If you are an active bodybuilding competitor, a prep coach, or an individual contemplating an entry into the sport, then you should subscribe to this journal. In a previous blog entry, we provided an overview of the various divisions and categories within the realm of physique competition and bodybuilding. In this post, we aim to delve further into the aforementioned subjects, which distinguish between men and women.
Therefore, are you prepared to begin? Whether you are a first-time competitor or experienced bodybuilding and physique athlete, you will want to commence by employing a reputable coach. While the process may seem daunting, the following are some essential qualities to seek in a competition preparation coach:
- One must have credentials upon credentials.
- Is their educational background in this field formal?
- Is expertise instructing physique athletes a prerequisite?
- Have they ever engaged in a personal competition?
- Get testimonials from some of their current or former clients
- Health, client outcomes, and placements
- Emotional Intelligence - Do they have excellent interpersonal communication abilities
- Can they empathize and relate to what you are going through
- Will you feel seen, secure, and supported by this coach?
- Other supportive certifications
- Pricing - Cheaper does not necessary equal superior!
- Is there pricing on par with other premier prep coaches in the area?
- Will you be bound into a long-term contract?
- Services (i.e., Custom training plan, nutrition plan, posing, etc.)
- Is the plan a cookie-cutter plan, or genuinely custom?
Men’s Physique
● Muscularity and Body Condition. This division requires athletes to be fit, well-conditioned (leanness), and exhibit appropriate shape and symmetry founded on a foundation of muscle. Extreme muscularity will be scored down.
● Stage presence and charisma are also evaluated here, and the contestant should display confidence, decorum, and personality to the audience.
● The thighs are not assessed explicitly in Men’s Physique since competitors are required to don board shoes.
● The posing requirements are front and back poses (including transitions) with no arms up postures.
● A tiny midriff is always optimal for men’s physique, and there will be various height divisions at the amateur level.
Men’s Classic Physique
● Muscularity and Body Condition. This division requires athletes to be fit, well-conditioned (leanness), and exhibit appropriate shape and symmetry founded on a foundation of muscle. A small torso with large, robust, and taut musculature is optimal.
● Stage presence and charisma are also evaluated here, and the contestant should display confidence, decorum, and personality to the audience with proficient posturing.
● The legs are a very essential element of any classic physique athlete’s presentation.
● The posing requirements include 5 mandatory poses and ¼ turns plus an evening finals routine.
● Posing trunks may be tapered or straight cut to display the upper quad and groin.
● This is an excellent overall division that bridges the divide between men’s physique and open bodybuilding. There are multiple height classes with defined weight limits.
Men’s Bodybuilding
● Muscularity and Body Condition. This division requires the most extreme muscle development (mass), conditioning (leanness), fullness, and muscle density.
● Stage presence and charisma are also assessed, and the contestant should display confidence, decorum, and personality to the audience with masterful posturing.
● The posing requirements include 8 mandatory poses and ¼ turns plus an evening finals routine.
● Bodybuilding posing briefs are more revealing to demonstrate thigh and glute development.
Women’s Classes
Requirements For Female Lifters
Women’s Bikini
● Muscularity and Body Condition. Bikini athletes should exhibit an attractive feminine physique that shows great shape (curves and X-frame), proportionate proportions, and excellent conditioning on a foundation of muscle. Excessive muscularity, muscle separation, or striations are downscored.
● Key success factors include complete round glutes with moderate separation at the hamstring tie-ins and a small amount of roundness/fullness in delts.
● Posing and stage presentation should be graceful and exemplify beauty. Bikini has front and back poses plus individual routines.
Women’s Wellness
● Muscularity and Body Condition. Wellness athletes should display a gorgeous feminine physique that demonstrates the great shape, proportionate proportions, and excellent conditioning on a foundation of muscle. Excessive muscularity or rigidity, muscle separation, or striations are downscored.
● The conditioning is like a bikini, but the muscle is disproportionately developed in the lower body (thighs and buttocks).
● Key success factors include complete round glutes with moderate/strong separation at the hamstring tie-ins and a small amount of roundness/fullness in delts. More muscle development in the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes with correct proportions is critical.
● Posing and stage presentation should be graceful and exemplify beauty. Wellness has ¼ turns and distinct posing routines.
Read Also: Is There A Cheat Code For Getting Six-pack Abs Faster?
Women’s Figure
● Figure athletes should display more muscle development than a bikini with larger shoulders that are more crowned, quad sweeping, good tie-ins between the buttocks and hamstrings, proportionate proportions top to bottom, V-taper, and good overall conditioning with some muscle separation.
● Figure athletes should NOT display the extraordinary quantity of muscle, separation, striations, or density associated with Women’s Physique or Bodybuilding. Figure athletes should exhibit a very feminine and attractive physique.
● Posing requires ¼ turns and an individual routine wearing a 2-piece bikini with straps in the rear.
● There are distinct height classes at the amateur level.
Women’s Fitness
● Arguably the most difficult and highest skill division in bodybuilding. Athletes must compete for 2/3rds of their score by executing a fitness routine that consists of high-flying acrobatic/gymnast-type movements and mandatory abilities. The remaining 1/3rd of the score is accomplished during a physique comparison round posing like the Figure Category.
● Athletes must possess a variety of skills and mastery to perform the fitness regimen, but also demonstrate the same level of conditioning and muscle development as figure and present a feminine physique.
● There are distinct height classes at the amateur level.
Women’s Physique
● Women’s Physique should display more muscle development than seen in the Figure with distinct muscle separation, full/round muscle bellies, greater density than Figure, and balanced proportions top to bottom with some striations permitted.
● Although the emphasis is on muscle development, women’s physique competitors are also assessed on attractiveness and fluidity. Overall comparable foundation and proportions as a figure with more musculature.
● There are height classes for amateur contests.
● Posing consists of ¼ turns, mandatories, and individual routines wearing a 2-piece suit.
Women’s Bodybuilding
● Same ranking criteria as Men’s bodybuilding.
● There are ¼ turns, mandatories, and individual posing routines with multiple height divisions on the amateur level.
Here is a list of the most prominent bodybuilding federations:
● National Physique Committee (NPC)
● International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB)
● World Beauty Fitness and Fashion (WBFF)
● World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF)
● Organization Of Competitive Bodybuilders (OCB)
● Fitness America
Of these, the supreme standard is the National Physique Committee (NPC)/International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB). The NPC is the official amateur league while the IFBB represents the professional bodybuilding league. These organizations make up the largest federation in the world for bodybuilding by both members and revenue.
