ANBF Sanctioned
The Bodybuilding Division demands the highest level of muscularity compared to other categories, where competitors exhibit well-defined muscles that seamlessly flow across the body, enhancing their aesthetic appeal. Ideal bodybuilders showcase full, round delts that integrate into the biceps and triceps, a pronounced V-taper from wide-spread lats flowing into defined obliques, and robust leg muscles with clear quad and hamstring separation. Conditioning is critical, with competitors displaying visible muscle separation, deep cuts, and moderate striations without appearing overly dieted. Descriptors like “ripped” and “shredded” are common, but the physique should remain full and round, avoiding any emaciated appearance. This division blends extreme muscular development with aesthetic symmetry, creating a balanced, powerful, and visually striking physique.
Division Overview
In the ANBF Bodybuilding Division, muscularity is paramount, exceeding the level seen in other categories. Competitors must exhibit well-developed muscles that are proportional to their frame, emphasizing the size, shape, and contour of each muscle group. The ideal physique showcases the greatest level of muscularity with well-defined muscles that demonstrate a harmonious flow throughout the body. Key characteristics include full, round deltoids that seamlessly integrate into the biceps and triceps, and a pronounced taper in the lats that extends into the obliques, creating fluid lines down to the upper thighs.
Conditioning is also critical in bodybuilding, where the focus is on the clear differentiation between muscles, revealing deep cuts and striations that indicate a highly defined muscle structure. Competitors should display visible muscle separations, including abdominal cuts, and distinct lines between the deltoids, biceps, triceps, and the separation of quads from hamstrings. Glutes should be round and firm with a noticeable tie-in to the hamstrings. While the physique should embody terms like ripped, shredded, and striated, indicating a high level of muscle definition, it should avoid appearing stringy or emaciated, ensuring that the muscles remain full and rounded to achieve the desired look of density and mass in the division.
Judging Criteria
- Muscularity: In bodybuilding, competitors are expected to exhibit the highest level of muscularity relative to all other categories. Their physiques should feature well-defined muscles that demonstrate a smooth, even flow across the body. Notable attributes include full, round deltoids that blend seamlessly into the biceps and triceps, and a distinct taper in the lats that elegantly transitions into the obliques, continuing with fluid lines to the upper thighs.
- Conditioning: Bodybuilding competitors should show peak conditioning with visible muscle separation, deep cuts, and striations, including clear ab cuts and distinct lines between major muscle groups like delts, biceps, triceps, quads, and hamstrings. Glutes should be round and firm with a clear tie-in. The ideal physique terms include ripped, shredded, and striated, but competitors must avoid looking stringy or emaciated, aiming instead for a look that is muscular and full.
- Symmetry and Proportion: Judges prioritize symmetry and proportion, seeking a balanced development between upper and lower body, highlighted by a defined waist to create a clear X-frame silhouette. The physique should be evenly developed, contributing to a proportionate overall appearance.
- Stage Presence: Presentation is critical. Competitors are judged on their confidence, poise, and the ability to present themselves in a way that highlights their best features.
- Posing and Routine: The ability to pose and walk in a manner that is both graceful and flattering to the physique is essential. Competitors should be able to transition smoothly between poses and convey their personality on stage.
- Competition Attire and Aesthetics: When considering whether to wear shorts or trunks, competitors are advised to choose the style that best displays their physique’s strengths
- Grooming and Hair: Professional, stage-appropriate grooming and hair are important. These should enhance your natural features without overpowering your overall look.
- Tanning: A smooth, even competition tan is crucial to highlight muscle definition and stage presence.
Group Comparisons
Front Pose
- Head and eyes aligned with body direction in both front and rear stances.
- Feet positioned shoulder-width apart.
- Avoid excessive bending of the knees.
- Arms maintained within 2 inches of the hips.
- Shoulders and chest held high, not hunched toward the ears.
- Lats spread wide to emphasize the V-taper.
Side Poses
- In side stances (left and right), head and eyes should align with the body's side orientation.
- Heels together, or front foot slightly forward of the rear foot without visible space between them.
- Legs may be straight or slightly bent to highlight quads and hamstrings.
- Allow for a slight twist at the waist to display the rear shoulder, avoiding excessive twisting.
- Front arm (closest to the judges) should not extend beyond the midline of the hip.
Back Pose
- Head and eyes aligned with body direction in both front and rear stances.
- Feet positioned shoulder-width apart.
- Avoid excessive bending of the knees.
- Arms maintained within 2 inches of the hips.
- Shoulders and chest held high, not hunched toward the ears.
- Lats spread wide to emphasize the V-taper.
Muscularity Poses
- Front Double Biceps – Display flexed biceps with fists angled toward the ears and legs can be shoulder width apart or with one leg posted to the side and flexed to accentuate the quad.
- Front Lat Spread – Place both fists slightly above the each hip and spread back and raise shoulders to show width. Legs can be shoulder width apart or one leg posted outward.
- Side Triceps – Hips facing the side of the stage, with the competitor’s upper body slightly twisted to face the judges. Legs bent and hips pushed back. Competitors twist the upper body slightly toward the judges and should reach behind the back to pull down/flex the arm/triceps facing the judges.
- Side Chest– Hips facing the side of the stage, with the competitor’s upper body slightly twisted to face the judges. Legs bent and hips pushed back. Competitors should twist the upper body slightly toward the judges and clasp the hands (or hand to wrist) together while flexing the pecs.
- Rear Double Biceps – Fists turned in toward the ears to display flexed biceps with one leg posted to the rear and out to the side and flexed to display the hamstring.
- Rear Lat Spread – Same as front pose with fists placed slightly above hips. Move arms forward and raise shoulders to show back width and one leg posted to the rear and out to the side and flexed to display hamstring.
- Abs and Thigh – Hands reached behind the competitor’s head and abs flexed (air blown out) with one leg extended forward and flexed to display the quad.
- Most Muscular Crab (men only) – Arms flexed in front and hands at waist level while flexing your chest. One leg is extended and flexed.
- Most Muscular Hands on hip – Both hands are on hips and upper body is flexed to show upper body muscularity. Legs can be should width apart or one leg posted to the side.
- Side Serratus – From the side, place front hand behind neck and back hand behind your back and lean slightly towards judges to show side serratus and oblique conditioning.
Additional Poses
In classes where competitors are very close in comparison, additional poses may be used to help differentiate physiques; these include:
- Right/Left Thigh (flex and rotate) – Place leg in front and flex quad to show muscularity and conditioning.
- Right/Left Hamstring – Angling to one side stick out opposite leg and flex to show hamstring development.
- Calves (up on toes) – Stand up on toes to show calve development.
Individual Presentations
The presentation portion will immediately follow group comparisons for the class. After a class files off, the first person in the class will return to the stage to perform their individual routine. Routines should be no more than 60 seconds in length and should be used to show the competitor’s individuality using posing, dance moves, etc. Routines should be done tastefully and be conducive to a family atmosphere. Props or costumes are permitted.
Posing Trunks
Bodybuilding competitors will be judged in plain, undecorated posing trunks (men) or two-piece (women) suit, which crisscrosses over the lower back. All men’s suit bottoms must be v-shaped, no thongs are permitted. No fringe, wording or sparkle allowed for judging (men and women); however, for posing routines/finals, these things are allowed. Suits will be verified for compliance during competitor check-ins. No jewelry other than wedding rings (men and women) or hair adornments are allowed during judging. Bumping and/or shoving during comparisons are not allowed. Female bodybuilding competitors must tie long hair up so it does not obscure musculature.