Bodybuilding Competition FAQ Version 1.1

By Steve Kidwell
This FAQ was revised on April 21, 2000 to reflect the new information about the sport of bodybuilding in the AAU.

I. Who is the author of this FAQ?

So, you want to know about the author huh? I'm Steve Kidwell. I've been involved with competitive bodybuilding now since 1987. I've been involved in almost all phases of the sport. I've been a competitor, judge, head judge, expediter, promoter, sponsor, trainer, coach, and photojournalist. During that time, I've come to learn several of the ins and outs of bodybuilding competitions. If you would like to know more about me, then go to the following homepage: http://nps.ticz.com.

II. What are the various sanctioning organizations?

Bodybuilding has become like boxing in the last couple of decades. There are several organizations and it can become alphabet soup sorting them out. However, just like in boxing, there are three main organizations with a fourth making a strong bid. In boxing, the three I am referring to are the WBA, WBC and the IBF with the WBO getting some recent notoriety. In bodybuilding, the top three are the AAU, NPC, and IFBB with the NABBA-USA starting to gain popularity.

III. What are the different events that make up the contest?

III. How Are The Competitions Judged?

Contests are judged by a panel of people who are deemed worthy by the sponsoring organization of the contest. In large shows and national events there are usually nine judges including eight regular judges and one Head Judge. When there are nine judges on the panel it allows for each competitor’s two high and two low scores to be thrown out making for a more unbiased score. If seven judges are used, then one high and low score can be thrown out for each competitor. If only five judges are present, then all five must be used as scoring judges. Typically, shows are not judged by less than five people.

IV. I've got lots of other questions about things I've seen.

Bodybuilding can be viewed as quite a strange endeavor. Countless questions crop up about the different oddities in bodybuilding competitions.




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