NABBA Athletic versus Physique

[musclearmor]

Any judges or experienced others able to specify what the judges are looking for in a first place athletic winner versus physique?

Is it still the same in both classes...symetry + proportion + posing/ presentation + size + leanness? I'm picking since there is a weight cap, it boils down to the athletic class simply carrying less muscle mass.

Its not as if the athletic class has to come in any leaner as both categories have athletes coming in ripped.

Is there less emphasis on the quad size in athletic? Guess the wheels still need to match the chassis right...?

[Matrix]

Mass is deemphasized in Athletic as opposed to Physique where it is emphasized.

So in both classes, Symmetry, proportion and conditioning are still judged points however absolute mass is downplayed in Athletic(As in Classic).

The class suits lighter framed athletes and or guys who dont or cant(structurely) carry the same size as Physique competitors.

Because the two classes are judged on slightly different criteria, that is a reason why Athletic and Classic Classes cant compete for the Overalls.

It would be like trying to determine who is better between a figure contestant and a physique girl. You cant as they are judged by different criteria.

The NABBA site explains this pretty well.

[wheels]

athletic is natural

physique is on the gear, its very basic, im currently wff mr victoria and overall class 2 wff mr australia, and being back stage the nabba boys are usually geared up and holding lots of water, and us wff boys are usually sheadeddd and holding minimal water.

[Ann]

athletic is natural

physique is on the gear, its very basic, im currently wff mr victoria and overall class 2 wff mr australia, and being back stage the nabba boys are usually geared up and holding lots of water, and us wff boys are usually sheadeddd and holding minimal water.

"Athletic is natural?" Are you taking the piss or did something just bang you on that stupid head of yours?? Every goddam class is taking something and that INCLUDES the athletic class. The difference between the two... they probably don't take as much. And if they do... their genetics probably suck or the stuff they buy is shit! Get a clue mate!!

[wheels]

Athletic is natural?" Are you taking the piss or did something just bang you on that stupid head of yours?? Every goddam class is taking something and that INCLUDES the athletic class. The difference between the two... they probably don't take as much. And if they do... their genetics probably suck or the stuff they buy is shit! Get a clue mate

ha ha have i hit a raw nerve of yours, what do you take ay ann. well im an overall australian champ and i can tell you that all the illegal shit they take are cutters, they are mostly natural, if they are on the gear why are their jaw line razor sharp no bloating no water retention or no jaw growth, they promote wff as the natural choice on nabba posters

so just settle down a bit ann, dont blow a test valve and pop the veins back in your neck, dont get so angry over an opinion ok

cheers darl

[Outlaw53]

I can tell you now that WFF Athletic is definitely not a "natural" class over here in Australia, it's nothing of the sort.

It is purely a height for weight competition where the biggest guy still wins.

The judging rarely rewards the classic "Zane" style physiques like it is supposed to.

Biggest and most ripped always wins.

The IFBB Classic Physique class is the same as NABBA's WFF class, it's a height for weight class that is not tested.

It is not judged properly either.

Biggest and most ripped always wins.

Both NABBA & IFBB have brought in these classes in an attempt to win back the natural competitors who are leaving these federations in droves.

INBA is killing it over here, they had over 200 competitors at their Aussie titles and 350 for the Natural Olympia held on the Gold Coast.

NABBA & IFBB are lucky to get half of that.

I'm certainly not saying that some of the WFF competitors are not natural, but WFF is anything but a natural comp.

I know guys who compete in it who are geared-up to the gills.

You posts are way off the mark Wheels.

[Outlaw53]

Mass is deemphasized in Athletic as opposed to Physique where it is emphasized.

So in both classes, Symmetry, proportion and conditioning are still judged points however absolute mass is downplayed in Athletic(As in Classic).

The class suits lighter framed athletes and or guys who dont or cant(structurely) carry the same size as Physique competitors.

Because the two classes are judged on slightly different criteria, that is a reason why Athletic and Classic Classes cant compete for the Overalls.

It would be like trying to determine who is better between a figure contestant and a physique girl. You cant as they are judged by different criteria.

The NABBA site explains this pretty well.

This all sounds great mate, but it hasn't worked out like this here in Australia.

What is happening now is that the smaller NABBA boys are pretty much killing themselves to make the weight limit so as they don't have to take on the bigger NABBA boys.

The funny thing is that some of these WFF guys would clean-up the NABBA boys as they come in too smooth.

The idea is good, but the execution has not been so far.

Biggest, thickest and hardest will win, shape is no higher priority than it is in the NABBA classes.

Al White has probably the most athletic looking physique in Australia but he gets cleaned up by Kristian Porthill who has far more mass.

Both are outstanding competitors by the way.

[Andrew]

Athletic is natural?" Are you taking the piss or did something just bang you on that stupid head of yours?? Every goddam class is taking something and that INCLUDES the athletic class. The difference between the two... they probably don't take as much. And if they do... their genetics probably suck or the stuff they buy is shit! Get a clue mate

ha ha have i hit a raw nerve of yours, what do you take ay ann. well im an overall australian champ and i can tell you that all the illegal shit they take are cutters, they are mostly natural, if they are on the gear why are their jaw line razor sharp no bloating no water retention or no jaw growth, they promote wff as the natural choice on nabba posters

so just settle down a bit ann, dont blow a test valve and pop the veins back in your neck, dont get so angry over an opinion ok

cheers darl

Sorry mate but Ann's got it 100% correct, yes most of the athletic guys are natural but some defiantly are not... but that's all part of the game

[Outlaw53]

Sorry mate but Ann's got it 100% correct, yes most of the athletic guys are natural but some defiantly are not... but that's all part of the game

Correction.............most of the Athletic guys are on the gear, very few are natural.

[musclearmor]

Im going to be straight up and say Im completely clean/ natural- but am using Gaspari Halodrol and Novedex which have really impressed me as I've never gained mass leading into a show before (and sex drive is only now shutting down a week out). Mitotropin is killing my appetite but Im still feel ripped off not eating what I want- typical a week out from a show right?

How hard is it to eat clean when on gear? Is it any easier (you can eat more calories?) or still head-game city?

[wheels]

i dont think that in small doses of gear you can up your calories, i would be cutting any gear out a week or two from the show and still dieting as hard as you can,

its not drugs that do the work you haveto put the hard yards in

[1day]

Im going to be straight up and say Im completely clean/ natural-

id say go deff go for the athletic class then mate if u can hit required hight/weight stats :nod:

[Lilly]

Forget the natural/gear debate.

When I look at the photos from the 2009 Wellington Champs (the last NABBA qualifier for the Nats), the boundaries between the two classes seem clear. The physique class competitors are visibly bigger. Matthew is a stand out in the physique class. He carries a lot of mass and is one solid unit.

Physique Men

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eat_me_whe ... 585585378/

Athletic Men

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eat_me_whe ... 458192013/

Individual conditioning within each athletic and physique class differ greatly. More so in the athletic class where you can see Jason is ripped and some of the others less so.

[agent86]

Physique and Athletic are judged the same. The reason athletic are smaller is because they have a weight limit. Athletic guys tend to come in leaner because they can diet harder to get under the weight restrictions. I have seen an Athletic class overseas which I thought was physique. If the weigh in is on a Friday the Athletic boys will use diuretics to get under the weight and then after the weigh in will eat up and put quite a few kilos.

[Lilly]

Agent did you go to an Aussie NABBA show?

[agent86]

I went to the Queensland Championships last year. The International event I referred to was the 2006 Nabba Universe in Germany which had some freakish athletic boys in.

The Queensland Champs were very enjoyable and in a lovely location.

I just need to lose 20 kilos to get into the Athletic class

[Lilly]

I dream of watching the southern hemisphere champs next year. It's in May and in Queensland.

[luv.me.oats]

lily, check my facebook and you'll see the calibre of competitors from NABBA Southern hemisphere, I was there in May competing.

[anntaylor]

luv.me.oats: I have checked ur facebook thanks for sharing

[musclenz]

Not going to elaborate on the NABBA Intl Judging Criteria as most are aware of that but here is the regulatory requirement for WFF. Although WFF allow for the natural athlete to compete in a height & weight based class system, there is NO Drug Testing in NZ, Aust or at International events.

WFF Judging Criterias

The criteria to judge an athlete is based upon three equal aspects:

Round 1 : Symmetry / Front, Back and Sides Line-up

Round 2 : Presentation / Individual Routine

Round 3 : Grade of Muscularity / Compulsory Comparisons

Round 1 : Front, Back, and Sides Line-up

In this round the judges analyse body shape, tone, symmetry, harmony and general presentation.

Symmetry refers to the structural harmony of the physique relative to the size of the various body parts. Shape, proportion, detail, definition, and balance of each body part in relation to one another must give a cohesive whole and overall balance.

Round 2 : Presentation / Individual Routine

Competitor will be allowed a maximum of 60 seconds to exhibit her/his figure, physical conditioning, charisma, and presentation ability through this free posing round. Contestants should show flexibility, creativity, overall presence and choreographical performance.

Presentation is the effective display of the contestant's asset through posing ability, posture, projection, and carriage on stage. Skin tone, grooming, and posing outfit are a part of presentation. The selection of poses and their proper execution, the smoothness of transitions, and the coordinated selection of music all enhance the routine and presentation.

In this round the judges look for qualified routines that demonstrate individual personality, style and muscle-coordination.

Round 3 : Grade of Muscularity / Compulsory Comparisons

Muscularity refers to the size of the muscles in relation to skeletal structure, their shape and definition.

All competitors in the class will present themselves on stage in serial order and assume a relaxed stance. The head judge will call each of the poses in order giving the competitors a sufficient number of seconds to hold the pose for the judge's determination and ample time for the athletes to rest between each pose. After the initial comparisons are completed, the head judge shall shift the competitors about and conduct additional comparisons of selected sub-groups. Once the judging panel is satisfied, round three is finished.

Compulsory Comparisons:

FRONT DOUBLE BICEPS

FRONT LAD SPREAD (no pose for women)

SIDE CHEST

SIDE TRICEPS

BACK DOUBLE BICEPS

BACK LAD SPREAD (no pose for women)

ABDOMINALS AND THIGHS (no pose for women)