[quote]thoughts1053 wrote:
The conversation seems to be moving towards answering two questions: 1. What is Bodybuilding to T-Nation? and 2. What qualifies someone as a bodybuilder?
- What is Bodybuilding to T-Nation?
I think T-Nation sees bodybuilding as a way to better yourself. They don’t see it as the competitive sport of bodybuilding and CT has actually said that he’s not a fan of the sport. As far as the articles and workouts they produce, they may not be for a purely aesthetic, bodybuilding physique, but they intend to build the body: either to perform better, look better, feel better, etc. Whether the methods be rings, mobility work, or Kroc Rows, I think that T-Nation is working towards having their general audience just build themselves up to be better.
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I agree with what you stated above but I feel that that sense or message to better oneself through bodybuilding / weightlifting / training has somewhat been lost on here these past few years. It has been replaced with a bigger broader more watered down idea that appeals to a wider audience. The atomic dog brought this feeling together and although it was mostly comical at times it did have some imporant messages or ideas to convey.
[quote]thoughts1053 wrote:
- What Qualifies Someone as a Bodybuilder?
Honestly, this is a tough question. While some may say that as long as you’re trying to build your body and train hard and are in the gym, you are a bodybuilder. However, I’m in the kitchen every day; I bake, fry, broil. I try to make better tasting food, etc, but I don’t consider myself a chef and I doubt anyone else would consider me a chef. Others may say that you need to have competed in a bodybuilding competition to be considered a bodybuilder. I don’t even think that’s the case. I’ve competed in 2 shows and still don’t consider myself to be a bodybuilder. I don’t mean this to be disrespectful, but I don’t even consider guys like ebomb and timmcbride who have also competed to be bodybuilders at this point. I feel like at this point we are just guys who have competed in a bodybuilding competition. The only active poster that I would consider a bodybuilder is Stu.
I think that you need to have recognition for what you’ve accomplished in the sport. You may not need to be a Pro, but you need to be recognized for the work you’ve done in the sport. You can do this by being dedicated and doing many shows or being successful and winning your Pro Card. Just because someone fixes their computer or customizes their twitter page doesn’t make them a computer technician or web developer. I do both these last things for a living and would consider myself both of these things. Maybe once I win my Pro card I’ll add bodybuilder to the list.
Now if someone considers themselves a bodybuilder, I wouldn’t tell them they’re not. That’s my personal take on it anyway.[/quote]
I disagree with this but I do understand where you are coming from, this based on your personal perspective of what qualifies you as a bodybuilder. I would have you down as a bodybuilder for what it’s worth.
To be a Bodybuilder does not require a person to take a course or pass an exam so you cant quantify it like being qualified for a specific job or compare it as such because no specific circumstance exists that dictates whether you are a bodybuilder or not. The only thing that distinguishes a bodybuilder from the rest of us is the long preparation for and then the participation in actual competition.
Once you have honestly done that and have been successfully judged by your peers then you are a bodybuilder, be it a good one or a bad one but a bodybuilder nonetheless. Until they start throwing out licences for bodybuilders this is how it is.
