TWO SIDES OF THE STREET
The IFBB pros themselves were posed this same scenario – should the judging criteria be changed to reward the more aesthetic looking physiques? When polling different people from the industry, the answer is not as clear-cut as one may think.
Lee Priest stands on the same side of the argument as Schwarzenegger, but also commented on his own experience doing exactly the same thing.“ I totally agree with what Arnold said,” the Australian explains with a laugh.“ The bodybuilders today look like shit. I love freaks, but in my day the freaks still had shape. It’ s funny because I was handed a lifetime ban( by the IFBB) for talking about the judging. So Arnold better be careful!”
“ Arnold has a great point and although it is normal for the physiques to change throughout different eras, what you’ re seeing today is nowhere even close to what has become known as the‘ classic physique,’” says MuscleSport Magazine managing editor Gregg Valentino.“ I love seeing a guy jacked up on stage as much – if not more – than the next guy. But unless he has a nice V-taper, that mass just goes to waste.”
Dave Palumbo of RX Muscle took advantage of a golden opportunity by having a good number of the top names in the industry all under one roof at the FIBO expo in Germany, where he was able to get their opinions on the latest buzz.
“ That would definitely help someone like me competing against the mass monsters,” said Shawn Rhoden, who hasn ' t been able to finish higher than third in the Olympia with a smaller yet more pleasing physique than both Phil Heath and Kai Greene.“ I think it’ s a good way to go. There are a lot of guys that are more towards my shape and then a lot of guys pushing the envelope trying to be bigger.
“ We have to make sure we are rewarding the right guys because then everyone will start training to have a beautiful body again.”
For me, bodybuilding is about aesthetics and symmetry; being pleasing to the eyes.”
Another competitor glad to hear these comments is Brandon Curry, who commented:“ When Arnold was praising aesthetics, I was thinking,‘ that’ s me.’ So how could I disagree? I’ m glad that someone finally had the balls … I know a lot of people took a disliking to what he said … but the sport is an art form. I respect everybody’ s [ sic ] game, but anyone who is in favour of a physique like mine, I have to support them.”
Max Charles, who possesses a much wider physique than someone like Rhoden or Curry, saw it a little differently.“ I’ m a fan of both( aesthetics and mass), but I wouldn’ t go for a guy just because he has good shape because that’ s not competitive bodybuilding. And that’ s why they have the Men’ s Physique Division. For bodybuilding, I feel that it has to be about muscle, size and aesthetics,” he continued.“ It can’ t be just one. I like to see everything to be( considered) a complete bodybuilder.”
Another wide bodybuilder took it a step further when Johnnie Jackson( who is also a powerlifter) said matter-of-factly,“ I don’ t think necessarily that we have to look at the most aesthetic bodies and say automatically‘ you should win because you have the perfect shape.’ But you have to look at everyone the same way and the most conditioned … the most balanced guy. Take Branch Warren, for example. Of course, his aesthetics aren’ t as great as Dexter Jackson’ s( the 2015 Arnold Classic champion), the small waist and all of that good stuff. But you have to look at the guy as a whole, not just the aesthetics.”
One of the names that Schwarzenegger singled out was Cedric McMillan, who placed fourth at the Arnold Classic with his pleasing physique. Many people – including Schwarzenegger – felt that ' Big Mac ' should have fared better. Only time will tell if this has a long-term effect in bodybuilding and until then, McMillan is taking a‘ wait and see’ attitude towards it.
“ I think that it’ s a big deal, but at the same time we can only look at it as talk right now,” he explained.“ But I definitely appreciate it because I feel that he said those things because of me.”
“ It used to be that you should have a V-shaped body. Now it’ s like a bottle shaped body or something like that.”
“ I THINK THAT IT’ S A BIG DEAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN ONLY LOOK AT IT AS TALK RIGHT NOW.”
Cedric McMillan
“ FOR ME, BODYBUILDING IS ABOUT AESTHETICS AND SYMMETRY; BEING PLEASING TO THE EYES.”
Shawn Rhoden
“ PHIL HEATH( WHOSE PHYSIQUE IS A FINE BLEND OF MASS AND AESTHETICS) IS THE REIGNING CHAMPION FOUR YEARS AND COUNTING.“
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