competition-oriented questions

[OTCbooty]

How do you learn to assess your own physique? All those little aspects of symmetry elude me. Guess I just don't know BB standards well enough, and as some of you probably remember, an anatomy lesson probably wouldn't hurt either

And how about posing? I can't believe how much of a difference posing makes to how a person looks...but I have a hard time figuring out what I've done differently one time to the next. I know practice makes perfect, but do you have someone else 'coach' your posing, tape yourself,....??? I'm completely lacking in poise, have a ton of postural probs, and am probably hopeless in this respect, but I can only get better, right?

Hehe...just wondering how all this gets pulled together.

 

[Sassy69]

Hey OTC - yes posing is definitely important, particularly if you are going to compete. Worse yet, there is a difference between "masculine" posing and "feminine" posing.

Here is the only thread I found on your question - http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=16059&highlight=posing+video+tapes

There are some tapes by Russ Testo if you can find them. There is also a series of tapes on "The Perfect. ..." - the perfect posing routine, the perfect competition diet, etc. I can't remember the name of the company who produces these tho.

In competition, not only do the judges look at how you look, but how you present yourself. I.e. there are enough people competing at the amateur level that they look for who has no clue and who is the whole package. For example, if someone shows up in ripped condition, but a lousy tan, it might count against them because it just looks like they didn't go all the way in preparation when there are other people who may not have the same genetics, but did go the extra mile. THe same occurs with posing. You can definitely pick out who among the lady competitors was trained by a male w/ no clue. For example, you never see a woman doing that nasty "Crab" pose (most muscular). Sometimes you see women doing the clenched fist thing on a double bi, but you NEVER see the fitness / figure girls do it. Its not a "bad" thing for female bb's, but the nicer touch is to not do it that way.

The above tapes are good if you can find them. Otherwise, see if you can find either a trainer or a female competitor and have them show you how to pose. Some of it seems ungainly at first, but once you figure it out and you know you do it well, it contributes to the overall confidence you present when you are "on display'!

 

[new@gettinbig]

Presentation is Everything....Posing is SO important!! If you watch shows, even girls that lack in some areas...if they have a good posing routine and stage presence they will do well. Look into finding someone who is experienced help you out. Watch as many shows as you can...tape yourself and PRACTICE...even in your off season..practice. Posing makes you harder and its a workout..

 

[Sassy69]

I was just going to add that! As part of pre-contest prep, posing practice becomes important not only to make sure that your presentation is optimal, but also for conditioning! Holding tight poses for 30 sec - 1 min and doing it for 30 min/day is fantastic conditioning! You'd be amazed at how you sweat your ass off!

As far as "learning to assess your own physique" - get someone who has competed or trains competitors to look at you and make some initial comments and tell you why. I would also recommend going to a couple competitions with someone who has a clue - you can see what the judges are looking for because the people on stage have done their best with what God has given them to work with and are good examples of what has worked and what isn't up to par -- you can see where their weak parts are because that would really be the only thing lagging the rest if they did the best they could. Then compare your observations to what the judges came up with. And just talk with other people in the audience as the competition continues.

Just a note - the competition season is almost over - the last comps of the year end just before Thanksgiving and then usually pick up again in March.

 

[Phemomena]

Just a note - the competition season is almost over - the last comps of the year end just before Thanksgiving and then usually pick up again in March.

damn, you're right... arrgh.. i thought there was a show in my area at the end of November (which would fit into my cutting phase in the other thread, but it's at the end of this month...

oh well... i'll proceed as planned and just call it a trial run... i know i want to go into a show with more size and i'm confident that i can do that since i've been doing pretty good thus far, but i'm not sure just how lean i can get...

 

[wilson6]

Posing is everything. A great physique isn't worth a shit if you can't pose. One of the most frustrating things about physique competitions is the lack of good posing. Get input from several different sources that know good posing. Then distill down what they have told you and work with just one person the last two weeks before the show to put everything together.

W6

 

[OTCbooty]

Wow, thank you all for all of that great advice! I'm still a long way from feeling competition-ready, but these are things I recognize would need work...and I shouldn't wait until I've picked a show that's 2 months away. Just wasn't sure how to best go about it. I plan to attend as many contests as I can early next year.

 

[Sassy69]

Its definitely something you want to keep in mind and not forget - but most trainers will tell you to focus on diet & training.... HOWEVER.... during all the misery of extended carb depletion, etc., I personally felt that being able to have the little distractions like finding a nice posing suit, how to do your hair & make-up, picking your music, etc. Yes, these are not the primary things that go into a bb competition, but its just SO nice to have something to focus on.

I've had trainers totally tell me to not worry about it and then you are stuck in a panic trying to get all this stuff ready, or not knowing what to expect when you get to the actual competition and see all these other people with fancy glitter makeup, etc. At least that's the way I felt when I did my first comp. Its not AS critical as say for a figure competition, but I think it shows that you have done ALL the work for a complete presentation of your physique.

 

[Fennec]

Posing Video Link

Perfect Posing Video Tapes:

www.PerfectMuscle.com

1-800-938-6733

Now, if only they had a video for Figure posing!!! (They didn't the last time I looked)

My trainer says to do one thing, the pictures in the mags and the 98 Fitness Olympia would indicate different things. For instance, my trainer says keep legs bent when facing front. Doesn't look like anyone's legs are bent when facing front in the Fitness and Figure pics I can find, or in the 98 Ms Fitness Olympia video I have. Most of the magazine Fitness/Figure pics are the side pose, though. I'm having a heck of a time practicing. Any advice, New@? Only 2 weeks left to go.... and I want to rock and roll!

Fennec

 

[Sassy69]

Now, if only they had a video for Figure posing!!!

Give 'em a little while to catch up and the marketing people will be all over that like a cheap suit -- another video for $30!