I know it's a familiar syndrome among past generations of athletes to complain that things were better in their day. I remember Marvin Eder, a great bodybuilder from the 1940s and '50s who was renowned for his feats of strength, telling me when I was in my competitive prime, "You guys have taken things too far."
So, I'm always reluctant to come across as a retired sour-grapes bodybuilder who pines for the "good old days." I have all the respect in the world for each successive generation of bodybuilders who continue to explore the boundaries of physical endeavor. Given my deep love for bodybuilding, though, I would be lying if I said that I am overjoyed with all aspects of the current scene.
A major area of concern is the look shown by an increasing number of competing bodybuilders. The race for mass seems to have taken us away from the classic cornerstones of bodybuilding: aesthetic all-around proportionate development, in which wide shoulders, a small waist and balance throughout the whole physique are the keys. Now we see guys in the pro ranks who are huge with distended stomachs and no abdominal control. The vacuum pose is a thing of the past, as are dramatic three-quarter poses, which exploit the differential between shoulder width and waist.
I'm not the only one concerned with this growing trend. I know that IFBB Pro Division Chairman Jim Manion is zeroing in on this problem and will, beginning with the New York Pro contest on May 21, be directing the judging panels to penalize guys with protruding stomachs and strange-looking lumps. This will encourage competitors to maximize the attributes of excellent proportions, tight waists and pleasing lines.
The rest of the story:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_4_23/ai_n13790067Anyone switching to the PDI to compete should do a "gut check" before signing on the dotted line.
