Hello, folks.
Wow! It’s been years since we last posted anything on this blog. Very sorry about that, guys, as we have been occupied with many things since then.
Now, we’re back and we’d like to share with you our thoughts on BADAN CANTIK – a category of bodybuilding that ‘exploded’ back in 2011-2012 and has since become a subject of argument amongst the members of this fraternity, especially the contestants.
In all honesty, we’re so happy that this blog is still functional, despite being underutilised. We now see that it’s a very viable platform for us to publish quite a lengthy discussion – a facility that we cannot get from Instagram and Twitter.
Okay, back to Badan Cantik and why it’s a topic worth arguing over. Read on, folks...
BADAN CANTIK – PART 1
We’re drawn to a recent discussion about Badan Cantik (Body Beautiful) which, among many things, included arguments about the inconsistency in judging for this particular category.
We acknowledge that Badan Cantik competitions in Malaysia emerged around late 2011 and early 2012, and seemed to have ‘exploded’ after that. We believe that the category was initially modelled after the relatively-new discipline that was established by major federations to accommodate competitors who wanted to achieve muscularity that’s impressive enough to be showcased on stage, but with size and mass far less severe than those of bodybuilders.
The name of this category, or division, varies – in WBPF, where Mr Malaysia’s judging system is based on, it’s called Men’s Sports Physique; in IFBB, it’s Men’s Physique; in NABBA, it’s Sports Shorts; while in WFF, there are two: Sports Model, where the contestants wear European swimwear, and Beach Model where they wear board shorts; there are also some organisations that call it Fitness Model.
Another aspect of this category is the attire: it seems that the IFBB, WBPF and other major federations have similarly sanctioned that the contestants are required to wear board shorts or swimwear, instead of the typical posing trunks.
The same goes for Badan Cantik too – no posing trunks. Instead, the contestants usually wear long jeans, but in many competitions that we have seen, joggers or sweatpants seem to be acceptable as well, upon the concept that Badan Cantik is as what it translates to – the presentation of a muscular upper body, and not the legs.
BADAN CANTIK – PART 2
However, the bone of contention is the judging criteria for Badan Cantik, which many have observed as being inconsistent from one event to another – at times, ‘too different’ to the extent that this caused grievance amongst the contestants. What we have observed is that Badan Cantik is being assessed though five compulsory poses.
We do agree that this can be misleading – if, and only if, Badan Cantik was truly based on board-shorts-wearing category, as earlier mentioned. It’s not a posing-trunks category and thus, based on the rules of the majority of international federations, each contestant would only need to perform four compulsory poses (quarter-turn right I, quarter-turn back, quarter-turn right II, and quarter-turn front); instead of the seven in bodybuilding.
What’s been happening in Malaysia is that this category, together with Athletic Physique (introduced in Mr Malaysia in 2017), have been set to have five compulsory poses: front double biceps, side chest, back double biceps, side triceps and abdominal-thigh.
As far as research goes, nowhere could we find the existence of this five-pose routine in IFBB and WBPF; under NABBA’s Sports Shorts Class rules, however, the contestant is required to perform front biceps, left-side oblique, back biceps, right-side oblique, and a front favourite pose – on top of the quarter-turns.
WFF, on the other hand, does not specifically mention the stage poses in its judging criteria for Sports Model and Beach Model divisions, although it clearly separates them from Bodybuilding.
BADAN CANTIK – PART 3
For a clearer explanation, specifically let’s see the respective requirements for the divisions of bodybuilding sanctioned by major international federations. In this regard, we cite those from IFBB, which seem to be the blueprint that many other federations have based theirs on; and also from the WBPF, which governs the Malaysian federation.
The photo-set above generally depicts the differences between the divisions.
The detailed description is listed in the following.
Bodybuilding / Athletic Physique / Classic Physique
For Bodybuilding, all body parts and muscles are to be developed to the maximum size as far as the weight can provide for, but still in balance and harmony. The quality of the muscles constitutes mass/density, separation and definition. The contestant who can display these details the best before the trained eyes of competent and unbiased judges, ideally gets the most outstanding score.
>It is almost the same criteria for the Physique/Classic judging, except for this class, special attention is paid to the overall view of the physique, the proportions and symmetry, as well as muscle shape and condition.
>Both divisions have seven compulsory poses. The quarter-turns in Bodybuilding are usually required in the preliminary stages, while for the Physique/Classic classes, they are conducted in all stages.
>Apart from attire, another difference is that Bodybuilding is totally a weight class, with variations in age categories (Junior, Senior and Masters); while in Physique/Classic, it limits the body mass (weight) to height according to the respective formula established by each federation to determine eligibility. In some competitions, the latter division also has variations in age categories.
>To untrained eyes, the two divisions may appear the same, especially in comparing contestants in the same weight class – but look closely, and you’d notice that the participants in Classic/Athletic class appear to have more or less the same body size and height, versus the line-up in Bodybuilding.
>Compulsory Poses: Bodybuilding
>Compulsory Poses: Physique/Classic
Physique / Sports Physique / Model Physique / Sports Shorts / Beach Model / Fitness Model
>The main emphasis is the total appearance of a symmetrical, athletic body and also a smart and polished look. Such an assessment can be observed more closely through comparisons of the four quarter-turns – poses designed for physiques with less muscular body-mass that those of Bodybuilding and Athletic Physique competitors.
>The male sports model look in the one to go for — excessive muscularity and definition must be scored down, and this also applies to ‘a disproportionate physique’; any display of ‘fatty, watery body shape’ has to be marked down as well. The points get cut further if a competitor is merely thin, but not athletic. A slight-but-shapely athletic muscularity is preferred.
>Similar to Physique/Classic class, this division limits the body mass (weight) to height according to the respective formula established by each federation to determine eligibility.
>Poses for this class are as in the following:
BADAN CANTIK – PART 4
So in view of all this, where does Badan Cantik fit in?
Well, if we’re to go by all the regulations and conditions set by the major international federations, we’d say Badan Cantik should be conducted and judged as a body aesthetic event (namely Physique / Sports Physique / Model Physique / Sports Shorts / Beach Model / Fitness Model), with the contestants performing only quarter-turns instead of the five poses.
On the same premise, we also think it’s more appropriate to have the Athletic Physique contestants in Mr Malaysia perform all seven poses, just like those for Bodybuilding, instead of the current five. This should be the way to going forward as the governing body of the championship, Malaysian Bodybuilding Federation, is an affiliate of WBPF — might as well just follow the existing rulebook, right?
However, we’re not dismissing Badan Cantik as something unworthy.
In fact, we’re very much encourage it to continue on, as we see it as a great entry-level class that can groom full-fledged bodybuilders of the future. Our wish is for it to be run fairly and professionally, guided by the relevant provisions set in the governing federation’s rules and regulations.
In this regard, the associations and the organisers are responsible in ensuring that every event is run in full compliance with the rules, and that the judging is executed with impartiality, professionalism and in strict adherence to the set standards. It goes without saying that all these must apply to other divisions or disciplines as well.
Having said that, the athletes themselves also hold the responsibility of not only complying with all the requirements, but to learn and understand specifications of the very sport that they’re involved in as well. Not knowing or not being aware of it must not be used as a crutch whenever the outcome of the competition does not end in your favour.
To conclude, the argument over Badan Cantik, or any other categories for that matter, would continue on, given the very nature of bodybuilding itself being a very subjective sport.
What we strive for through this feature, though, is to lay out the details relevant to the issue that we have obtained from much reading, as well as some fact-checking, in the hope that everyone could at least understand the basis behind the complaints and the grievance.
If you managed to read all the way through the article and reach this paragraph, we highly THANK YOU for your time and attention. Feel free to drop some comments so that we can do better as well.
-ENDS-
NOTES
>Abbreviations
IFBB = International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness
WBPF = World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation
WFF = World Fitness Federation
NABBA = National Amateur Bodybuilders Association
Go to these sites to read and learn more about international bodybuilding rules and regulations pertaining to categories / divisions.
https://npcnewsonline.com/about/ (Click RULES)
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