Psychoholic

I must rant.

There are generally considered 2 major organizations in bodybuilding. The NPC and the IFBB. Like them or not, they dominate the bodybuilding community.

When you talk about natural bodybuilding, there are dozens of different federations (this was just the first 2 pages on google for 'natural bodybuilding federation'):

ABA, PBNA, INBA, (whose website is the worst I may have ever seen), NANBF, BNBF, INBF, WNBF, ONBF, USBF, WNSO, FAME, ANBA, SNBF, and more!!!

Is it really necessary to do a dozen different federations? How about some kind of grand unified natural bodybuilding federation. None of these federations gets any kind of real press, none have any real prize money (compared to the IFBB and NPC), and certainly none are going to grow to match something like the Arnold (if you say the natural universe is like the arnold, I think you may be kidding yourself).

I think if people could get together under one 'international natural bodybuilding federation' or something very IFBB-like (but natural), then the sport has really alot of potential to go very far. People with amazing physiques worth having, but who aren't chemically enhanced (and for the record I have nothing against steroids, I just choose not to do them for personal reasons) can't get a camera on them because there is no sense of unity.

Maybe the IFBB should have a natural division (of course then that would make them admit the errant drug use in all of their shows) and get the dozen of smaller federations just dry up.

I imagine that most of them were started because there was nothing worth doing to begin with, then each one of them won't let go of this microcosmic universe that they have created and they are the gooey center of.

People like Layne Norton and Michael Elias, who are highly respected on many different bodybuilding communities could usher in a new era of natural bodybuilding, but even they are in different federations (I think Michael is WNSO and Layne is IFPA, hey look, another federation).

For some reason I see something like the IMPC gaining momentum, and drawing real attention if marketed well. It is really the future of bodybuilding in my opinion. We exist in an internet world now, and something like this really gets people moving in the right direction and builds a hellacious foundation for people to actually compete.

Lets say hypothetically that all of the people that have shown interest show far in the IMPC actually go through with it, and they all complete it completely shredded to the bone. What then? In perfect shape to tweak their diets a bit, add some here and there and get ripped down low single digit bodyfats, etc.., but what federation do they compete in? Whatever is closest? What about advancement? What about going all the way? What if in our midst we have some incredible bodybuilders who just need the right motivation, and when they get just yoked (like BH, aka Heath, that dude is a natural for going all the way) from doing a few smaller shows have the talent and the build to go really far? What do they find? No damned money and no way to really sustain on that alone. I think it probably chases people away before it gets them into it (not saying people shouldn't improve for the right reasons, I'm just talking hypothetically that if they had the talent and the body for going pro, what is there out there to make them make that leap and commitment?).

Hell, there are 2 gazillion bodybuilding forums out there because everyone wants to duplicate what bb.com has done - and that is obvious because 90% of the people on this site are from there and got tired of it for whatever reason.

Maybe we all need to get serious about ironmass.com as something that could be huge. It has a perfect brand, a very loyal group, and already the trimmings for a great contest, maybe that is the combination that is needed to make this thing hum and be the one to fly the flag of the natural bodybuilding world and get the smaller federations to join into larger federations and form something that could rival the NPC and IFBB. I can't imagine there are more bodybuilders wanting to get on a cycle than not (I could be grossly wrong on that one), so the number of people are there, you just have to get them in the right place and get them to fly the same colors. Lots of people draws solid sponsors, solid sponsors help get media attention (Flex and M&F, MD, Mens Health would be a good start), good media attention brings bigger purses, bigger purses bring larger events and crowds, and all that pays into something worth doing. Imagine opening up a FLEX or an Muscular Development and seeing pictures of people you know on here (other than Kendra - who deserves even more press), or better still, seeing YOU on the pages of those national magazines because the federation that you compete in gets real national attention.

I imagine that all of the natural bodybuilding shows look to the public the same way I see the R2D2 Builders Club (it exists - http://www.astromech.net/ ).

I'm done ranting.

Chris

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madman911

I agree that it would be better if there were fewer natural federations. the WNBF is the IFBB of the natural bodybuilding world, but they don't treat their athletes with the respect they deserve IMO. There are serious problems with the WNBF and that's why up and coming natural organizations like the IFPA are gaining ground on them.

The IMPC is obviously getting bigger, but it is not truly a natural competition, at least it wasn't according to the rules last year. Every one who competed did so naturally, but the rules for the open division had no restrictions on substances that could be used. That's the biggest issue with trying to run a natural online contest... how are you going to test competitors for banned substances? You can't. The honor system won't work, there will always be people willing to break the rules in order to win.

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EME

Great post.

One small correction though... ( which actually further illustrates your point )

The IFBB and the NPC are really the same organization.

The NPC is just the amateur division of the IFBB in the United States. At the top level, it's administered by the exact same people. Jim Manion, Sandi Ranalli, etc.

I started competing in the NPC nearly 20 years ago and still support it tremendously. The NPC gave me my start and was responsible for launching Kendra's career.

I will always support the NPC as one of the best run organizations in bodybuilding.

However, you are correct that the NPC isn't for everyone, espcially those who want to pursue a career in bodybuilding naturally.

Although it can be done ( as evidenced by Kendra's success ) not many natural athletes are going to be successful at the National level, let alone earn their IFBB pro cards or go on to be successfull in the IFBB. It takes fantastic genetics, and then some enhancement for MOST competitors to achieve the look that is rewarded for both men and women in the IFBB.

This is why the drug free organizations are so important to me, and why I peronsonally chose to pursue a competitive career as a Natural Pro.
I specifically chose the WNSO because of the promotion that they put behind their athletes and the way I was treated by the people in the WNSO/FAME organization, from their promoters all the way up to the CEO of the organization. The FAME organization puts a LOT of money and promotion behind their athletes and works hard to put on a good show. I have been to some other Natural events which didn't do as good a job ( mostly due to lack of funding, not desire ).

Many organizations will allow Pros from a different organization to cross over and compete with them, but not all will do this. Also, some Natural Orgs are known for being very restrictive and controlling of the people that compete with them, and some are known for being very lax ( to put it mildly ) with their drug testing.

One reason for the different orgs in Natural Bodybuilding is the fact that there are many different standards as to what is "natural". Some orgs are extremely restrictive, banning many legal OTC supplements, and others will allow you to use most OTC products with the restrictions being based mostly on scheduled and precription drugs, and the universally agreed upon list of other illegal physique enhancers.

Possibly there will one day be more of a cooperative spirit amoung natural organizations. At present, I am thankful that there are alternatives which allow a competitor to choose the route they wish to follow, and which offer the opportunity to compete on the level at which they choose.

I look at competitons like our IMPC as another way to get people involved in this great sport that I love. Many people will take part in the IMPC who would never have the courage to take part in a live physique competition. However, their involvement in the IMPC may show them that anything is possible and may be the stepping stone to reaching personal and physical achievements that they never thought possible. One day that person who was almost too nervous to post those first pics in April may be up on stage receiving a trophy in front of an audience. Or, they may no longer be aftraid to take their shirt off at the beach or the pool.

Whatever the achievement, bodybuilding competitions motivate people to reach new levels and go beyond what they thought possible. You don't ever have to even win a trophy to experience the dramatic results that can come from making the kind of personal transformation that bodybuilding competition spurs. Whatever the organization or competition, I support everyone who supports bodybuilding.. because ultimately, bodybuilding builds a LOT more than just bodies.

- Michael

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Oldrookie

It would be nice if there were a clear leader in the field of natural bodybuilding. My contest was through a very small federation that does shows in Michigan and Ohio and I primarily chose them because they were the one's that sponsored the show.

It seems as though many of the natural federations are regional. The contest that I hope to get into good enough condition to compete in is a natural NPC contest. At this point, I really don't have any loyalty to any federation, I just have found some shows that I want to do and am willing to join whatever federation they are associated with.

I agree that there could be a great deal more growth in natural bodybuilding if there was a major unified federation that marketed the athletes better. When I told people I was doing a bodybuilding contest they didn't really get it until I showed them some competetors from the major "musclemags" and then some from a natural bodybuilding magazine. The vast majority of people I talked to really prefer the natural athletes. Many of them are put off by bodybuilding because they see guys 5'10'' pushing 300 pounds at 3% bodyfat and they just don't see that as an athletic appealing physique.

There has seemed to be some improvement in the area of natural bodybuilding in the past 10 years or so, but there is still a long way to go.

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