The Art of Contest Posing
by David Gentle
Bodybuilding is the ultimate art form, and posing is the natural expression and demonstration of that art. The finished male or female physique is a joy to behold, it’s beauty best displayed through a practiced posing routine.
POSING IN ANTIQUITY
“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm, depend on
simplicity”. So said Plato and all the great works of masculine beauty in the
time of the Greeks followed his teachings portraying simplicity, grace rhythm,
and good development. Today’s modern bodybuilder has rediscovered grace in
posing display to the world’s stage the full beauty of his, or her, near
perfectly developed physique. At right: Photo by Russ Warner, Physique
Photographer
Physique display is a an ancient art: four hundred years B.C. young muscular athletes were posing for sculptor Polyclitis for his classic The Doryphorus or the Spear Bearer.
Other well built males were chosen to model the many now world famous works of art ranging from the aesthetic beauty of the Apollo Belvedere, The Discobulus (Discus Thrower) or Myron, The Apoxymenos (Athlete with a scraper) by the sculptor Lysippus, the Borghese Gladiator by Agasias, to the fabulously muscular Farnese Hercules. In time more artists turned to the media of oils, watercolours, simply pencil and paper to capture for all time the transient peak perfection of the human body. Muscular athletes became in demand to sit for pictures depicting warriors of an earlier age or for ideal proportions for future generations.
EARLY BODYBUILDERS AND POSING
At the turn of the century one of bodybuilding greatest pioneers Eugen Sandow
posed for admiring artists, first on canvas, then later entering the newly
discovered world of photography, making a huge fortune in the process.
A young Angelico Sicilano later to became famous throughout the world as Charles Atlas also posed for countless works of art, both on canvas and in stone. At right: Photo by Russ Warner, Physique Photographer
During these earlier years (1920’s), the fine classical proportions of Tony Sansone graced the pages of the many muscle magazines. Although light by modern standards Sansone’s physique is still greatly admired. Especially interesting was the way Sansone captured determined facial expressions to suit the mood of his poses. Serious students of posing are strongly recommended to seek out and obtain the now out of print beautiful physique display manuals featuring Tony Sansone called Modern Classics (1932) and Rhythm (1935).
POSING FOR ART CLASSES
John C. Grimek posed for classes and modeling schools for years, often working (!) i.e. standing like a statue, which is not easy, for 8 hours a day and back again for several hours in the evening.
Some poses were obliged to be held quite still for as long as 50 minutes with the average pose being held for 20 to 25 minutes. A five minute rest, and then back to posing! To counteract this boring inactivity Grimek used to run the 5 miles home after the day’s work.
You require great patient and endurance to attempt this type of modeling.
POSING FOR PHYSIQUE PHOTOS
Posing for physique photos is of course entirely different with many more poses being required, more movements and muscular tension again, lots of energy and stamina needed. As male physique photography is rarely if ever discussed in photographic magazines, so that amateurs get little if any advice in the correct techniques, I advise you right away to waste no time and go immediately to a professional physique photographer.
THE 1930’S TO THE 1950’S
The earlier years from the first Mr. Britain in 1930 W.T.Coggins to Jim
Elliott in 1947 and Charles Jarrett (1948) physiques were symmetrical but
relatively light in muscular development, mainly as result of diet and training
methods. Thus the posing itself centred more upon grace than heavy muscularity.
Reg Park won Mr. Britain in 1949 bringing to the title more muscle mass than any
previous period, equal to the contemporary American stars such as Jack Delinger,
George Eiferman, Clancy Ross (seen right), Alan Stephen and Steve Reeves. Posing now changed
with the emphasis more upon muscular display Massive ‘pec’ shorts, awesome ‘lat’
spreads, and huge arms, near the twenty-inch mark were tensed and flexed to the
admiring fans. Individual physique stars on the worldwide circuit became know,
and famous for certain favourite poses. From Reeves with arms stretched
overhead, Olivia with his upward stretch and incredible chest/waist
differential, Arnold with his half side, half back, and arm pose, to the majesty
of Frank Zane, almost turning the posing fashion a full-circle bringing elegance
back into the arena.
Today's Posing
Today’s posing is almost a cabaret act in itself, a ‘disco dance of muscle’ physical perfection in rhythm. Muscular Display should be interesting and entertaining and current bodybuilding stars posing with complicated routines, which included balance and agility, combined with good lighting and dramatic music, all completing the pleasure of our senses.
The choreography of John Brown is a superb example of modern muscular display. Miek Sable demonstrates humour and enjoyment with rapid well-rehearsed routines. Mohamed Makkawy combines muscle with elegance. All the winners as Good Posers, and have to be!
YOUR FIRST ROUTINE
Stand in front of a full-length mirror and make your first attempt at a lat spread, remembering to also pose and tense your legs and abdominals. Change your arms to a front double biceps pose. Switch to a single biceps, then gradually turn sideways to a side chest pose, tensing arms, shoulders and sucking in waist and expanding chest. Lower arms and tense triceps and upper back muscles, always not forgetting to synchronize the moves by counter balancing and posing legs, including the calves.
Turn to full back pose do ‘lat” spreads, double biceps, and ’pulldown’ poses. Also tense the claves and leg biceps. Return to further side poses, then again to ‘face’ on poses. Show abs, pectorals, biceps, thighs and calves.
Try to finish your routine with one or two of your best poses. If you are advanced enough and have the density of muscle, try a ‘most muscular ‘pose, usually this is known as a ‘trap over’ plus biceps tensing.
HINTS AND TIPS FOR PHYSIQUE PRESENTATION
- Visit museums and picture galleries to study ancient works of art. Visit professional physique photographers for the best shots. Physique photography is a different science to portraiture. Amateur home snaps rarely do justice and are normally useless for publication in magazines.
- Maintain and supply your own tapes in good quality, wound back ready to play for contests. The choice of music is highly important and should be thoughtfully chosen to suit your physique and temperament.
- Study/practice dancing to improve balance and gracefulness in movement.
- Purchase plenty of muscle magazines, and study the champions posing.
- Study and try out the favourite poses of the stars, but try to alter than to suit your own physique. If you are a real novice you must learn the basic poses, first, avoiding over dramatic start poses until you are better developed.
- Try to look relaxed, as if you are enjoying yourself, a Smiling contestant is always popular. But avoid looking too confident and cocky – this has a very bad effect on the judges.
- Hold your poses for about S or 6 seconds only. Don’t shake as you pose – hold still!
- Watch and learn from your favourite physique stars, study in minute detail the various balanced and harmonious position of arms related to legs etc. Use the mirror!
- If you can afford it, have a video made of your own routine and analyze it for faults.
- Always practice posing immediately AFTER your training session, not before. Use a FULL LENGTH mirror when posing. Some gyms have a special posing area with stage, mirrors and lights – well worth finding one.
- Practise MUSCLE CONTROL in the knowledge that the isolated tensing of muscle groups will have the double advantage of improving your cuts or definition. Adepts of muscle control learn how to ‘vacuum in ‘ the abdomen, isolate specific muscles and the all-important art of relaxation of muscles not being put to use.
- Shave off superfluous body hair with an electric razor to give better muscular definition. Make sure you don’t get the wrong sort of “cuts’ with the razor.
- Oil up just enough to bring out the highlights. Too much will make you look smooth.
- Do NOT OVERPUMP prior to contest posing otherwise you will deflate just as quickly. Many current stars do No pumping believing that if you haven’t got it now, you never will. Tim Belknap does no pumping beforehand, believing that flexing and tensing will make him grow on stage while everybody else is deflating. During the contest exhibition, attempt to include in your routine as many poses as possible in the time limit without repeating yourself. Leave the audience wanting more.
- Try to include some poses that show pose, symmetry and gracefulness as well as your ‘most muscular’ poses.
- Seek independent and CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions for your posing routines. Always being told “you look great” is no use at all!
- Take every opportunity to visit shows and contests to watch the competitors with the object of learning movements and routines. DO NOT COPY to the letter any actual routine, but aim to adjust the moves to your own style.
- Get the correct size professionally designed posing trunks and the type which are cut high on the thigh. Ensure they are not translucent or old-fashioned “Tarzan”-like with leopard spots… you will not get extra points for looking over-endowed like Rudolph N., but simply embarrass the judges or amuse the audience.
- The white-skinned bodybuilder is enormously improved in appearance when sporting a SUNTAN giving both a healthier look and more pleasing muscularity. Remember – the lights will make you look lighter. You need to be much darker than you think. A NATURAL suntan is well worth acquiring whether by holidays abroad, or regular working at the it in the U.K. Certainly the year ’83 was good for a tan. Secondly, would be the use of a solarium or sun bed, available at most gyms or health clubs. Thirdly, you can choose to use any of the now excellent fake tans available from chemists or via specialist sales. Tuition and advice on the use of fake tans is regularly available from the many publications dealing with cosmetics. Sun bed tanning also reduces water under the skin, thereby giving you a ‘tighter look’.
- Naturally you will take the normal preparation and endeavour to be scrupulously clean, this includes SHORT clean finger and toenails.
- Judges have nothing against long hair, fashion wise or for religious beliefs, but it is a fact that a mass of long hair does detract from the overall effect especially shoulder length… SHORT HAIR is preferable, but whatever style you choose it must be clean.
- Even if you are nervous you will feel better if you SMILE, pretend to be relaxed, confident and enjoying yourself and the feeling will be transferred to the judges and audience.
- The tempo of your posing should be smooth and well practiced neither jerky nor painfully slow. Practise the transition between poses as well as the poses themselves.
- Plan your posing routine well in advance of any contest repeating continually these same sequence to your chosen music so that you can do it without conscious thought. No stumbling or hesitation will occur once your routine becomes second nature. If you do forget your routine, don’t stop and look bemused; try and improves poses based on the compulsories.
- Remember the connecting movements between each pose. Learn to glide form one posture to another, holding the required pose some seconds before changing into the next position. CHARLES GAINS in the book PUMPING IRON says; “Posing is the heart of the thing. Depending on how it is done, you can see in it ether everything that is moving and beautiful and dignified about the display of a developed male body or everything that is ridiculous and embarrassing about it.
- Please cooperate with the organizers of any shows or contest you wish to enter. If you have undertaken to enter or compete at a contest you have basically taken out a contract with the promoter and naturally should complete your part of the bargain by being punctual, ready to cooperate enthusiastically, being fully prepared and ready on call to go on stage.
- Do not keep the M.C. or compare waiting whilst you are still pumping up or applying muscle oil. Ensure you earn and maintain a good reputation as a competitor and finally if you put yourself up for judgment you must learn to accept the results. If you win, fine, if you lost, keep smiling … simply resolve to try harder NEXT TIME!
THE POSE DOWN
If you are lucky enough to be in the final six, then a good posedown manner is essential. Try to get into the light, and position yourself next to whoever is your main opposition. Don’t’ get physical, you want to bee seen, not attacked. Make sure that the judges see you from all sides – they are the ones making the decision. Don’t stop: a minute might not seem like a long time, but you can hit an awful lot of poses in sixty seconds. Remember that time taken to relax and breathe heavily not only expends your stomach, but deprives you of perhaps hitting the one pose that will win you the contest. At right: Photo by Russ Warner, Physique Photographer
COMPULSORY POSES
A slick competitor always glides from one compulsory to another, never looking at the M.C. to be reminded of what pose to hit next! Appear confident and keep the pose for a few seconds – remember the judges are having to look up and down the line at least in the comparison round. When you are not being compared but are still on stage, avoid relaxing totally. Keep your posture and confident look.
WHAT THE JUDGES LOOK FOR
The judging of a physique contest is highly emotive subject open to much
dispute because the end result is always based on nothing more scientific than
an OPINION. The best you can do is to try to influence the judges’ opinion of
your physique by attempting to appear as a good as possible on the day of
reckoning. The judges of a physique contest look for: Muscular Development;
Symmetry; Quality; Attractiveness… and presentation... and not necessarily in
that order with beauty being in the eye of the beholder…a matter of opinion.
At right: Photo by Russ Warner, Physique Photographer
The voice of perhaps bodybuilders greatest competition of modern times: "I find out which poses they really like. That’s why I don't have a specific posing routine, because you never know what they like, and what they don’t . Sometimes you think a routine is good but he applause is going down. You have to be very flexible in these things. You have to listen. When you hit the most muscular and they start screaming, you know they like the more freaky poses, so you keep hitting it again and maybe hold it longer to get the cuts out more. You know then that they like the drama shots and you can forget the symmetrical stuff”
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, speaking in PUMPING IRON by CHARLES GAINES and GEORGE BUTLER, highly recommended, as it contains many fine examples of posing.
The Art of Contest Posing © Copyright by David Gentle All Rights Reserved