Posing Routines

[of_wolf_and_man]

just a little something i noticed when i watched the night show at North Harbour after i was finished...

some athletes (that i've seen on stage before) used the same routines that they had already done at another comp! I recognised some of the competitors from the club physical champs and thanks to my memory, i could spot that they were the same routines... i also noticed Simon Kelly's routine was very similar to the one he did at the auckland show, if not the same.

this kinda ticked me off cuz i worked pretty hard to come up with another routine that was somewhat original to an extent... at least different from my other one. BUT, is repeating a routine a common thing? or do athletes usually compose a new routine for new shows?

one thing that definitely ticks me off is when athletes just make up their routine on stage. you can clearly tell that it's being made up as they're doing it, and frankly, you look like an idiot. (i know this cuz i had only composed half of my routine for my first comp, and kinda made the other half up... and it was stupid...)

I can understand that coming up with a new routine all the time can be a bitch but i just think athletes should still be original and creative.. and well prepared. there's my two cents.

[MasterTel]

Excellent comments, of_wolf_and_man! Personally, I do a new routine each year, and use it for all shows that year. From what I have seen, most other competitors seem to do the same. There are a few who use the same track year after year, and pretty much the same routine - perhaps a new pose or two thrown in - but generally same old routine.

Perhaps some people prefer to "wing it" because they know the routine won't be judged for their class placing?

While I agree that some people should make more effort with their routines, there are also some people who spend 90% of their practice time on their routine and 10% on their posing - they do a fantastic routine, but their posing is cr*p and they wonder why they didn't place higher!

Almost all NABBA and NZFBB events now have "Best Posing Routine" awards which I think is great - I was lucky enough to win a couple of these this year and it is nice to have some incentive (other than personal pride) to perform a good routine. It's also nice to try and entertain the audience.

[of_wolf_and_man]

ah, i see. cheers MT now i know better.

yeah the "best posing routine" or "best performer" awards are great i think. though i didn't win this award (which i think i should have cuz BATMAN kicks butt!!), i got a really good response from the crowd, and it satisfied me that i had given them good entertainment, and took away the bitterness of 3rd place (nicer way of putting last in the class) LOL

yeah its kinda disappointing seeing someone who looks really impressive, but that gets taken away because they can't pose as well.... not a problem for me (although im not that big/shredded) cuz i practise posing everyday! LOL sounds vain but its true.....

[samoan_muscle]

ah, i see. cheers MT now i know better.

yeah the "best posing routine" or "best performer" awards are great i think. though i didn't win this award (which i think i should have cuz BATMAN kicks butt!!), i got a really good response from the crowd, and it satisfied me that i had given them good entertainment, and took away the bitterness of 3rd place (nicer way of putting last in the class) LOL

yeah its kinda disappointing seeing someone who looks really impressive, but that gets taken away because they can't pose as well.... not a problem for me (although im not that big/shredded) cuz i practise posing everyday! LOL sounds vain but its true.....

bro i had to wing mine and it was totally shit. Just b4 i walked on stage the lady came an tole me they cudnt play my music ... i was pissed.....

[Andrew]

Ok here’s my thought on this subject, yes having a good posing routine is good but it is not judged so if it’s not brilliant it’s not the end of the world..some people are natural better at posing routines then others and often this comes with more stage time, having a flow to a posing routine is the key to it being good

P.S. I wing my routines

[Paul]

Im with you andrew at the end of the day some people get off on the routine side of it ,Personally actually making it to the stage looking the best I possiblly can is more important and of course being able to display your physique well when you are being judged.

[2guns]

i think it adds to u alot if u can pull off a really good posing routine this is what the supporters come to see at night.

i think its so cool when someone has gone to the effort of having an awesome routine and has the confidence up there to do it well.

wish i could do mean ones lol. mine are so rank!

[Paul]

defitnley adds to the total package bro i agree .Some guys can make up a routine the night before and it willl

be awesome the next day .I know thats what M.Kingsnorth did for the nationals (Barstad)

[geneticgod]

i think the routines are the best part of coming to watch the show, apart from seeing the massmonsters like jaime cameron and simon kelly.

You could see the people who just made them up on stage, and it looks awful, i think its important to put on a good show for the spectators as paying $25 is alot to come watch. Having said that it took me ages to decide upon my song aye, lol its hard to get a good song to move to, i just took flex wheelers ideaof a slow song, specialy since it was my first comp,

The best routine awards are great, such a good idea, encourages a better show aye :nod:

[Kiwi]

I can understand why some people do their routine's over several shows - I mean it takes a bit of work pulling it together, and then it isn't really part of the judging. So there is a bit of cost-benefit thought to how much effort to put in, especially when energy levels are low and time is at a premium during comp prep. But as someone who has sat in the audience for numerous shows over the past 2 years I have seen some people do the same routine each time and after about the third time it really starts to wear a bit thin, especially if there are a few cute or corny bits in it. So it is really nice to see a fresh routine after a few showings. Maybe it might be possible to retain some of the classic poses that flow well together in your initial routine - especially if they show off your strong body parts, then add a few fresh moves around it, then change the music. That way you don't have to start from scratch each time.

[MasterTel]

One thing I find a bit annoying at a show is when competitors pick a recent popular song for their routines and you end up hearing it perhaps 5 or 6 times during the night show. I remember one show in Wellington a few years ago where 4 or 5 competitors in the SAME CLASS had the same music ... they all trained at the same gym and used the same choreographer and music for their routines!!

One suggestion for those people who feel uncomfortable doing a posing routine - cut it short. The 60 second limit is a MAXIMUM - I've seen several really good routines done in 40 seconds or less. If you can show enough good moves and poses in 30 seconds, why drag it out for another 30?

Something that amazes me with some of the pros is their flexibility and agility on top of all that muscle mass - I've seen a number of routines where competitors do the splits (like Ronnie Coleman) or backward sommersaults! Perhaps they had a background in gymnastics, but it's quite amazing to see (and hearing the thud as a 280lb monster lands a back flip!)

[of_wolf_and_man]

i think the best routines are done by the likes of flex wheeler or melvin anthony. as well as having one of the most impressive bodies, they also have one of the most impressive moves!! i've recently watched a melvin anthony routine and boy he can dance!! he has absolute control of his body! (i'll get geneticgod to post up the link if he can find it) Now that is a routine to be proud of...

it should be illegal to have that much muscle mass and be able to dance like that... its just not fair...

[MasterTel]

I haven't seen any of Melvin Anthony's routines but he is renowned as being one of the best posers, with gravity-defying moves.

The best routine I have seen in person was by King Kamali at the 2004 Australian Pro show - man, that guy can move!

Yes, it doesn't seem fair that these guys can build all that freaky mass, but also move like professional dancers or contort like gymnasts. I guess some are just gifted in more ways than one.

[geneticgod]

i think the best routines are done by the likes of flex wheeler or melvin anthony. as well as having one of the most impressive bodies, they also have one of the most impressive moves!! i've recently watched a melvin anthony routine and boy he can dance!! he has absolute control of his body! (i'll get geneticgod to post up the link if he can find it) Now that is a routine to be proud of...

it should be illegal to have that much muscle mass and be able to dance like that... its just not fair...

i reckon, melvin is the meanest poser ive seen man, hes got the moves, its just not fair aye!!

heres the link on youtube, gotta be one of the best, watta ya think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZBUNr2_oAA

[Small]

...thats great.

I wasn't expecting the whole robot thing. haha.

Hes awesome.

[geneticgod]

its phat aye, fully takes you by surprise!! :nod:

Im jelous how you can have that size a physique AND be able to move like that. If I had half his skill I'd be soooo stolked!!