ANBF Sanctioned
The ANBF Bodybuilding Division demands the highest level of muscularity and conditioning compared to other ANBF categories. This division applies to both Men’s Bodybuilding and Women’s Bodybuilding and rewards full-body muscular development, symmetry, proportion, density, deep separation, and powerful stage presentation.
Ideal bodybuilding competitors should display full, round delts, developed arms, wide lats, a pronounced V-taper, defined obliques, visible abdominal separation, robust leg development, clear quad and hamstring separation, and round, firm glutes with a noticeable glute-to-hamstring tie-in. Descriptors such as ripped, shredded, striated, dense, and highly conditioned can apply to Bodybuilding, but the physique should remain full, round, and muscular rather than stringy, flat, depleted, or emaciated.
Division Overview
In the ANBF Bodybuilding Division, muscularity is paramount. Competitors are expected to display the greatest level of muscularity among ANBF divisions while still maintaining symmetry, proportion, structure, and overall physique flow.
Judges evaluate muscle size, shape, density, separation, fullness, conditioning, posing execution, and stage command. The ideal bodybuilding physique demonstrates a harmonious flow throughout the body, with full round deltoids, developed biceps and triceps, wide lats, clear abdominal separation, strong legs, round firm glutes, and a visible glute-to-hamstring tie-in.
Conditioning is critical in Bodybuilding. Competitors should show visible muscle separation, deep cuts, striations, abdominal detail, and clear separation between major muscle groups. The goal is a physique that is highly conditioned, powerful, balanced, dense, and visually striking while still avoiding a stringy, flat, depleted, or emaciated appearance.
Judging Criteria
- Muscularity: Bodybuilding competitors are expected to exhibit the highest level of muscularity relative to all ANBF divisions. The physique should feature full, round delts, developed chest and back, wide lats, developed biceps and triceps, pronounced V-taper, defined obliques, developed abdominals, quads, hamstrings, round firm glutes, and overall muscular thickness. Muscularity should be high-level and powerful while still maintaining symmetry, proportion, and overall physique flow.
- Conditioning: Bodybuilding competitors should show peak conditioning with visible muscle separation, deep cuts, striations, abdominal cuts, clear separation between delts, biceps, triceps, quads, and hamstrings, glute detail, and a clear glute-to-hamstring tie-in. Descriptors such as ripped, shredded, striated, dense, and highly conditioned can apply to Bodybuilding. However, the athlete should avoid a stringy, flat, depleted, or emaciated look.
- Symmetry and Proportion: Judges prioritize symmetry, proportion, and full-body balance. The physique should show balanced upper and lower body development, left-to-right symmetry, front-to-back development, a defined waistline, clear X-frame, and complete development across all major muscle groups. The physique should be heavily muscled but still proportional and balanced.
- Stage Presence: Presentation is critical. Competitors are judged on confidence, poise, control, command, posing accuracy, and the ability to display muscularity clearly and professionally. Bodybuilding presentation should be powerful, controlled, confident, and commanding.
- Posing and Routine: Bodybuilding competitors must be able to perform required poses and individual routines. Posing should clearly display muscularity, conditioning, symmetry, proportion, and stage control. Competitors should transition smoothly between poses while avoiding stiff, jerky, careless, overly suggestive, or disruptive movement.
- Competition Attire and Aesthetics: Competition attire must allow judges to clearly evaluate the athlete’s physique. Men’s Bodybuilding competitors wear posing trunks. Women’s Bodybuilding competitors wear a two-piece posing suit. Attire should be tasteful, appropriate, secure, and not overly distracting from the physique.
- Grooming and Hair: Professional, stage-appropriate grooming and hair are important. Grooming and hair should enhance the athlete’s stage presentation without distracting from or obscuring the physique.
- 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
- ANBF will implement a 10ft wide box or rectangle on stage for all presentations, routines, and walks.
- This restriction ensures optimal lighting, efficient use of time, and better photos and videos.
- The promoter decides the length of each routine, walk, or presentation.
- Some promoters may opt to have Stage Presentation Walks before the group comparisons for divisions that do not require a full routine.
Music for Routines and Presentations:
- Bodybuilding and Classic Physique athletes must submit their own music for routines. If they do not, they will pose to house music or music chosen by the promoter.
- All other divisions will perform their walks and routines to house music or music selected by the promoter unless specified by the promoter. Some ANBF events will request all athletes in all divisions to submit music for presentation/routines/walks.
Note: If a competitor has already performed a stage walk or routine in a previous class, they will not do the stage walk or routine a second time. If the competitor has crossed over to another division, Figure to Women’s Physique for instance, the competitor may perform their walk/routine in subsequent class.
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.