Latest Bodybuilding News
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Divisions Collide — Keone Pearson Teaches Regan Grimes a Back Exercise He’d Never Done Before
Two-time 212 Olympia champion Keone Pearson had a training partner for a recent back session: Men’s Open pro Regan Grimes. The two bodybuilders gathered for a back training session at Strength Culture gym in Las Vegas, NV. Both bodybuilders were in different phases of training; Grimes was amidst prep for the 2025 New York Pro, set for May 17, 2025,…
Top Athletes
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Why Pro Bodybuilder Mike Sommerfeld Takes These 10 Supplements for Recovery
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Bodybuilding Coach Hany Rambod Says Urs Kalecinski Needs to Fix These Issues Before the 2025 Olympia
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6’8” Tall Bodybuilder Martyn Ford’s Diet Rules to Portray Goliath in “House of David”
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Nick Walker’s Diet, Chest Training, and Recovery for His Return to the Bodybuilding Stage
Bodybuilding Guides
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The Stomach Vacuum: What It Is, Benefits, & More From Bodybuilding Experts
In 1979, bodybuilder Frank Zane made physique sports history when he struck a now-iconic pose on stage at that year’s Mr. Olympia (history buffs will recall that Zane won that competition), captured at the exact right moment by his wife, Christine. Sure, Zane looked great under the lights, as he always did. But a large…
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Try These 6 Unique Bodybuilding Arm Exercises to Spark New Muscle Growth
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The Best Pre-Workout Meal for Bodybuilding Based on Your Goals
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These Are the 10 Best Carbs to Eat for Bodybuilding
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These Are the 10 Best Dumbbell Exercises for Bodybuilding
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How to (Properly) Combine Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Training
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Bodybuilding vs. Powerlifting Programs — Understanding the Difference
Bodybuilding Basics
What is Bodybuilding?
In the sport of bodybuilding, athletes compete to see who has the best physique. They are judged on their muscularity, level of conditioning (or leanness), muscular symmetry, and posing routines. Most of the work is done off stage, as competitors must train hard, eat clean 24/7, and follow a rigid supplement regimen to build a complete body.
There are two major bodybuilding organizations — the IFBB Pro League and the NPC (an amateur league). The NPC, which is where most bodybuilders start, offers eight divisions — three for men and five for women. For the men, they are Men’s Bodybuilding, Men’s Classic Physique, Men’s Physique. The women’s divisions include Women’s Physique, Fitness, Figure, Bikini, and wellness. In the bodybuilding category, there are also specific weight classes. They are:
- Bantamweight (up to 143.25 pounds)
- Lightweight (over 143.25 pounds and up to 154.25)
- Middleweight (over 154.25 pounds and up to 176.25)
- Light Heavyweight (over 176.25 pounds and up to 198.25)
- Heavyweight (over 198.25 pounds and up to 225.25)
- Super Heavyweight (over 225.25 pounds)
A typical bodybuilding show consists of four rounds— the symmetry round, the mandatory posing round, the free posing round, and the posedown. (Note: Each division is judged a little differently.) Here’s a breakdown of each stage.
Athletes will first complete a series of “relaxed” quarter-turns so the judges can compare their symmetry and conditioning. Then, they’ll complete the eight mandatory poses to demonstrate their size. Each athlete will then perform a rehearsed posing routine, about 90 seconds long. Finally, the top three to five competitors in each weight class will compete in a posedown, as the last chance to show the judges their best assets.
The eight mandatory poses include:
- Front Double Bicep
- Front Lat Spread
- Side Chest
- Side Tricep
- Rear Double Bicep
- Rear Lat Spread
- Abdominals and Thigh
- Most Muscular (men only)
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Bodybuilding and Olympic weightlifting are two distinct disciplines, each with unique training methods and goals. Bodybuilding prioritizes aesthetics, focusing on muscle mass and definition through high-rep, high-volume training. Conversely, competitive weightlifting prioritizes maximum strength and power in two technical lifts: snatch and clean & jerk. Bulgarian weightlifting prodigy Karlos Nasar burst onto the international stage in 2021 and became a dominant force in the sport. At…
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