Is Figure Really the New Bodybuilding?

Musclepapa John · #1 03-29-2009, 09:56 PM

As times change and the federations try to adjust to appeal to mainstreamers that are intimidated by women with anything more than mammaries and buttocks could it be that figure is rapidly becoming the dominion of what we have traditionally known as bodybuilders?
We see signs of where this could be the case as figure competitors are scored down for being too muscular, vascular, conditioned, and even for rigid postures. Might this be a sign that these women scored down ought to actually be competing in bodybuilding?
The term itself "bodybuilding" connotes something that those flabby mainstreamers don't like, which results in some marketing savvy interests dropping the term entirely from their promotion of women in this realm of the physique sports.
As Helle Nielsen noted on Siouxcountry Radio might "Body Sculpting" be a better and more savory expression than bodybuilding for women these days?
Take a look at my current avatar and you will find a beautiful lady who competed in figure at the CJ Classic, but could possibly have faired quite well in bodybuilding.
Such a shame that semantics is such a necessity in best promoting the beautiful physiques of female competitors in bodybuilding, fitness, figure, and now bikini.

Siouxcountry · #2 03-29-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musclepapa John

Take a look at my current avatar and you will find a beautiful lady who competed in figure at the CJ Classic, but could possibly have faired quite well in bodybuilding.

What was her placing?

Joel posted pics of a figure competitor who switched over and competed in bodybuilding this year..............

http://www.siouxcountry.com/showthread.php?t=6456

She won the overall.

Musclepapa John · #3 03-29-2009, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siouxcountry

What was her placing?

Joel posted pics of a figure competitor who switched over and competed in bodybuilding this year..............

http://www.siouxcountry.com/showthread.php?t=6456

She won the overall.

2nd in class d:
Venezolana Tibisay Robles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fC7Y8LGq2Y

**Quadrablue** · #4 03-29-2009, 11:52 PM

Ok so here's a question...... if there were no shows for fbb's how many of you would crossover to figure so you could still compete? My answer....NO!!! I love who I am and have no wish to tone it down just to get on a stage.

**teri** · #5 03-30-2009, 12:24 AM

Amen sista-Quadrablue.

..No offense John, but IMO-i dont think she would be a bb, to me that girl looks like a true old fashion Figure- which i think she looks fantastic as...but fbb?? i dont think so..(imo)

Musclepapa John · #6 03-30-2009, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadrablue

Ok so here's a question...... if there were no shows for fbb's how many of you would crossover to figure so you could still compete? My answer....NO!!! I love who I am and have no wish to tone it down just to get on a stage.

Granted you can't be in full bore development mode as a top IFBB athlete and hope to succeed by toning it down (lol), but aren't these really issues of degree versus as you describe an extreme where bodybuilding for women might,..go away? We know it isn't going away but many bodybuilding quality physiques appear in the IFBB Figure and Fitness ranks. As an IFBB Pro can't you for instance compete also in figure as a pro?

I see this come up with bodybuilding ladies in how they market themselves where they might prefer on their website to refer to themselves only as an IFBB athlete whereas you refer to yourself proudly as an IFBB Professional Bodybuilder at www.AthenaSiganakis.com

Musclepapa John · #7 03-30-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teri

Amen sista-Quadrablue.

..No offense John, but IMO-i dont think she would be a bb, to me that girl looks like a true old fashion Figure- which i think she looks fantastic as...but fbb?? i dont think so..(imo)

Unfortunately, on a local level some of the girls competing as bodybuilders er, don't look as much like a bodybuilder as she does, lol.

**Suzanne** · #8 03-30-2009, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadrablue

Ok so here's a question...... if there were no shows for fbb's how many of you would crossover to figure so you could still compete? My answer....NO!!! I love who I am and have no wish to tone it down just to get on a stage.

ABSOLUTELY NOT! I train because I love it and love the muscle. Competing is just for fun. Especially the new figure

**teri** · #9 03-30-2009, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musclepapa John

Unfortunately, on a local level some of the girls competing as bodybuilders er, don't look as much like a bodybuilder as she does, lol.

ok true...i will give u that...I just hope ur "question" is not the way its going to go...

**Suzanne** · #10 03-30-2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teri

Amen sista-Quadrablue.

..No offense John, but IMO-i dont think she would be a bb, to me that girl looks like a true old fashion Figure- which i think she looks fantastic as...but fbb?? i dont think so..(imo)

I don't think she is FBBer either

just because you are lean does not = BBer

**Suzanne** · #11 03-30-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musclepapa John

Unfortunately, on a local level some of the girls competing as bodybuilders er, don't look as much like a bodybuilder as she does, lol.

That is because WAY TOO MANY people rush to stage LONG before they should even more in figure than BBBing

**lil mama** · #12 03-30-2009, 12:54 AM

I am what I am said POPEYE....and I was A FBB when I started out over 10 years ago then switched to figure thinking I would never have big enough muskles

for bodybuilding( lol ) but lil did I realize I was always bb at heart even when I WAS DOING FIGURE just a miniature version

**teri** · #13 03-30-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil mama

I am what I am said POPEYE....and I was A FBB when I started out over 10 years ago then switched to figure thinking I would never have big enough muskles

for bodybuilding( lol ) but lil did I realize I was always bb at heart even when I WAS DOING FIGURE just a miniature version

**Suzanne** · #14 03-30-2009, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil mama

I am what I am said POPEYE....and I was A FBB when I started out over 10 years ago then switched to figure thinking I would never have big enough muskles

for bodybuilding( lol ) but lil did I realize I was always bb at heart even when I WAS DOING FIGURE just a miniature version

me too! Once i switched back i knew i was home! plus there was a time i equated being a size 1-3 in offseason as looking good and being lean I am OVER that!

**ISABELLE TURELL** · #15 03-30-2009, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quadrablue

Ok so here's a question...... if there were no shows for fbb's how many of you would crossover to figure so you could still compete? My answer....NO!!! I love who I am and have no wish to tone it down just to get on a stage.

Way to Go Athena!

We don't do crossovers anymore here in Indiana. We ran into problems where the girls competing in figure didn't place to high and crossed over to bodybuilding and placed well. This could also be due to the fact that we don't have many competitors in female bodybuilding anyway

in Indiana. I really wish we did. We no longer allow crossovers from figure to bodybuilding or vice versa. Either you want to be a bodybuilder or a figure competitor.

Now our Indiana's very own Jennifer Gates started out as a bodybuilder (which she looked great) and then went and competed in figure. Look at all her success

**Quadrablue** · #16 03-30-2009, 05:38 AM

Hey, I tried training for fitness back in my early 30's. Have no clue if I would've been good at it or not. What I do know is that at heart I am bodybuilder. I can't imagine being anything else.

Musclepapa John · #17 03-30-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISABELLE TURELL-STAMPER

We ran into problems where the girls competing in figure didn't place to high and crossed over to bodybuilding and placed well. This could also be due to the fact that we don't have many competitors in female bodybuilding anyway

in Indiana.

Belle kind of makes the point here as there is a lot of bodybuilding talent in the figure ranks and that for some reason the bodybuilding ranks are lacking. I believe it is the stigma attached to it. I wish I knew how that could be addressed head on and put a positive spin on it to help build the popularity of the sport.

**Quadrablue** · #18 03-30-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musclepapa John

Belle kind of makes the point here as there is a lot of bodybuilding talent in the figure ranks and that for some reason the bodybuilding ranks are lacking. I believe it is the stigma attached to it. I wish I knew how that could be addressed head on and put a positive spin on it to help build the popularity of the sport.

You and me both. I've had a few girls come to me that want to do figure that are clearly meant to be bbers. But you can't force them to do what they don't want to do, even after they don't place well as figure girls. They just keep using the word 'skinny'. I hate that word

**Bronwyn** · #19 03-30-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil mama

I am what I am said POPEYE....and I was A FBB when I started out over 10 years ago then switched to figure thinking I would never have big enough muskles

for bodybuilding( lol ) but lil did I realize I was always bb at heart even when I WAS DOING FIGURE just a miniature version

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzanne

me too! Once i switched back i knew i was home! plus there was a time i equated being a size 1-3 in offseason as looking good and being lean I am OVER that!

Me too

I competed as bodybuilder and always was a bodybuilder, but Figure here ruined lightweight bodybuilding (we have only middle and heavy weight now here on Nationals).... When I did my comeback to open classes from teenage class - I thought I am tiny to be a bodybuilder. On my first figure I was kicked out because of being "too huge" ....

Than I competed in Bulgary - in Figure too, but this "figure" was rather lightweight bodybuilding. I wanted to go Figure on Universe NAC too - but judges at the weight in pushed me back to bodybuilding and I realized I missed it a lot. You might seen probbably the fastest kicking off the high heels in history there

Now prepairing for Figure class - but in NABBA. In NABBA Figure is as big and hard as bodybuilding in IFBB and Physique is HUGE!! So the training and goal is to have huge and ripped muscles....And I hope to be able to go to Physique one day again!!

Some pictures from 2008 - last picture is Physique class winner (bodybuilding) Vivian

**teri** · #20 03-30-2009, 01:53 PM

WOW...Interesting...i didnt know that about NABBA...Those girls r ROCKS...