Strike a pose...

Last weekend, I attended an International Federation of Body Building posing workshop at Animal Kingdom Gym in Cromer. I was not participating but I decided to go along to observe and to also write a post about a sport that I am noticing is becoming more and more of an interest to me.


I have an obsession with muscles. I love fit bodies on both men and women. I appreciate how much effort and dedication goes in to dropping fat and gaining muscle in order to get on stage. I have watched a few of my friends prepare for a show, watched them train with 100% commitment and focus, day in day out, watched them bring their eskys to dinner parties and eat their chicken and veggies whilst everyone else has enjoyed a yummy "non-clean" meal, watched with admiration as they have transformed their bodies in to that of athletes.


Meet my beautiful friend Jodie ::

Jodie is a mother to Tom, Erin & Brittany, married to a dear friend of mine Simon, a personal trainer, nutrition coach, motivational speaker, ambassador for Body Science and last but certainly not least an IFBB Figure Champion! Jodie recently represented Australia at the prestigious Arnold Classic Sports Festival over in the USA placing 12th in the world in the amateur figure division! Jodie has been and continues to be an inspiration to me as I know she is to many others and I am super proud to be her friend and happy she has agreed to be my mentor on my fitness journey. I am a lucky girl; Jodie is also in my corner!


Jodie, alongside Carole Graham and Nathan Page of the IFBB, hosted the posing clinic and the room was full of athletes planning on competing in the National IFBB competition on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October at the Cronulla Leagues Club. I overheard a lot of the girls saying that prepping for this competition was starting on the Monday. That is 16 weeks of immense training, 16 weeks of dieting, 16 weeks of obstaining from all naughty food, 16 weeks of prep to get ready for what can be five minutes on stage. One word to describe the preparation for a show and that is commitment!


There is no denying that the popularity of body building is increasing. The number of gyms, body building gyms in particular, and supplement shops popping up all over the place proves this. Social media, I believe, is also playing a major part in the sport's popularity. Online body building communities are on the rise and I think anything that promotes health and fitness is a positive with many people, such as Jodie, on a mission to raise the importance of being active, fit and healthy.


There are a number of different divisions in the IFBB ::


Bikini ::


At the posing clinic Nathan Page described the bikini division as the up and coming class of the body building sport. The IFBB have had to increase the number of classes in this division as it's popularity continues to rise!


Suitable for girls who train for aerobics, dance, boxing, or those that love to train for a toned body and to be fit and healthy. All body shapes can enter. Curvy or slim, the judges judge based on which girl's shape and tone is best presented. This category suits girls who may be thinking of training to compete in Figure down the track.

Split into two rounds, the competitors are required to wear gym gear in the first round consisting of small fitted gym shorts and a crop top in black with white anklet socks and runners/sandshoes.

The girls are bought out in a line and are asked to do four quarter turns, front then side then back then side and turning to the front again.. At each turn the competitor may do 1 pose/stance of her choice (not figure or bodybuilding style poses).

Round two is where the girls are asked to wear a bikini in any style, color, fabric or pattern with high heels . No g-strings, sequins or crystals and the girl's costumes must conform to decency standards.

Competitors will come out individually and do the "T walk". When all the girls have done their T-walk they are bought back on the stage together for comparisons. Judges compare girls from the front and back and look for the best display of shape, symmetry and tone as well as being the best groomed in terms of hair, make up, tan, nails etc.


This is Laura practicing her T-walk :: 

The girls at the posing clinic were all different; tall, short, curvy, slim. All who I admire for focusing on their goals, getting up on stage and showing the world what they have worked hard to achieve! You girls are awesome!


Figure ::


I love the women's figure division! To me, the women are incredible! Yes, I understand that this look is not for everyone but I do hope that people can appreciate how much blood, sweat and tears goes in to looking like this! They rock the stage in awesome costumes! Two piece bikinis are required and can be in any colour or style providing it conforms to normal standards of decency and cover a minimum half of the bottom. High heels of any style or colour must be worn in this round.

IFBB Figure Pros :: Arnold Sports Festival 2012

The Figure division has a pre-judging round where all competitors are asked to go through the compulsory poses; double bicep, side chest, rear double bicep, side triceps and abdominal and thigh. The poses can be done with open hands but must be graceful and poised with smooth and flowing transitions between poses.

Judges judge on the the tone and shape of the body, taking into account skin colour and texture, hair and facial presentation and overall feminine attractiveness with over muscularity and excessive definition being marked down.

Those that make it through the pre-judging move into the finals which are split into two rounds; each competitor is bought out individually to go through their compulsory poses then all athletes come out together to perform the quarter turns. In the finals figure competitors are judged based in the same way as in round one but also on firmness, symmetry, proportion and overall physical appearance.


Check out Jodie doing what she does best :: 

Fitness ::


A typical fitness competition consists of two rounds; a swimsuit round and a routine round. In the swimsuit round, the competitors wear two-piece swimsuits and high-heeled shoes, presenting their physiques with a series of quarter- or half-turns toward the judges. The routine round is scored on strength, flexibility and cardiovascular capabilities. Competitors are required to choreograph a two minute routine to music that must include a one handed push up, a straddle hold, leg extension hold, splits, full split sides, full split front and high kicks. Check out this awesome Fitness Routine by Victoria Larvie from back in 2009.


Physique :: The new division on the block


A relatively new division in the body building world, Women's physique is for athletes that sit between Women's Figure and Women's Body Building and this division is judged much in the same way as the Figure division; symmetry, shape, proportion, muscle tone, poise and beauty and flow.

My girl crush :: IFBB Physique Pro Dana Linn Bailey :: Desert Classic 2012

Dana Linn was the first ever physique competitor to obtain a Pro Card. There is a video that Dana and her husband Rob have put together about her transition from Figure to Physique competitor. Click here to check it out.


Women's Body Building ::


Need I say more! This division is about big muscles and is split in to two weight categories; under 52kgs and over 52kgs.

I am mesmerised by the men! So mesmerised in fact, that I think the boys need a whole blog post to themselves but here is a sneak peak.


Meet my lovely friend Kayne ::

Kayne entered his first competition a year or so ago and placed second! Kayne is awesome!


Thank you to everyone at the posing clinic for having me along and letting me put my camera in your face and a massive good luck if you are planning on competing this year! You are all awesome and have made me think that maybe one day my goal might be to get up on stage!

For more information on the IFBB please visit their website at here.