Tanji Johnson STOMPS her way To RX Muscle .....
Many of you may have seen her STOMP routine at the Arnold or at many of the guest posing appearances she has made. Tanji serves as a Fitness, Figure & bikini coach to her Save Fitness Team that she founded in 2008. She co-promotes the Vancouver Natural Bodybuilding and Tanji Johnson Fitness/Figure Classic where over 235 athletes compete from all over the northwest. She has writen for Max Muscle, Natural Muscle, Faith & Fitness, NPC News, Bodybuilding.com as well as a featured model in Oxygen, Flex, Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers and Ironman Magazine and was the covers of H2O and Natural Muscle magazine. She is also known for her versatility as she runs marathons, trains cross fit, competes in IFBB Pro Fitness, stars as an American Gladiator and promotes her Tanji Enterprises DVD series. In this exclusive RX Girl interview Tanji shows us the joy and fulfillment she experiences to endure greatness.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I can't wait to learn more about you! Where are you currently living and training?
Renton WA and train in several gyms around the Renton/Seattle area.
Where did you grow up? I grew up overseas in Germany and Korea while my dad served in the Army. I was raised as a military brat, and got used to moving every three years. I was shy when I was younger, but obviously got over all that. J
How did you get started in Fitness?
I graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1997 and was looking for another competitive outlet to exploit my physical talents. I found Fitness on ESPN and knew it was for me! I competed first in an NPC Bodybuilding show in Colorado and then tried Fitness in 1998 and haven't looked back.
So far in your journey what has been your favorite, most memorable moment? I have had a few! But the MOST memorable would be the 2001 NPC Fitness Nationals where I earned my Pro card. It was my first national NPC show and I had only been competing in the NPC for a solid year. I had no expectations and came into the show extremely humble. I was going to be happy if I got Top 20! Those were the days where each Fitness class had over 30 women! Not only did I win my class, but I ended up winning the Overall. I was SO GREEN that I didn't even understand the process of call outs. I got in the first call outs in physique and was the first to be sent back in line. I thought this was a bad thing (I thought the judges made a mistake putting me in the first call out, lol!) I had NO IDEA I just placed first in physique. So, you can imagine my utter surprise and elation at the end of the night. I was SO SHOCKED! It was such a surprising, humbling experience. For that reason, I try to do the best I can, have fun and keep my expectations guarded.
What do you enjoy doing away from the gym? I LOVE traveling. As a single woman, I decided to venture out and travel alone a few times last year. It was bold, adventurous and liberating. I felt like the character from Eat, Pray, Love. I also love fellowshipping and spending time with people and sharing the gospel (of Jesus!). Nothing brings me more joy than telling people about my Heavenly Father. My relationship with God truly keeps me grounded.
Tell me something that most people don't know about you. I am afraid of deep 
water. But I plan to get my scuba certification one day. I really believing in facing my fears. I like country music too.
What goes on in your mind before you are about to step on the stage?
I am calm...very mentally focused (especially before the routine round). I engage in my mental training and then pray "His will be done". I take a deep breath, affirm myself with my positive, empowering script and then step on the stage with a big, genuine smile knowing that I am about to "kill it".
In your eyes, what combination of hard work and natural ability is needed to reach the top? Everyone possesses a different combination, but I've seen people waste their talent because they don't back it up with a solid work ethic. We all have potential. 80% hard work still leaves room to work harder, so I say work 100% and let your talent be the icing on the cake!
In your opinion, how important is motivation and confidence when aiming to accomplish a goal? You cannot succeed without both. Confidence gives you the courage to try, again and again. Motivation is what is needed to SUSTAIN you through your journey. So, if you NEVER give up and continue to follow thru with your efforts, your goal is always in your vision.
Would you please tell me a little about your workout schedule? Contest and during the off-season? Does it vary much? Contest season is very high volume: I train my legs like a marathoner, my core like a boxer and my upper body like a gymnast. And I do A LOT of cardio to bring my physique in tiny and tight. I do this schedule about 6x a week with one light day. Off season, I average 1 hour of training and allow it to vary. I focus on being "active" in the off season vs in "training" mode. At this point in my career, my physique is there and my talents as an fitness athletes have been refined. I usually pick one area to grow in each season. This year, I am focusing on equlibre, the art of hand balancing.
What are some motivational strategies that have or currently worked for you? I enjoy working with various experts/coaches in respective fields. I love working with people who help take me to the next level due to their willingness to share their knowledge and passion. I am currently working with Steve Atlas (www.thebodypractice.com) and he sets The bar HIGH for me! But it's motivating to set short term goals that will yield AMAZING results in the longterm!
How do people close to you describe your personality? Genuine, vibrant and passionate.
What is the hardest thing about preparing for a show? For me, it is the daily 
decision to prioritize my contest preps FIRST, before work, before friends, before everything. 10 years ago, it was easier to do because I wasn't running Tanji Enterprises. Now, I am in constant conflict of putting first things first. I am so driven and want to be able to do it ALL. Accepting that there are seasons for things has helped me focus on one thing at a time. Oh, and the diet. I love to live and eat healthy and be indulgent on occasion. But I am not a fan of being on an extremely structure diet. I just love food too much! Fortunately, I have my portions under control and stay active. This allows me to stay fit all year round.
How far out in your contest prep do you start practicing and creating your routine? For me, and people like Jenny Hendershot, Nicole Duncan, Nicole Rolollazo and a few others, this is our strength. We are creative, and have our arsenal of movements and tricks. I can create a routine in a few weeks, but I give myself at least a month. I tend to put sequences of tricks together and then work and choreograph all the elements together about 4-6 weeks out. I like to keep things fresh and work off of pressure.
In closing, who would you like to thank or give a shout out to?
- My nutritionist Pete Grubbs of Construction Zone (http://www.constructionzn.com)
- My business manager Joyce Vanseters ( http://www.joycevanseters.com)
- Gymnastics Coach Richard Pascale
- Strength and Equilibre Coach Steve Atlas (http://www.thebodypractice.com)
- Image Consultant and Stylist Rosaline Hampton (http://www.rosalinehampton.com)
- My 2 piece suit designer, Sylvia Tremblay (http://www.tremblaydesigns.com)
- My Fitness costume designer, Cynthia-James (www.cynthia-james.com)
- My Music guy Brent Warwick
- My loyal teammates of Save Fitness (http:// www.savefitness.net)
- My Media Support Team, Mark Mason and April Greer (http:// www.markmasonmedia.com)(http://www.aprilgreerstudio.com)
- The Pastors of Stronghold Ministries (http://www.strongholdministries.com)
- My "i-love-good-fight" family, especially my sisters!
How can we get in touch with you?
http://www.tanjijohnson.com" www.tanjijohnson.com
http://www.savefitness.net" www.savefitness.net
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tanji-Johnson-6x-IFBB-Fitness-Champion/ 116655468405750
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