Muscle Contests’ National Physique Committee (NPC) Iron Games wrapped up on November 13th, 2021. Powerlifter Amanda Kohatsu made her bodybuilding debut at the event and in an incredible display of competitive brilliance, won both Women’s Physique and Open Figure contests at the event.
Kohatsu’s broad shoulders, a perfect V-taper, and perfect separation in her quads convinced the judges to put her in the first place in overall rankings. Courtesy of Amanda Kohatsu’s Instagram account, you can watch her photo from the contest here:
‘Yesterday I competed in my very first bodybuilding show @musclecontest Iron Games! I ended up taking overall in Women’s Physique and Open Figure! I’ll have more to say when I come up from my food coma but Monday we are back on prep for the next show 😅. HUGE THANK YOU to my coach/husband/business partner/bestie @teepopoola and my posing coach extraordinaire @kennywallach for believing in me!! Thank you SO MUCH to my crew and family for coming out! As someone who always tries to be there for everyone, it felt so amazing to walk off stage to a huge group of loved ones cheering for me! Like I said before, having my dad be at the show was the biggest prize…and I’m happy to report, I got that!’ Amanda Kohatsu wrote.
Amanda Kohatsu’s transition to bodybuilding is actually a byproduct of Covid-19 imposed lockdown. Kohatsu was preparing for a meet in 2020 that got canceled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Cut off from gym access, the 35-year-old gained weight just like everyone else and set up a home gym to lose weight. Kohatsu gained motivation to get into a better shape before making a comeback to powerlifting and thought about giving bodybuilding a shot in the process and the rest is history!
Amanda Kohatsu’s powerlifting career at a glance
Amanda Kohatsu made her powerlifting debut with the silver medal finish at the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA) Southern California Open in the 148lbs weight class of the open division. Since then, Kohatsu has competed in a total of seven raw meets. Kohatsu has never missed a podium finish in her professional powerlifting career so far and her seven podium finishes include three Gold medals, two Silver medals, and one Bronze medal.
List of Amanda Kohatsu’s powerlifting competition standings
- 2016 – USPA Southern California Open (Open Division, 148lbs weight class, Raw) – 2nd place
- 2017 – USPA California State Powerlifting Championships (Open Division, 148lbs weight class, Raw) – 1st place
- 2017 – USPA Orange County Deadlift Classic (Open Division, 165lbs weight class, Raw) – 2nd place
- 2017 – USPA National Powerlifting Championships (Open Division, 148lbs weight class, Raw) – 3rd place
- 2019 – SPF Super Training Classic (Open Division, 165lbs weight class, Raw) – 1st place
- 2019 – USPA Lock it Out Barbell Desert Wars (Open Division, 165lbs weight class, Raw) – 1st place
Kohatsu last competed at the 2019 USPA Lock it Out Barbell Desert Wars. She scored all of her career-best lifts at this event en route to a gold medal finish.
Amanda Kohatsu’s best lifts
- Squat – 192.5 kilograms (424.4 pounds)
- Bench Press – 107.5 kilograms (237 pounds)
- Deadlift – 222.5 kilograms (490.5 pounds)
- Total – 522.5 kilograms (1,151.9 pounds)
