Former NNY teacher, 76, 'builds' on his reputation of encouraging others

Dec. 5—A martial arts grandmaster whose Renaissance man-like past included several years as a teacher in Northern New York, is continuing to encourage senior citizens to engage in an active lifestyle.

Clifford C. Crandall, founder and grandmaster of the American Martial Arts Institute, has made nearly 1,000 skydiving jumps, is the first person recognized by Guinness World Records to break a board with his hand in a freefall at 8,300 feet, has flown power parachutes and dove off high cliffs. On Nov. 4, at age 76, he was the oldest competitor at the Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders New York State Amateur Open/Masters Pro Qualifier competition in Syracuse.

Crandall, of Ilion, Herkimer County, saw the bodybuilding competition as more than a personal challenge, but also to show senior citizens that there are no limitations.

"I did well," Crandall said in a late November phone interview. "In the novice division, I was one of the finalists. In the 60-plus division, I took first place."

Crandall stressed that he doesn't expect seniors to go to the height he is taking, but hopes that he inspires others to begin or increase their activities. "You can be active and involved and feel better without doing everything I'm doing," he said.

The genesis of training for competition began last February when Crandall and his wife, Amanda, decided they wanted to lose some weight and get in a little better shape before going on vacation. After incorporating a dietary change and increasing their workout routines he noticed a weight loss, but did not see any increase in muscularity. He said that years ago, the belief was that once a person hits 40, they couldn't build muscle and would begin losing what muscle they had.

"That has always made me feel like I was a grape that at some point would shrivel up and disappear," he said.

Though recent studies show a person can gain muscle into their 80s, Crandall felt obligated to prove it to himself and others. "I want to make it clear that it's not gossip and propaganda and I'm going to prove it by doing it," he said.

From May to August as Crandall immersed himself in a more demanding workout, he began to wonder how far he go actually go when he saw a poster for the OCB Competition.

"A lifetime of intense activity has left my body pretty battered and I wondered if I could actually go the distance and compete," he said.

As he began preparing for the competition, he quickly learned things have changed greatly since he last competed in bodybuilding in 1993

"I thought all I had to do is stop eating pizza, candy and doughnuts for two months and kill myself at the gym," he said. "All the terminology of the sport has changed and there are more divisions of bodybuilding."

Crandall has chosen the "Classic Physique" division, which focuses on broad shoulders, narrow waist, muscular legs and overall conditioning, symmetry and size. Competitors perform six mandatory bodybuilding poses and an individual posing routine during the finals. Judges look for mass, but more so conditioning and symmetry.

For help, Crandall hired diet and training coach Kevin Conley, strength and conditioning coach at Upstate Empire Fitness; and posing coach Brian Devins, owner of Upstate Empire Fitness, Utica.

Despite a lifetime's diligent awareness of fitness and training, Crandall soon learned new ways to use free weights and machines more efficiently and effectively.

"I have learned better form and how to use free weights and certain machines much more efficiently and successfully," he said. "After 60 years, of my life in training, all of a sudden I'm finding out how to do it better and more efficiently, effectively and getting the most out of what I do."

Entering the Syracuse competition, Crandall found that he shed 15 pounds and gained 8 pounds of muscle. "Cardio has its purpose, but if you're doing it to lose weight, you are missing the ball," he said.

He said people new to weight machines in the gym shouldn't feel intimidated. "All you've got to do is get the name of the machine, go on the internet and you are going to have somebody show you how to use the machine correctly and you aren't going to feel lost at the gym anymore," he said.

Crandall also discovered other things related to body building that intrigued and surprised him.

'When they spray tan you, it almost hurts," he said. "It cuts through you."

Crandall said he asked the Syracuse officials why that was.

"It has to counteract your body heat, or the spray won't stay," he said. "They spray you up on Friday, you sleep without trying to move that night, and the next morning they touch you up again and then you compete. The things I learn!"

Strong NNY connection

Prior to becoming a full-time, professional martial artist, Crandall was a superintendent of schools, high school principal, elementary school principal and classroom teacher. He began his career in education in the north country, teaching history and sociology at Indian River High School in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, he was studying for his master's degree in educational administration, which he received from St. Lawrence University in Canton.

At Indian River, Mr. Crandall founded and coached its gymnastics team. He also coached tennis, with practices held in Watertown. He had an interest in Braille and sign language, and taught an elective course on those topics. After working in the Indian River Central School District from 1969 to 1974, he took a job as assistant principal at Potsdam High School. In 1975, he left the north country and for the next nine years held administrative positions in school districts throughout the state.

He enjoyed his time in the north country, taking part in activities ranging from bowling to fishing and hunting. He's also an artist and in 1972, Watertown's Flower Memorial Library hosted an art exhibit of his works, which had won two blue ribbons at the Jefferson County Fair.

A few years ago, Crandall began producing free "Still Alive and Kicking" videos, reflecting a range of physical activities that aim to improve everyone's quality of life. Activities featured in each 60-second video include pickleball, golf, kite flying, hiking, canoeing, golf, horseback riding, bowling, cross-country skiing, trimming Bonsai trees and skeet shooting. Mr. Crandall routinely participates in all of the activities that are featured.

"I'm not just telling others to do the activities, I do them myself," he told the Times in January.

Crandall has made numerous contributions to the field of martial arts, including authoring 14 books on the subject.

'Thunderstruck'

One of the highlights at the competition in Syracuse for Crandall was his musical routine. "It's not part of grading," he said. "You pick your music."

The competitors then go into poses as the music plays for 60 seconds. Crandall selected AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" for his program, in which he added some of his martial arts moves.

"The audience went nuts," Crandall said. "When I stepped off the stage after doing the music routine, all of the competitors who were off stage gave me fist bumps and told me it was the best, most exciting musical segment they had ever seen. They loved it. I felt accepted by this peer group of hard-core competitors, including the 20-and-30-year-olds who looked at me and said, "That was just awesome.'"

Crandall said his musical routine also inspired competitors. "I've not only participated in this and gained a lot from it, but I've had the chance to give something to it and stimulate new perspectives."

Crandall isn't finished with body building.

"A dream is just a dream until you set a deadline to it," he said. "It then becomes a goal. I would like to compete again when I turn 80. That gives me four years to get into it to train."