The biggest misconception about NPC contest success

[Howard]

Go to any major IFBB pro or NPC contest and you'll see a unique crowd.
I love going to bodybuilding events and consider myself a hardcore meathead at heart.
BUT, some of the most dedicated people remain misinformed on what makes  a winning physique on the contest stage.

I've seen many, large, serious looking "gurus" telling others, what the winning formula is.
Often their ideals are at odds with what we see winning on stage.
This often leads to upset fans screaming about judging politics.

Anyone who wants to maximize their chances of winning must try to adhere to the judging criteria used.
Too many stubborn, misguided " experts" wrongly assume that their standards are the same as the judges.
The most common mistake made is thinking the biggest = the best.
That only applies when most of the contestants are ripped and have all the major body parts developed ( like the pro ranks).

In the NPC amateur ranks, your first success comes from winning your WEIGHT class.
1st place in the bantam wt or light wt class at the nationals, gets you a national level title and pro card.
Placing 5th as a super hvy or Hvy wt at the same nationals is good, but won't result in the same success as those who won in much lighter wt classes.

In my opinion, too many hardcore bodybuilders have the cart before the horse , when it comes to NPC bodybuilding contests.
Many wt class and even overall winners in the NPC are much lighter then the top pros on the Olympia stage.
That misguided thinking often results in decent bodybuilders not competing in regional NPC shows because some guru said they needed to be a lot bigger.

You don't need to be a "juiced to the gills" freak or weigh 250 lbs to win your wt class or division at a local or regional NPC contest.
I know many want to develop into good , future pros . BUT you can't get a pro card if you don't win in the NPC first.
Plus, I don't think the pro card , should be the main motivation for most who compete in BB.
In fact, I've judged many outstanding 150-195 lb amateur bodybuilders at many regional events over the years.
If you come in ripped with good overall development, you can do quite well in your wt class at an NPC show.

[Howard]

I bumped this to try and get some comments on my views here?

[OTHstrong]

Go to any major IFBB pro or NPC contest and you'll see a unique crowd.
I love going to bodybuilding events and consider myself a hardcore meathead at heart.
BUT, some of the most dedicated people remain misinformed on what makes  a winning physique on the contest stage.

I've seen many, large, serious looking "gurus" telling others, what the winning formula is.
Often their ideals are at odds with what we see winning on stage.
This often leads to upset fans screaming about judging politics.

Anyone who wants to maximize their chances of winning must try to adhere to the judging criteria used.
Too many stubborn, misguided " experts" wrongly assume that their standards are the same as the judges.
The most common mistake made is thinking the biggest = the best.
That only applies when most of the contestants are ripped and have all the major body parts developed ( like the pro ranks).

In the NPC amateur ranks, your first success comes from winning your WEIGHT class.
1st place in the bantam wt or light wt class at the nationals, gets you a national level title and pro card.
Placing 5th as a super hvy or Hvy wt at the same nationals is good, but won't result in the same success as those who won in much lighter wt classes.

In my opinion, too many hardcore bodybuilders have the cart before the horse , when it comes to NPC bodybuilding contests.
Many wt class and even overall winners in the NPC are much lighter then the top pros on the Olympia stage.
That misguided thinking often results in decent bodybuilders not competing in regional NPC shows because some guru said they needed to be a lot bigger.

You don't need to be a "juiced to the gills" freak or weigh 250 lbs to win your wt class or division at a local or regional NPC contest.
I know many want to develop into good , future pros . BUT you can't get a pro card if you don't win in the NPC first.
Plus, I don't think the pro card , should be the main motivation for most who compete in BB.
In fact, I've judged many outstanding 150-195 lb amateur bodybuilders at many regional events over the years.
If you come in ripped with good overall development, you can do quite well in your wt class at an NPC show.

good post, I agree

[SF1900]

Go to any major IFBB pro or NPC contest and you'll see a unique crowd.
I love going to bodybuilding events and consider myself a hardcore meathead at heart.
BUT, some of the most dedicated people remain misinformed on what makes  a winning physique on the contest stage.

I've seen many, large, serious looking "gurus" telling others, what the winning formula is.
Often their ideals are at odds with what we see winning on stage.
This often leads to upset fans screaming about judging politics.

Anyone who wants to maximize their chances of winning must try to adhere to the judging criteria used.
Too many stubborn, misguided " experts" wrongly assume that their standards are the same as the judges.
The most common mistake made is thinking the biggest = the best.
That only applies when most of the contestants are ripped and have all the major body parts developed ( like the pro ranks).

In the NPC amateur ranks, your first success comes from winning your WEIGHT class.
1st place in the bantam wt or light wt class at the nationals, gets you a national level title and pro card.
Placing 5th as a super hvy or Hvy wt at the same nationals is good, but won't result in the same success as those who won in much lighter wt classes.

In my opinion, too many hardcore bodybuilders have the cart before the horse , when it comes to NPC bodybuilding contests.
Many wt class and even overall winners in the NPC are much lighter then the top pros on the Olympia stage.
That misguided thinking often results in decent bodybuilders not competing in regional NPC shows because some guru said they needed to be a lot bigger.

You don't need to be a "juiced to the gills" freak or weigh 250 lbs to win your wt class or division at a local or regional NPC contest.
I know many want to develop into good , future pros . BUT you can't get a pro card if you don't win in the NPC first.
Plus, I don't think the pro card , should be the main motivation for most who compete in BB.
In fact, I've judged many outstanding 150-195 lb amateur bodybuilders at many regional events over the years.
If you come in ripped with good overall development, you can do quite well in your wt class at an NPC show.

I will definitely sleep better tonight knowing this crucial piece of information.

Something about understanding the qualifications of winning a bodybuilding contest that puts me at ease.

[OTHstrong]

I will definitely sleep better tonight knowing this crucial piece of information.

Something about understanding the qualifications of winning a bodybuilding contest that puts me at ease.

dude we are cool and I love you but fuck man, I sometime believe you forget this is a bodybuilding forum

[SF1900]

dude we are cool and I love you but fuck man, I sometime believe you forget this is a bodybuilding forum

I thought it was a ballet forum. 

[Howard]

Plenty of posters may think this post was obvious, and it should be.
BUT, go to any show or gym and talk about competing in an NPC show.
Plenty of guys who could do well in a jr lt or middle wt class think they need to be a lot bigger.
They end up thinking they need to go MPD or wait until they bigger.

It seems to me , too many are worried about getting pro cards then concentrating on the entry level shows they need to win first

[OTHstrong]

Plenty of posters may think this post was obvious, and it should be.
BUT, go to any show or gym and talk about competing in an NPC show.
Plenty of guys who could do well in a jr lt or middle wt class think they need to be a lot bigger.
They end up thinking they need to go MPD or wait until they bigger.

It seems to me , too many are worried about getting pro cards then concentrating on the entry level shows they need to win first

no man, nothing obvious about it, I mean ya people say judges reward conditioning over size but the reality of it is these guys always try to come in bigger and when you asked them why they placed 5th, they say ''need more size'' when the truth is they would have placed first had they lost 10 more pounds.

People do not realize how polished a body can be even with 16 inch arms, the look is what matters and the size counts for nothing the majority of the time.

[Howard]

no man, nothing obvious about it, I mean ya people say judges reward conditioning over size but the reality of it is these guys always try to come in bigger and when you asked them why they placed 5th, they say ''need more size'' when the truth is they would have placed first had they lost 10 more pounds.

People do not realize how polished a body can be even with 16 inch arms, the look is what matters and the size counts for nothing the majority of the time.

Dieting and getting ripped  is hard for most.
I guess it's better to focus on what one wants to believe , then suck it up and come in shredded.

[Lustral]

If you look worse than any of the top 6 in 91 nationals you should never turn pro and kill yourself.


signed,

Getbig

[Lobstah]

Plenty of posters may think this post was obvious, and it should be.
BUT, go to any show or gym and talk about competing in an NPC show.
Plenty of guys who could do well in a jr lt or middle wt class think they need to be a lot bigger.
They end up thinking they need to go MPD or wait until they bigger.

It seems to me , too many are worried about getting pro cards then concentrating on the entry level shows they need to win first

This x1000

[Wolfox]

dude we are cool and I love you but fuck man, I sometime believe you forget this is a bodybuilding forum

Really? I thought this was a g4p ad site.

[Nick Danger]

Good post Howard.
I can obviously tell a great build from an average one but I can't define the better of two great builds...

[shiftedShapes]

I will definitely sleep better tonight knowing this crucial piece of information.

Something about understanding the qualifications of winning a bodybuilding contest that puts me at ease.

LOL you didn't even realize Howard is a gimmick

[Var City]

I will definitely sleep better tonight knowing this crucial piece of information.

Something about understanding the qualifications of winning a bodybuilding contest that puts me at ease.

 ;)well done sir

[DroppingPlates]

I slept much better last night after reading this, thank you Howard.

[Var City]

Dieting and getting ripped  is hard for most.
I guess it's better to focus on what one wants to believe , then suck it up and come in shredded.

I don't know Howard

I had trouble reading the whole OP

But I get the point:

You're gay

[gracie bjj]

back in my day alot of it was political, if u trained at my old gym where the owner was the NPC new jersey state chairman and NPC judge it didnt hurt, alot of very good aspiring NPC bodybuilders relocated to that gym and got a pro card down the line if not fairly quickly

[Bevo]

Kevin English knows all about placing well in contests

[OTHstrong]

Kevin English knows all about placing well getting gifts in contests

fixed

[DroppingPlates]

Kevin English knows all about placing well in contests