I have ‘Rhoid’ rage, This time its hemorrhoids, thats right, bodybuilding is becoming a pain in the ass. It seems like almost every b.b journal I browse through of late, carries articles and letters concerned with physique standards and professional contests judging results. Having attended more such muscle show downs than most over an unrelenting half a century, I have certainly witness huge changes, i.e. the evolution of bodybuilding contests and what appears to be the requisites for ‘star’ standards, from finalists to winners.

Although always having a private opinion as to who should or should not have won or been placed. Despite suggestions and offers, I have never had either the conviction or more important the courage to judge others. Thus the following notes are in no way a criticism of those braver souls whom set themselves up as easy targets when they sit on judging panels, the results of which can make or break physique careers in the competitive jungle of the body beautiful, with all its commercial offspring’s. Advertising, sponsorships, film careers even FAME.

To be honest I haven’t got a clue what exact percentage of bodybuilders actually train with the sole object of competing in physique contests. The answer I suspect is just a tiny minority, with most weight trainers having varied and alternative targets, from rehabilitation, to improving their chosen major sport, get fit or stronger, or simply as most do, to improve their own standard of physique, gain or lose weight, and add some muscle

Few are like Arnold, who reputedly intended from his first squat and dead lift, to become a bodybuilding champion. For most weight trainers, physique contests as such, are something that goes on in the background, that takes up perhaps too much space in the muscle mags, and possibly an event they may attend just once in a while, usually locally to support a fellow gym member, or nationally to see in the flesh some legendary bodybuilder they have seen in the journals. Almost every gym has its own local hero whom most guys agree should at least enter, if not win the area ‘Mr Muscles On a Cake’ award or even national fame.

There are, and always will be, the sub culture hard core of trainees who pump iron solely to strut their stuff and maybe enter and try to win contests, adding more trophies to their cabinets at home. However for all of these categories, like it or not, whether competitive or not, all are openly or covertly influenced by physique contests and of course rising standards of accepted muscular perfection.

Physique contests DECIDE and DICTATE bodybuilding and bodybuilders hopes and inspirations. Physique fashions, muscles a la mode, like a pebble in a pond radiate outwards and reach all who train with weights. If the winner of Mr O. or Mr U. is big and bulky, or cut to shreds, vascular or hyper pumped, then that is the bench mark for all gym rats who train for muscle by lifting weights.

Having accepted the importance of contests and the standards required to win, let us now consider just exactly WHO and HOW, and WHY certain people are called upon to judge, give out decisions and set goals for bodybuilders.

Who for example ‘polices’ the judges? How do they judge? What qualifications should a physique judge have, ie. should a pre-judging eye sight test be compulsory. I ask this because I am NOT joking, when I say I once sat behind a judge who actually kept turning around to me and asking me to confirm the number on the contestants trunks.

Come in number 10 your time is up! That’s probably an extreme example, although ‘foreign guest judges, overcome with jet lag, Johnny Walker and exuberant patriotism have in the past made some controversial decisions, luckily wiped out by sophisticated scoring systems designed specifically for that very reason. Preventing mistakes made at earlier muscle contests.

Like football refs, pc. judging is not a route to popularity, and special favours would soon be discovered by astute fans. Sure it is nice to have expenses covered (and why not) to be at the heart of things. For retired bodybuilders to stay in touch with the game. But dropping for an instant my cynicism, my belief is most judges are genuine lovers of the game, and simply want to contribute or repay a sport they have spent most of their lives contributing or participating.

For those who compete, the importance of judges decisions can be vital to that person’s goals in life itself. Russ Warner famous photographer, said judges “Can send you home a hero, or cast you empty headed into anonymity alley. Rick Wayne legendary Weider writer, once said. “Judges have to be purists, nothing personal, no biases or outside knowledge of the competitors life can enter into it.”

That’s a hard one to live up to. Charisma and reputation always influence our human subconscious minds and therefore the decisions we make. Beauty is indeed “in the eye of the beholder.” Despite being lifted from the ranks of doctors, lawyers, teachers and practicing and retired bodybuilders, judges are all only human and therefore open to criticism over their own qualifications and decisions. (Coming Soon Part 2)

Train hard and be strong,
Mick Hart.

Founder of Mick Hart Training Systems and
the No Bull Collection Magazine.

“For anyone considering steroid use” this is a must read…
Layman’s Guides to Steroids I and II

WARNING: Do not read this unless you are ready to gain some serious lean muscle…
Layman’s Guides to Steroids III (new)