The ability to present ones physique to perfection onstage could be seen as one of the keys to competitive bodybuilding success. Indeed, posing ability is something many bodybuilders seem to have neglected in their pursuit of glory.
It has been rightly argued though, that a well crafted posing routine, and an excellent command of the compulsory poses will express to the judges that an athlete is confident and in control, that they are ready to win and have taken the effort to display their physique to its best possible advantage.
In addition, posing the body well will essentially give the judges what they are looking for: perfect presentation of the body parts under scrutiny. Symmetry, muscularity, aesthetics and proportion are all assessed during the judging process, with points gained for superiority in each category.
If any of these qualities are obscured by poor posing points cannot be given and the athlete could lose based on their posing ability, or lack of. It therefore makes sense to perfect ones posing if winning is the aim.
Most of the great bodybuilding champions of the past were masters of posing. To separate themselves from the competition they would rely not only on their phenomenal physiques but also their ability to choose a posing style that suited their body type.
The great Arnold had a style all of his own; one that people spectacularly fail to replicate today. He knew exactly how to display his good points while minimizing his weaknesses. In fact, most of the past Mr. Olympia's, although probably not posing specialists, were known for their excellence in executing the compulsories and for routines that brought the house down. Today's champions are no different, and posing remains an essential tool for winning the judges, and the audience over.
Bodybuilding's Great Posers
It could be argued that all pro bodybuilders are good posers, and indeed they are. However, a few really stand out. Let us take a look at some of these posing specialists. Why separates them from the average pro? What can you learn from these champions?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold was a master at creating an impact with his solid posing coupled with dramatic transitions between poses. He would create just the right amount of tension throughout the transition before stunning the audience with a perfect shot, which would display his physique to its best possible advantage - Arnold knew exactly how to tailor each pose to accentuate his strong points, his front double bicep shot emphasising his stronger right bicep being a case in point.
In addition, the charisma Arnold displayed, and the confidence he projected told the judges he was the man to beat. Any weaknesses he might have had may have been overlooked due to his winning attitude. Powerful music and dramatic posing, in addition to his perfect command of the compulsories makes Arnold one of the best posers of all time.
Ed Corney
One athlete even Arnold looked up to for his posing ability was Ed Corney. Ed revolutionized posing at a time where very few bodybuilders put much emphasis into their onstage presentation, a time where athletes were still learning many of the fundamentals of physical display.
Ed came along and changed everything with his amazing ability to project the body as a living, breathing work of art. Ed believed in posing after training, and would hold each pose for a count of three, believing this would bring out greater separation and improve overall posing ability.
Onstage this approach would seem to have worked for him, as he seemingly would tense every muscle in his body while maintaining a high degree of fluidity between poses, before hitting the perfect shot.
Lee Labrada
A man whose physique was often described as Mass with Class, Lee Labrada's posing could be likened to poetry in motion. When Lee posed he gave as good an artistic display of the body as any. Lee liked variety and would present a different posing theme on a regular basis, mixing it up with slow, dramatic movement interspersed with powerful, lightening fast transitions leading to flawless presentation of the compulsories, and poses that were uniquely his.
Like Arnold, Lee was a master of projecting a confident, winning attitude. His contrast of posing styles - slow, fast and anything in between - gave him a style that was exclusively his.
Vince Taylor
Arguably the best poser of the '90s bodybuilding era, Vince Taylor, who is now making his comeback, again revolutionized posing by providing entertainment value that had never before been witnessed. Vince incorporated robotic movements and dance with more traditional posing to produce a spectacle that included something for every fan.
Graceful was a word often used to describe Vince's posing as he would effortlessly glide from one pose to the next, while hitting all the shots to perfection. Another who could change his style to suit the theme he wanted to present at the time, Vince's posing repertoire was very full indeed. His Terminator routine brought the house down every time and remains one of the most spectacular posing displays in the history of the sport.
Darrem Charles
Often regarded as the best of the modern day posers, Darrem Charles has a style that is at once powerful and smooth flowing. Always producing something cutting edge and new, Darrem's routines never fail to amaze the crowds with their uniqueness and sophistication.
Like all the champions mentioned above, Darrem seems to prefer poses that accentuate his strengths, while focusing on the transitions between poses to maintain the all-important continuity of flow.
Posing Guidelines
Writers note: Use the following guidelines to improve your posing, and onstage presentation.
1. Pick A Posing Style That Suits Your Physique.
To impress with your posing skills, do not simply go through your routine in the usual manner, hitting pose after pose with little thought given to the way these poses are executed. Instead, really make an impact by choosing a style that compliments the type of physique you have and the kind of statement you want to make.
If you are an upbeat person, like Tony, getting the crowd onside and involved might work well, and fast dynamic posing could be the ticket. Someone more massive, like Ronnie Coleman, could use slower music and hit the poses hard after creating the right amount of tension throughout the transition.
For the smaller, more aesthetic competitor, like a Lee Labrada or Frank Zane, theatrical ability and graceful movement could come into play more often. The same holds true when picking the right poses to emphasise. Obviously, the stronger a body part, the more it should be emphasized.
Competitors with more muscle will typically hit more most muscular shots, and others designed to make an impact more frequently, while smaller guys might choose poses like the front double biceps and front lat spread to show their balance and symmetry. Again, it is an individual thing and the competitor should choose what works for them. Experiment and ask for expert advice regarding what works and what doesn't.
2. Practice Posing Often.
Most of the world's top bodybuilders make a point of practicing their posing, especially as the contest draws near. Practicing the compulsories (shown earlier) will not only help when it comes to maintaining these shots onstage under the bright lights (which is much harder than it sounds), but help to etch detail into the muscles, which will enhance definition come contest time.
Also, as Tony mentioned, posing between sets or at the end of the workout will assist with muscle building in the sense that oxygen and nutrients will enter the muscle at a faster rate, and the muscle will take on a harder appearance - especially if the pose is held for at least the count of three (some pros hold them for up to one minute).
It is also good to practice ones posing routine until it becomes second nature so when it is done onstage under the lights and with the usual competition nerves, it will look natural and free-flowing. In addition, when practicing posing remember to display a look of confidence, complete with a big smile. This look will then be more easily transferred to the stage where it will tell the judges you are ready to win.
3. Get Creative.
The judges and fans probably get tired of seeing the same old routines at each show. To separate yourself from the others, to make the right impact, design a routine that includes something different. Follow the example of greats like Vince Taylor and Lee Labrada, and display your physique in a way the captures the imagination.
While not advocating the excessive use of props, or overdoing things with dance moves and robotic style posing, I would recommend using various sequences of poses in such a way that your posing style becomes uniquely yours. Borrow certain aspects from established competitors (providing they fit your physique and personality) and mix them with your own style.
By: David Robson
It has been rightly argued though, that a well crafted posing routine, and an excellent command of the compulsory poses will express to the judges that an athlete is confident and in control, that they are ready to win and have taken the effort to display their physique to its best possible advantage.
In addition, posing the body well will essentially give the judges what they are looking for: perfect presentation of the body parts under scrutiny. Symmetry, muscularity, aesthetics and proportion are all assessed during the judging process, with points gained for superiority in each category.
If any of these qualities are obscured by poor posing points cannot be given and the athlete could lose based on their posing ability, or lack of. It therefore makes sense to perfect ones posing if winning is the aim.
Most of the great bodybuilding champions of the past were masters of posing. To separate themselves from the competition they would rely not only on their phenomenal physiques but also their ability to choose a posing style that suited their body type.
The great Arnold had a style all of his own; one that people spectacularly fail to replicate today. He knew exactly how to display his good points while minimizing his weaknesses. In fact, most of the past Mr. Olympia's, although probably not posing specialists, were known for their excellence in executing the compulsories and for routines that brought the house down. Today's champions are no different, and posing remains an essential tool for winning the judges, and the audience over.
Bodybuilding's Great Posers
It could be argued that all pro bodybuilders are good posers, and indeed they are. However, a few really stand out. Let us take a look at some of these posing specialists. Why separates them from the average pro? What can you learn from these champions?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold was a master at creating an impact with his solid posing coupled with dramatic transitions between poses. He would create just the right amount of tension throughout the transition before stunning the audience with a perfect shot, which would display his physique to its best possible advantage - Arnold knew exactly how to tailor each pose to accentuate his strong points, his front double bicep shot emphasising his stronger right bicep being a case in point.
In addition, the charisma Arnold displayed, and the confidence he projected told the judges he was the man to beat. Any weaknesses he might have had may have been overlooked due to his winning attitude. Powerful music and dramatic posing, in addition to his perfect command of the compulsories makes Arnold one of the best posers of all time.
Ed Corney
One athlete even Arnold looked up to for his posing ability was Ed Corney. Ed revolutionized posing at a time where very few bodybuilders put much emphasis into their onstage presentation, a time where athletes were still learning many of the fundamentals of physical display.
Ed came along and changed everything with his amazing ability to project the body as a living, breathing work of art. Ed believed in posing after training, and would hold each pose for a count of three, believing this would bring out greater separation and improve overall posing ability.
Onstage this approach would seem to have worked for him, as he seemingly would tense every muscle in his body while maintaining a high degree of fluidity between poses, before hitting the perfect shot.
Lee Labrada
A man whose physique was often described as Mass with Class, Lee Labrada's posing could be likened to poetry in motion. When Lee posed he gave as good an artistic display of the body as any. Lee liked variety and would present a different posing theme on a regular basis, mixing it up with slow, dramatic movement interspersed with powerful, lightening fast transitions leading to flawless presentation of the compulsories, and poses that were uniquely his.
Like Arnold, Lee was a master of projecting a confident, winning attitude. His contrast of posing styles - slow, fast and anything in between - gave him a style that was exclusively his.
Vince Taylor
Arguably the best poser of the '90s bodybuilding era, Vince Taylor, who is now making his comeback, again revolutionized posing by providing entertainment value that had never before been witnessed. Vince incorporated robotic movements and dance with more traditional posing to produce a spectacle that included something for every fan.
Graceful was a word often used to describe Vince's posing as he would effortlessly glide from one pose to the next, while hitting all the shots to perfection. Another who could change his style to suit the theme he wanted to present at the time, Vince's posing repertoire was very full indeed. His Terminator routine brought the house down every time and remains one of the most spectacular posing displays in the history of the sport.
Darrem Charles
Often regarded as the best of the modern day posers, Darrem Charles has a style that is at once powerful and smooth flowing. Always producing something cutting edge and new, Darrem's routines never fail to amaze the crowds with their uniqueness and sophistication.
Like all the champions mentioned above, Darrem seems to prefer poses that accentuate his strengths, while focusing on the transitions between poses to maintain the all-important continuity of flow.
Posing Guidelines
Writers note: Use the following guidelines to improve your posing, and onstage presentation.
1. Pick A Posing Style That Suits Your Physique.
To impress with your posing skills, do not simply go through your routine in the usual manner, hitting pose after pose with little thought given to the way these poses are executed. Instead, really make an impact by choosing a style that compliments the type of physique you have and the kind of statement you want to make.
If you are an upbeat person, like Tony, getting the crowd onside and involved might work well, and fast dynamic posing could be the ticket. Someone more massive, like Ronnie Coleman, could use slower music and hit the poses hard after creating the right amount of tension throughout the transition.
For the smaller, more aesthetic competitor, like a Lee Labrada or Frank Zane, theatrical ability and graceful movement could come into play more often. The same holds true when picking the right poses to emphasise. Obviously, the stronger a body part, the more it should be emphasized.
Competitors with more muscle will typically hit more most muscular shots, and others designed to make an impact more frequently, while smaller guys might choose poses like the front double biceps and front lat spread to show their balance and symmetry. Again, it is an individual thing and the competitor should choose what works for them. Experiment and ask for expert advice regarding what works and what doesn't.
2. Practice Posing Often.
Most of the world's top bodybuilders make a point of practicing their posing, especially as the contest draws near. Practicing the compulsories (shown earlier) will not only help when it comes to maintaining these shots onstage under the bright lights (which is much harder than it sounds), but help to etch detail into the muscles, which will enhance definition come contest time.
Also, as Tony mentioned, posing between sets or at the end of the workout will assist with muscle building in the sense that oxygen and nutrients will enter the muscle at a faster rate, and the muscle will take on a harder appearance - especially if the pose is held for at least the count of three (some pros hold them for up to one minute).
It is also good to practice ones posing routine until it becomes second nature so when it is done onstage under the lights and with the usual competition nerves, it will look natural and free-flowing. In addition, when practicing posing remember to display a look of confidence, complete with a big smile. This look will then be more easily transferred to the stage where it will tell the judges you are ready to win.
3. Get Creative.
The judges and fans probably get tired of seeing the same old routines at each show. To separate yourself from the others, to make the right impact, design a routine that includes something different. Follow the example of greats like Vince Taylor and Lee Labrada, and display your physique in a way the captures the imagination.
While not advocating the excessive use of props, or overdoing things with dance moves and robotic style posing, I would recommend using various sequences of poses in such a way that your posing style becomes uniquely yours. Borrow certain aspects from established competitors (providing they fit your physique and personality) and mix them with your own style.
By: David Robson
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