THE MEN’S PHYSIQUE CRITERIA

Men’s physique is undoubtedly the most popular male class in amateur bodybuilding shows in the United Kingdom, and perhaps worldwide. It’s increase in popularity has also coincided with a reduction in open bodybuilding numbers. This is due to the men’s physique look being more favourable and easier to attain. Men’s physique can often be seen as the first step into competitive bodybuilding shows which can often lead to athletes who don’t suit the criteria jumping on stage.

This often leads to them not placing, then being put off doing another show. If they were to simply wait some time and compete in the class they are suited too they would have more than likely have been more successful. Therefore, the aim of this article is to discuss the men’s physique criteria and if they need to train legs.

Men’s Physique CRITERIA

Judges will be looking for a good level of muscular development across the upper body: a big chest with emphasis placed upon the upper region, round capped delts, thick arms and a dense v taped back. Men’s physique competitor’s legs are not on show and for many years this was not looked at in the criteria. However, following the announcement last year from IFBB/NPC, that may change. This announcement stated that judges would now be looking at how much the legs filled out the shorts and overall calf development. I don’t feel it’ll drip down into amateur bodybuilding though for many years.

Men’s physique competitors will typically have a longer torso, wide shoulders, low lat insertion and a small waist. The judges will be looking to see excellent abdominal development, with a large portion of the judging focusing on that area. Athletes will display an excellent level of condition and display visible separations/striations and vascularity throughout the body.

Lastly, men’s physique competitors will display a strong stage presence and pose confidently. Close decisions will often come down to who presents their physique the best. In most amateur bodybuilding shows men’s physique is split into three different height classes: short, medium, tall and then the masters class. The IFBB/NPC offer the most amount of height classes from A-F. Within the IFBB pro league there is now imposed weight restrictions, these restrictions are not typically scene in the amateur scene or other federations within the United Kingdom.

do they need to train legs?

If you speak to amateur men’s physique athletes across the world, there will still be a large portion of them that do not train legs. Although the announcement from the IFBB/NPC clearly stated the direction that their judging will be going, that does not mean that other federations at amateur level will follow suit any time soon.

With that being said, I do feel men’s physique athletes should have some form of lower body work in their training regime. When it comes to a competition prep, the energy expenditure (calorie burn) you get from training legs vs upper body is second to none. With the goal being to drop body fat it would make sense to have a lower body session in their weekly training split.

One could also argue that if you are a natural competitor that doing large compound movements will have more of a positive effect on sustaining higher levels of testosterone, which in turn will help overall muscular development.

In the amateur scene, at many shows, there are often 10-12 guys in every class: short, medium, tall and masters. Many of which are effectively small bodybuilders that aren’t ready for the stage. With that being said, if they plan on moving up categories one day, to one which they are more suited too, it makes sense for them to be training their legs at least once a week, if not more frequently.

CONSIDERATIONS

Men’s physique competitors get bigger and bigger each year. When you accompany that with its increasing popularity, it makes the chances of being successful very hard! What that means is that it might just take you a bit more time to gain the size required to step on stage and be competitive. However, this trend of athletes getting bigger will no doubt be stopped or slowed down to the new imposed weight restrictions from IFBB/NPC.

For the moment, they are not imposed in amateur bodybuilding federations here with the U.K but I do see them following suit soon enough. Some competitors may even need to lose muscle mass simply to make the weight restrictions. I personally think it would be a good thing as it would stop men’s physique from becoming simply small bodybuilding with board shorts.

In summary, the men’s physique criteria is very direct as to what judges are looking for. Athletes will have wide shoulders, big upper chest, v tapered lats, a long torso and exceptional abdominal development. They don’t need to train legs but due to the new announcement from IFBB/NPC they might need to start. As athletes get bigger and bigger many will need to spend more time growing before they step on stage.

Vaughan Wilson Bsc Hons