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How Mackenyu bulked up for 'One Piece' Season 2, according to his trainer
Zoro's shirtless scene is no doubt one of the highlights of "One Piece" Season 2.
Played by Japanese actor Mackenyu, the swordsman made fans swoon with his physique, noticeably bulkier than it was in the first season.
In his Instagram Stories, Mackenyu credited his trainer, Lloyd Naicker, saying, "I couldn't have done it without him."
Naicker on his part is nothing but proud upon seeing the fruits of their hard work. Sharing screenshots of fan reactions to the bigger and buffer Zoro, Naicker shared how Mackenyu achieved his body goals.
"Mackenyu trained seven days a week for three hours each session and followed a strict meal plan prepared by my team. In fact, I had to force him to have one cheat meal a week," he said.
Naicker praised Mackenyu's dedication, revealing that some days, they would train directly after late night shoots, which can go as late as 2 a.m.
"He is easily one of the most dedicated clients I’ve ever worked with and put everything into getting ready for his role," he said.
"These guys worked incredibly hard to give fans the very best," he added.
And they're not stopping there — Naicker teased that Mackenyu's Zoro would "look even more incredible" in Season 3.
Mackenyu, along with "One Piece" lead star Iñaki Godoy who was also trained by Naicker, made rounds on social media for their shirtless scenes.
"One Piece" Season 2 also treated fans to scenes of Mackenyu lifting weights and showing off his sword moves.
Based on the legendary manga by Eiichiro Oda, "One Piece" follows Straw Hat Pirates captain Monkey D. Luffy in his quest to find the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, and become King of the Pirates.
The second season of the series, "One Piece: Into the Grand Line," is now streaming on Netflix.
—JCB, GMA Integrated News
