Changing Bodybuilding Competitions

Training Bodybuilding
1

I was re-reading the bodybuilding philosophy thread that is in the Best Of sticky and noticed C_C said this:

"Beating your previous bests is imo one of the most rewarding things about bbing (or any kind of training, really).
If you look at Guy’s like Ronnie… You know that he’s having fun lifting heavy shit, he’s not just doing this so that he can stand in front of a crowd all oiled up and wearing only a speedo.

I think many people overlook the training part of bodybuilding (the “building” part basically) completely and only judge the “sport” by the actual event (the stepping on stage)."

And I was reading an interview with Dorian Yates from a few years ago where he said this:

BDJ: What you would change about the sport of bodybuilding?

DY: Education. People don’t really understand what goes into creating a great physique. If you watch a sport, like basketball, you can see and appreciate the ability of the athlete. With bodybuilding competition you only see the end product. If you’re into it, you can appreciate the physique, but to the average person it looks like something strange and extreme.

They don’t know the dedication or hard work… or the knowledge of nutrition. They should combine television coverage with actual documentary on the person’s training and what they do to get ready. When I was competing in the Olympia, I got some requests from television shows, and that is always what I wanted to do… to talk and discuss what is involved in the sport. And when people become educated on the process they appreciate it and look at it differently.

But my experience with TV people is that they were not interested in that… in sitting and talking about it. They wanted me to come in the studio and pose, then ask some questions. I wouldn’t go for that. I said "that if you had another athlete come in, a sprinter for example, you wouldn’t have him run around the studio… or have a basketball player bounce the basketball.

Rather, you would sit the person down and talk to him. And that’s what I’m prepared to do." That did not interest them. But to have a bodybuilder come in wearing trunks and posing… that person becomes an object and a spectacle."

How could, say, the Olympia incorporate something like this into the competition?

One option- have each competitor prepare and submit a “road to the Olympia” video showing them lifting heavy shit, eating, describing their training, diet macros, being off-season, leaning out, etc. right before they step on stage. This could be 2-3 minutes, show some of their personality, show the strength and dedication, then BAM! they come out and do their routine.

Everyone likes before/after stuff and this sort of thing could (a) add to the entertainment value and (b) increase the respect given to the finished product.

Any thoughts on something like this or other ways to address what CC and Dorian are describing?

2

I’d make sure skinny fat POS ambulance-chasers would stop polluting bodybuilding forums with their garbage.

3

Damn I love Yates, too bad the prodcuers were too stupid to take him up on the offer on his terms, could’ve been like a more modern “Pumping Iron”.

4

[quote]trextacy wrote:
I was re-reading the bodybuilding philosophy thread that is in the Best Of sticky and noticed C_C said this:

"Beating your previous bests is imo one of the most rewarding things about bbing (or any kind of training, really).
If you look at Guy’s like Ronnie… You know that he’s having fun lifting heavy shit, he’s not just doing this so that he can stand in front of a crowd all oiled up and wearing only a speedo.

I think many people overlook the training part of bodybuilding (the “building” part basically) completely and only judge the “sport” by the actual event (the stepping on stage)."

And I was reading an interview with Dorian Yates from a few years ago where he said this:

BDJ: What you would change about the sport of bodybuilding?

DY: Education. People don’t really understand what goes into creating a great physique. If you watch a sport, like basketball, you can see and appreciate the ability of the athlete. With bodybuilding competition you only see the end product. If you’re into it, you can appreciate the physique, but to the average person it looks like something strange and extreme.

They don’t know the dedication or hard work… or the knowledge of nutrition. They should combine television coverage with actual documentary on the person’s training and what they do to get ready. When I was competing in the Olympia, I got some requests from television shows, and that is always what I wanted to do… to talk and discuss what is involved in the sport. And when people become educated on the process they appreciate it and look at it differently.

But my experience with TV people is that they were not interested in that… in sitting and talking about it. They wanted me to come in the studio and pose, then ask some questions. I wouldn’t go for that. I said "that if you had another athlete come in, a sprinter for example, you wouldn’t have him run around the studio… or have a basketball player bounce the basketball.

Rather, you would sit the person down and talk to him. And that’s what I’m prepared to do." That did not interest them. But to have a bodybuilder come in wearing trunks and posing… that person becomes an object and a spectacle."

How could, say, the Olympia incorporate something like this into the competition?

One option- have each competitor prepare and submit a “road to the Olympia” video showing them lifting heavy shit, eating, describing their training, diet macros, being off-season, leaning out, etc. right before they step on stage. This could be 2-3 minutes, show some of their personality, show the strength and dedication, then BAM! they come out and do their routine.

Everyone likes before/after stuff and this sort of thing could (a) add to the entertainment value and (b) increase the respect given to the finished product.

Any thoughts on something like this or other ways to address what CC and Dorian are describing?

[/quote]

Yeah, but Dorian used split routines.

5

Possibly an evening wear round? -lol

S

6

[quote]Bricknyce wrote:

[quote]trextacy wrote:
I was re-reading the bodybuilding philosophy thread that is in the Best Of sticky and noticed C_C said this:

"Beating your previous bests is imo one of the most rewarding things about bbing (or any kind of training, really).
If you look at Guy’s like Ronnie… You know that he’s having fun lifting heavy shit, he’s not just doing this so that he can stand in front of a crowd all oiled up and wearing only a speedo.

I think many people overlook the training part of bodybuilding (the “building” part basically) completely and only judge the “sport” by the actual event (the stepping on stage)."

And I was reading an interview with Dorian Yates from a few years ago where he said this:

BDJ: What you would change about the sport of bodybuilding?

DY: Education. People don’t really understand what goes into creating a great physique. If you watch a sport, like basketball, you can see and appreciate the ability of the athlete. With bodybuilding competition you only see the end product. If you’re into it, you can appreciate the physique, but to the average person it looks like something strange and extreme.

They don’t know the dedication or hard work… or the knowledge of nutrition. They should combine television coverage with actual documentary on the person’s training and what they do to get ready. When I was competing in the Olympia, I got some requests from television shows, and that is always what I wanted to do… to talk and discuss what is involved in the sport. And when people become educated on the process they appreciate it and look at it differently.

But my experience with TV people is that they were not interested in that… in sitting and talking about it. They wanted me to come in the studio and pose, then ask some questions. I wouldn’t go for that. I said "that if you had another athlete come in, a sprinter for example, you wouldn’t have him run around the studio… or have a basketball player bounce the basketball.

Rather, you would sit the person down and talk to him. And that’s what I’m prepared to do." That did not interest them. But to have a bodybuilder come in wearing trunks and posing… that person becomes an object and a spectacle."

How could, say, the Olympia incorporate something like this into the competition?

One option- have each competitor prepare and submit a “road to the Olympia” video showing them lifting heavy shit, eating, describing their training, diet macros, being off-season, leaning out, etc. right before they step on stage. This could be 2-3 minutes, show some of their personality, show the strength and dedication, then BAM! they come out and do their routine.

Everyone likes before/after stuff and this sort of thing could (a) add to the entertainment value and (b) increase the respect given to the finished product.

Any thoughts on something like this or other ways to address what CC and Dorian are describing?

[/quote]

Yeah, but Dorian used split routines. [/quote]

and your point is?

7

My opinion is solely based on the thought that Dorian Yates would be trying to make bodybuilding more mainstream with these behind-the-scenes videos. I’m assuming this since most people who already take bodybuilding seriously will follow the competitions no matter how they’re presented.

Dorian’s idea would work if The Olympia hired on a company that’s more used to producing a show for the general public, such as “The Ultimate Fighter” or gulp “The Biggest Loser”. Have some training footage with clips of interviews where the competitors talk about diet/training/mental preparation/whatever. Throw in a dramatic score and you’ve got something watchable and interesting.

8

I always enjoyed the ‘Road to the Olympia’ videos. Back when I trained at a more hardcore/BBing friendly gym, they would have tapes (yes, VHS TAPES) playing on a few screens around the gym.

S

9

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I always enjoyed the ‘Road to the Olympia’ videos. Back when I trained at a more hardcore/BBing friendly gym, they would have tapes (yes, VHS TAPES) playing on a few screens around the gym.

S
[/quote]

Now that is awesome. Wish my gym did that.

I kind of like the idea of a “countdown” show (similar to the ones that Spike airs leading up to UFC’s) where the bodybuilders’ training leading up to the upcoming competition is highlighted, along with a little bit about their personal story.

The only problem that I see is that, unlike a UFC card, you never really know who is going to be the top 5 guys in any bodybuilding contest. So, they’d have to speculate who to follow/interview, or maybe pick the 5 most contrasting or interesting stories/training styles.