Mike Davies on Figure Judging
I came across letter written by Mike Davies
Trainer of champions (Adela, Jen Hendershott, Latisha Wilder, Tracey Greenwood) Mike Davies:
Quote:
I am writing this article on the plane ride home from this year's NPC USA Bodybuilding and Figure Championships. Once again the quality of athlete was outstanding in both men's and women's bodybuilding and the figure...well that was a whole other monster in itself. There were over two hundred figure girls competing for six IFBB Procards. So that means one hundred and ninety four girls went home either upset, confused, dismayed, pissed off, or just plain numb. Those were just some of the feelings expressed by some of my own clients. It is pretty much the same at every show. So at the end of this long summer and the end of the pro qualifiers until fall, let's evaluate where we are and where the sport of figure is headed.
Now, if you are paying attention, you can see that some changes are occurring in the figure divisions in regards to judging criteria. Nothing has been put in writing but the way the judges are interpreting the criteria seems to be changing. I personally think it is ultimately going to be for the betterment of our sport. And like any other time in your life, you may embrace the change or you may be the type to fight it to the bitter end. If you're going to compete, you may as well embrace it.
Remeber this is just my opinion based on my own observations from the pro qualifiers held this summer. You may think I am way off base, so I'll try to explain. The days of rock hard sculpted bodies with thick dense muscularity, vascularity and strapped shoulders and quads are gone. It's seen its last days. It was never truly the judging criteria anyway. Its always been a lean athletic physique, and like I said early, the interpretation of what that is has changed. Remember that Figure is only in its fourth year of existence in the NPC and IFBB and like anything else, it evolves over time. What was winning four years ago is not what they are looking for now. The sport has changed, the competition is more fierce and the difference between first place and tenth place is very minimal.
The change makes sense to me. Four years ago our judges only looked at bodybuilders and fitness athletes. Female bodybuilders can come hard and lean yet are still expected to maintain femininity. The fitness athletes are much smaller, yet still lean. Training to perform an anaerobic two minute routine lends itself to making your appearance a little harder. I call it tiny and tight. It's a good look and it's still very acceptable in fitness today and should be. When that was all the judges knew for years and years, it only makes sense that the look would be easy to reward at the onset of the figure competitions. Well, Figure is huge now with more and more girls competing each year. It only makes sense for the judges to carve out a more distinct difference and better understand the difference between the fitness and figure athlete. It gives figure its own identity.
This is how I look at it. Figure starts with shape first and foremost. Symmetry as they call it. You look for that v-taper with a tiny waist and a high round butt that's tight, but not separated, and legs that flow from the hips down that are round and full with some separation. That's why it is more fair to judge the one-piece round first. I realize that judging the one piece first rewards girls who are more genetically gifted with structure, but that's no different than any other sport. Some people are just genetically gifted and some people just outwork what God gave them. Deal with it. Then you look to see who is actually in shape. This is where everyone's opinion varies. How hard is too hard or soft too soft, and how much muscle is too much muscle for a figure girl? That's the gray area. But you can understand some things by just paying attention. If your quads are striated and your shoulders banded, abs veined up and back looks like a sheet of rice paper, you're to hard and lean. If your butt sags to the back of your knees and you have a two pack instead of a six pack and your quad lays over top of your knee cap, you're too soft. Be honest with yourself and make an adjustment. If you don't know how, then get help. Evolve your physique to meet the evolution of your sport.
Look no further than what has gone on in the IFBB. Physiques like Mary Elizabeth Lado and Jessica Paxson are being rewarded and held as a yard stick for other competitors. The symmetry and balance of a Laticia Wilder and Gina Aldiado are rising to the top. And at the top is Davana Medina, who has been the standard since this sport's inception four years ago. Even Davana will change with the times in order to stand atop the Figure world. Unfairly scrutinized by the media for her tiny and tight look at last year's Ms. O, look for Davana to show up with a rounder, fuller and every bit as beautiful package at the 2006 Olympia and reign again.
So if you want to compete at a high level, change with the times. Evolve with your sport. Reevaluate your goals and your potential to make change. If you're more confident with a leaner harder physique, great, come over to fitness. Get a choreographer, train you ass off and do fitness. You do not need gymnastics to excel in fitness. It's not part of the judging criteria. Adela Freidmansky doesn't do gymnastics and she's won both the Ms. Olympia title and the Ms. International title twice. Fitness is starving for more girls and a great physique that tends to be a little harder within reason is more acceptable. The rigors of training for the two minute routine almost always guarantees a tighter look at the higher levels.
I know it's easy to say change is good, but we know changing is hard. I myself and the Kim Oddos and all the other trainers will be forced to change too. It's not easy, but we are hired guns employed to take people to their goals. Often times, that might require bringing someone in for a show in the type of shape that she's not comfortable with. If she listens and does well, great. If she listens and still doesn't do well, it's back to the drawing board. If she doesn't listen and doesn't do well, then it is on her. From a trainer's perspective, there is nothing more frustrating than trying to give the judges what you think they want. Deliver that package then try to explain it to the girl who just got 16th with 20 other girls why it happened. It sucks, but live to fight another day. Don't give up because you weren't what the judges were looking for today. I have a saying with all my girls. Chump today, champ tomorrow and vise-versa.
If you're one of those people who would rather sit back and do nothing but complain, maybe you should find another sport to focus on. Maybe Figure is not for you. But if it is for you, adapt, improvise and overcome. It's a sport, have a strategy and a plan for what it is going to take to get to your goal then implement it.
I like what he has to say,but..hmm there is always a But huh
He says:
"If you're more confident with a leaner harder physique, great, come over to fitness. Get a choreographer, train you ass off and do fitness. You do not need gymnastics to excel in fitness. It's not part of the judging criteria. Adela Freidmansky doesn't do gymnastics and she's won both the Ms. Olympia title and the Ms. International title twice."
This might be great advise for very young competitors to switch classes..but not for someone like me. I like the leaner harder physique,but fitness is just not for me I have spent two years kicking my butt with power yoga(6x per week 1-2 hours per session) and I still can't do any power moves you see fitness girls doing!!!!! I though that figure was for girls who did not enjoy routines/fitness(not flexible and gymnastic enough),do not want to be as hard, lean and muscular like BB or soft with lack of muscle like bikini/model girls. I think the industry is in worst shape ever when it comes to judging and defying what each category should be like. I was just watching Europa Show in Dallas Texas..OMG just about everyone is pissed off with results...Girl I though will take figure class (Genex favourite pick too) Juliana Malacarne no 11 did not even place?
Here is the link..results and photos: graphicmuscle.com/index.c...YearID=718
I have spent two years kicking my butt with power yoga(6x per week 1-2 hours per session) and I still can't do any power moves you see fitness girls doing!!!!! I though that figure was for girls who did not enjoy routines/fitness(not flexible and gymnastic enough),do not want to be as hard, lean and muscular like BB or soft with lack of muscle like bikini/model girls. I think the industry is in worst shape ever when it comes to judging and defying what each category should be like. I was just watching Europa Show in Dallas Texas..OMG just about everyone is pissed off with results...Girl I though will take figure class (Genex favourite pick too) Juliana Malacarne no 11 did not even place?
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