw honey, organic vegetables, and organic meats.

“These products gave my body the best nutrition along with live bacteria cultures that maximized the absorption of all the nutrients that I was consuming. This practice helped heal my body at a remarkable rate. By enhancing my diet with the best source of whole and raw foods that are fortified with the highest quality of organic organisms, I have been able to repair injuries done to my body, enhance my immune system, boost my digestion tract and I have been able to utilize 100% of the protein and supplements that I have consumed.”

Robinson followed this nutrition strategy throughout his powerlifting and bodybuilding career. He argues that even the best quality nutrient-dense foods are useless if you don’t have the good gut bacteria to digest them.

Robinson’s bodybuilding diet varied greatly from his powerlifting diet. He feels that diet was undoubtedly the most difficult part of his bodybuilding career. He followed a strict diet while powerlifting as well but had the liberty to include more carbohydrates and fats into his diet. Meanwhile, the bodybuilding diet was primarily focused on eating high-quality proteins.

Personal Life

Eddie Robinson is married to Ericca Kern. The couple has two children – a daughter named Cara and a son named Seth.

To Conclude…

Eddie Robinson is a perfect example of someone that achieved excellence in multiple disciplines with focus and dedication. He suggests the younger generations to start slowly and avoid burning themselves out in pursuit of their goals. When asked to give a piece of advice to the rising powerlifters and bodybuilders, this is what the veteran bodybuilder had to say:

“My Advice to the beginner is to have fun with the sport, train by Instinctive training, meaning if you feel like destroying the weight destroy it. If you feel beat, tired then go through the range of motion, and  use the weight your body is comfortable with. There are no secrets to raw training, either you have it or you don’t. I can’t give you advice to make you a champion because this come from the inside, genetics, drive, and the no holds bared attitude to be the best by having no finish line and no last rep.”

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