Posing - "The Lost Art" Part 2 

by TEAM 3DMJ Coaches, WNBF Pro Jeff Alberts & INBF Champ Eric Helms

In the previous article “The Lost Art”, we touched on the importance of many key factors in presenting your best physique.  Some of those key areas we discussed were: understanding your body type, studying the art of posing, posing practice, transitioning between poses, stage presence, music selection and posing coaches. These are all important aspects of perfecting your posing for the contest stage.  In Part 2, I would like to touch on a perspective that many competitors have when it comes to bodybuilding presentation. Many bodybuilders think, “Judges don’t really score the posing round, so my routine doesn’t matter, what really matters is coming in shredded.”  Being shredded is definitely a major factor and in most cases very critical for your outcome in a bodybuilding competition, but without having your presentation perfected in many cases can put you on the losing end of a show.  

How can your subpar presentation put you in a losing position if you are the best conditioned athlete? I have seen firsthand a razor sharp athlete 

lose a close decision due to their poor posing skills. For example, backstage at a show I attended one of the athletes in question was looking phenomenal just standing there. His physique looked unbeatable, with full muscle bellies and super shredded cuts; it appeared he had the show sewn-up. However, as that athlete stepped on stage, his blood, sweat and tears were lost due to a poor display on the posing dais. All of a sudden the guy next to him in the lineup, who’s conditioning was a bit off but who had stellar posing skills, looked like the more prominent and polished athlete. As they both hit each pose it became more evident who was shining more than the other. Small things add up. The shredded athlete made the mistake of improper foot placement and he rounded his back in the rear lat spread. At the same time, the athlete with the far better posing was nailing foot placements and squaring out his rear lat spread, creating that crazy v-taper which emphasizes a wasp like waist. Shot after shot the same situation was repeated and a trend was appearing before the judges’ eyes as the better presenter made his mark. It was these subtle differences in posing which made it so difficult for the shredded athlete to come away with a unanimous victory. After a grueling prejudging and an exhilarating night show, the anticipated decision came in from the judges. It was an upset in the making! The shredded athlete had lost a close decision and was now in shock as he thought for sure he was a shoe in for the title.

An example of two very subtle differences in the rear lat spread. The athlete on the left has his left knee turned inwards which causes him to lose his left thigh sweep. Also, he is rounding out his back which gives him the illusion of a wider waist.  The athlete on the right has both knees turned outwards for thigh sweep and he is squaring out his back to create a greater shoulder to waist ratio.

So, do the judges really score for posing? The answer is yes and no. They do not generally have a round of posing which will give you a score that can improve or hurt your overall scoring. However, your well executed posing can give you an advantage over an athlete with a physique that may be equal or slightly better than yours. In a highly competitive bodybuilding lineup it becomes very clear who has the superior presentation and right away my eyes are drawn to that competitor. In my mind, points are being awarded and it is becoming cemented into the judges’ heads: “that guy is a good poser.” This will give you a huge advantage, as more times than not, the judges will be keeping their eyes focused on you. Therefore, you are indirectly judged for your posing skills and if you decide to approach your presentation half-heartedly, it can and will cost you in a tough bodybuilding lineup. For your future bodybuilding endeavors, it is in your best interest to take the necessary steps to deliver high quality presentation. This is not only for the judges’ observant eyes, but for the paying audience and most importantly, you.

Lastly, remember that if you are a serious contender and you win your division, you will face the other division winners in the finals for a chance to win the overall and pro status. You will get one chance to be seen alone by the judges before entering the final round. For this reason your routine may be more important than you realize. If you perform a masterful, artistic and well practiced posing routine you will head into the finals with a lot of momentum and crowd support. You will have made a solid impression in the minds of the judges which will likely ensure that you get a fair look in the finals.

TEAM 3DMJ Coach & INBF Champ - Eric Helms, performing one of his electric posing routines in which the judges are sure to remember! All of these pictures were shot in sequence and in between two poses. A great amount of detail and artistic ability in such a short amount of time.

As you prepare for your upcoming contest, do not waste the dedication, the desire, and the discipline which led to your hard fought journey to the bodybuilding stage. Ensure you have the right perspective when it comes to presentation. Make sure your posing skills are mastered and take the necessary steps to deliver a winning physique!

To read Part 1 – “The Lost Art” click here.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Follow us on

       
 
Make a Free Website with Yola.