The Various Divisions of the IFBB

Ever wondered why fitness and figure athletes refer what are the parameters for being best in each category? A renowned name in fitness, Ms. Rita gives us a very detailed insight into the various divisions of IFBB.

Bodybuilding is a beautiful amalgamation that encompasses various fields. It is an art as well as a science and requires a person to be evolved, disciplined and focussed.

It is a privilege that the IFBB shows are now being held in our country. This has put India on the world bodybuilding map, and we look forward to our glorious and hardworking athletes to rise and shine. I have myself had a long beautiful journey with the IFBB; I would like to throw some light on the various divisions in IFBB. I hope it will help to give many athletes a clear vision of the various divisions so that they can decide upon which division suits them the most and they can easily relate to in accordance to their disposition, lifestyle and genetics. I also hope that it will make a lot of you realise that many more people who earlier thought that they cannot compete will now find something for themselves and come forward to compete.

1. As an athlete who has competed in various countries across the world. I always had the desire to win the prestigious Pro-Card. Becoming an IFBB Pro, has never been a cakewalk and it is the journey that we must enjoy and learn from. But as we cruise through this glorious voyage, we need to understand the various divisions and the criteria for these. It is only then that we can meet our goals. We all have been gifted with beautiful bodies. Everybody is beautiful in a different way. We need to become the best version of ourselves. Every person has a genetic disposition towards being able to form a body that will fit into a certain set of criteria in a healthy way. Fortunately, the IFBB has several divisions and you need not necessarily be a conventional bodybuilder. You can be the best version of yourself and still pursue bodybuilding in your own style. That is the best thing about IFBB. I am grateful to Fitness Guru to give me an opportunity to write about the various categories. No matter which division a contestant is competing in, there are certain aspects that are looked for by the judge. A certain amount of muscularity, conditioning, balance, shape and overall presentation is needed. It is just the amount of each of those that varies from one division to the other.
2. In the various divisions for women, just as in the case of men, the criteria are based upon muscularity, condition, the symmetry and balance, the posing and the presentation. The amount of muscle as well as required conditioning varies between the divisions. I will explain the various divisions here so that the reader gets a clear idea.
3. WOMEN’S FIGURE: – Figure athletes must display an overall balance of muscular development. Nice rounded deltoids, sweep to the quadriceps, width and depth in the back are attributes that make a figure athlete stand out. The lats-waist ratio, presenting a nice V-laper, enhances the beauty of such a physique. There should be a nice balance between the upper and lower body. Tight glutes with a separation between the hamstring and glutes is a requisite too. There shouldn’t be striations or graininess of any kind in figure. Also the kind of muscle thickness or very deep muscle separation associated with women’s physique should not be seen.
4. WOMEN’S BIKINI:- No matter which division a contestant is competing in, there has to be a foundation of muscles. It is muscles that give the body of an athlete the desired shape. A bikini athlete must display nice rounded glutes, with a slight separation between the hamstring and glute area. A little rounded shape to the delts, gives shape to the upper body. In the bikini division the shape and structure is seen. Conditioning to an extreme is neither expected nor is desirable. Nor is it expected that a bikini athlete would display any separations or striations or visible muscle fibres.There has always been some confusion, because people try to understand the criteria of a division by looking at the photos. In photographs, an athlete tends to look bigger and a little bit tighter than actually seen on stage by the judges. So when novice athletes, or general public look at the photos, they perceive that the bikini competitors ought to be a little bit tighter and harder. The trainers and contestants who look at photos to make themselves ready for the contest, then strive for a tighter and harder look, rather than in accordance to the actual criteria. This is where the problem comes in. The top bikini competitors have no separations at all. But there is certainly some muscle since it is a division of the bodybuilding sport. It is just that the amount of muscle is small and the judges are not looking for a lot of conditioning as we see in other divisions of bodybuilding. The skin tone should be smooth and healthy in appearance without cellulite. The hair and make-up should complement the total package, presented by the athlete.
5. WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE: – A women’s physique athlete must display more muscularity and development than a figure competitor. The emphasis is on muscular development with full muscle bellies, and nice separation between the muscles. Greater muscular density and a deeper separation with small amount of striations is acceptable. What is stressed upon, as always is balanced symmetry between the upper and lower body. What should not be displayed is an overly striated physique, or the kind of graininess associated with a female bodybuilder. The condition of the skin and the skin tone, the athlete’s ability to present herself with confidence, poise and grace must be considered too. The entire presentation from the moment the athlete walks onstage, until she walks off stage should be assessed. The physique presented by the athlete must seem to be achieved through athletic endeavours and diet.
6. WOMEN’S FITNESS:- Women’s fitness is special and unique. This division stands out, because it also includes a well-choreographed performance routine, besides a great physique. The competitor must have a shapely athletic looking physique with firmness, balance and symmetry. The overall physique should demonstrate poise, feminity and self-confidence, especially when comparisons are being made in the quarter turns. A creative and attractive fitness routine, performed at a different tempo, to music selected by the competitor herself for about 90 seconds, is performed to show elements of strength, flexibility, power and speed. The following moves are expected but not compulsory.                                   
   Push leap (of any kind)
   High kick
   Straddle hold
   Side split
   Strength:-Moves like straddle hold, hand stands, one arm push-ups, demonstrate strength. Gymnastic movements such as front and back flips, handsprings and cartwheels are not considered strength elements. The number of strength moves, their degree of difficulty and overall creativity of the moves as well as the ease and correctness of these moves is considered while judging.
   Flexibility: – High kicks, bridges, front and back walkovers, front side splits, nuts are the moves that can be made to judge flexibility. The number of flexibility moves, their degrees of difficulty and the overall creativity as well the ease and correctness of these moves is judged.
   Power: – Dynamic elements like high jumps front and back flips, handsprings, aerial cartwheels, round-ups, split-leaps. These moves require perfect technique and that is taken into account while judging.
   Speed: – The tempo of the routine, demonstrates a degree of cardiovascular fitness, stamina and endurance. Similarly movements when performed at a higher speed are more difficult to perform in perfect form. Routine based gymnastic alone are marked down upon.A full general assessment is made including creativity, stage presence, outfits hair and make-up.
   A competitor must attempt to bring in an element of showmanship to the fitness routine. Their personality, charisma, stage presence, charm, as well as a natural rhythm should play a part in the final placing of each competitor.
7. MEN’S PHYSIQUE:- This is a body that you would like to see on a beach, a body that a regular fitness person who goes to the gym would like to attain. He may not necessarily want 20 inch arms or 30 inch thighs, but a good muscular and symmetrical physique, the overall body development shape, balance, proportionality and presentation of symmetrically developed physique along with skin tone and the athlete’s ability to present himself with confidence and elegance. Competitors with harmonious and proportional physique with good posture, correct anatomical structure including body framework, correct spinal curves, limbs and trunk in good proportion, straight legs, not bandy or knock kneed. The chest and shoulders should match-up with everything else. And while the upper legs are covered with board shorts, it is very desirable to have great calves. The physique should be assessed as to its overall body density, achieved through athletic endeavours and diet. They shouldn’t be shredded to the extreme. The athletes should have cuts, very good abdominals and back definition. The athletes who are two muscular, too hard, too dry or too lean are marked down. Very deep muscle separations or striations are not desirable. The judges like to assess an athlete’s entire presentation when he appears on the stage and until he goes off stage. A men’s physique competitor is viewed with the emphasis on a healthy and fit physique in an attractively presented total package. Some athletes come out as if they need to present themselves in a swaying motion. One actually needs to just come out and present himself straight, simple and in clarity, with focus on displaying his physique beautifully and follow the instructions from the judges rather than swinging himself around. It is always good to have your stomach in, flex your back out, but just to present the V-taper and not overtly flexed or spread out like a conventional bodybuilder. And that’s really it, keep it simple.
8. CLASSIC PHYSIQUE:- The classic physique division is all about the old school look. Broad shoulders, thinner waist and muscle definition. The weight limit, in each height category forces the athletes, not to get into that over freaky size, and remain in their weight limit through diet and athletic endeavours. The focus should be to attain the classic V-taper. Classic Physique is actually a young division in the Olympia. It was introduced in 2016. Since classic physique is comparatively a newer division. I have especially taken up each pose and mentioned a little about each. A similar analogy is applied in each division with variations as I have described in every other division. It is recognisably similar to bodybuilding but without being a mass monster. In every posture, the overall development is also observed besides those specific muscle groups associated with that posture.