Tag: CLASSIC PHYSIQUE
Ryan Terry: There Should Be A Weight Limit On The Men’s Physique Division
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Ryan Terry muses that a weight limit on Men’s Physique would help prevent physiques from growing bigger each year.
In a previous interview segment, Ryan Terry lamented the way Men’s Physique has changed over the past decade. Specifically, he believes that the physiques have gotten larger with each year – and it’s starting to look less like the original goal of the division. With the relatively recent introduction of Classic Physique, Terry believes the divide between Men’s Physique and Classic Physique is shrinking. His solution? Add a weight limit system to Men’s Physique similar to Classic. Ryan Terry discusses why he believes a weight cap on Men’s Physique would benefit the future of the division in our latest GI Exclusive interview.
Early into our conversation, Ryan Terry admits he may be a bit biased on his opinions of the direction Men’s Physique is moving towards. Terry sees himself as a smaller sized athlete in his division – and he believes that Men’s Physique as a whole has gotten too large. But in trying to be as objective as possible, Terry worries that Men’s Physique is growing too large in comparison to where the division started.
Classic Physique is a relatively new division that was introduced in late 2016. It was an answer to many fans worrying that Men’s Open has gotten too large compared to the Golden Era of the sport. This new division imposes weight limits based on height to ensure the physiques cannot grow too large. This kind of strategy is attractive to Ryan Terry. He believes that if Men’s Physique adapted to this ruleset (but on a smaller size scale), it would help prevent the division from losing sight of it’s original vision.
It’s almost inevitable that every division’s physiques grows in size over time. As each athlete tries to one up each other, they push the boundaries of size while trying to still match the aesthetic of the division. Over time, the slow change shifts the bar of expectation for judges and fans. Suddenly, a decade later, the physiques of a division look completely different.
This happened to Men’s Open – which is why slowly over time new divisions such as Men’s 212 and Classic Physique entered the sport. But now with so many divisions, Ryan Terry worries that Men’s Physique will start to look too close to Classic Physique. In his opinion, changing the Men’s Physique rules to include a weight limit based on height will fix this problem.
Of course, there are already other factors in place to differentiate Men’s Physique from other divisions. The board shorts change the overall areas that judges look at for scoring. Also the posing rounds are different. A big part of Men’s Physique posing is a “natural standing” pose – as opposed to the more showy mandatory poses found in Classic Physique and above. While seemingly small these are vital differences.
Does Men’s Physique need a change? Is the division growing too large in terms of physique size? Watch Ryan Terry’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive segment above and then decide for yourself!
OPINION: 5 Reasons Not To Compete in Bodybuilding Shows
5 Reasons/Excuses to Not Compete in Bodybuilding Shows
Many people who are serious about bodybuilding have a dream of stepping onto the stage one day. Competing in a bodybuilding show is a certificate in itself that you’re serious about your craft. On the other hand, there are people who would do anything to escape the idea of stepping onto a stage with ripped guys.
Since you’re reading this article, we’re assuming you’re from the latter group. Once you’re done with this article, you’ll have enough things to say to people who suggest you should compete in bodybuilding shows.
1. Genetics
Not everyone is born to be a bodybuilder. Genetics play a major role in shaping your muscles. If you have a genetically weak muscle group, don’t bother getting on stage and wasting your, your competitor’s, the audience’s and the judge’s time.
No matter how hard you workout, someone genetically superior will always beat you. You can’t overlook your muscle proportions while preparing for a contest. Even if one of your muscle groups is lagging, you should consider dropping out of the competition.
2. Conditioning
Bodybuilding shows are supposed to be freak shows. People fill up auditoriums to look at muscular giants. If you’re planning to compete, make sure you do justice to these people and give them their money’s worth.
If your muscles aren’t in their peak conditions and the lines and striations don’t show, you should save yourself the trouble of getting up on the stage. Do everyone a favor, get a seat in the audience and enjoy the show.
3. Stage Fright
Not everyone can handle the pressure which comes with getting on a stage. If you’re good enough, you’ll be asked to perform your routine which means you’ll have to handle the stage and the audience single-handedly.
Posing is easier said than done. Legends like Arnold and Kai Greene have been documented taking posing classes, and you might need one (or many) as well. If you can’t think of showing off your ripped physique without getting overwhelmed, bodybuilding shows aren’t for you.
4. Someone is Pushing You
We appreciate the fact you have supportive friends and family, but this shouldn’t be the only reason for you to compete. Take a long and close look at your physique before deciding to sign the competition contract.
Run through the list of athletes competing in the show and make sure you stand a chance against them. Having an experienced coach will pay dividends when it comes to having honest opinion and feedback about your physique.
5. Bad Skin
If your body is full of acne or other marks, it is better to stay off the stage. Some people also consider tattoos to be a setback. Tattoos which don’t take up a lot of real estate on your body can cause no harm.
Choosing the right tan can make a big impact on how you look onstage. An expert eye can always catch the difference between a healthy and bad skin. Getting on the dermatologist table before the stage will be a smarter decision.
Are you planning to compete in a bodybuilding show? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Keone Pearson Has Announced Return To Classic Physique Division
Keone Pearson will return to Classic Physique to bring back “best & healthy version” of himself.
Keone Pearson has been a rising star in bodybuilding for years now. He began his career as a Classic Physique competitor before making the switch to Men’s 212. After a 14th place finish at the Olympia, Pearson has announced that he will be returning to Classic Physique.
Pearson originally made the change after finishing fourth at the 2019 Olympia Classic Physique. He saw success early in 212 but underachieved at the Olympia in Orlando. Pearson took to Instagram to make an announcement that he will be going back to where he began. Pearson also claims there will be a YouTube video released this week explaining his decision.
“Let’s run it back!This has been on my mind for sometime and I had talks about it & this is honestly the best decision for ME. Going back to classic & bringing the best & healthy version of myself ever! Call me crazy but watch me make it happen ?For everyone that supports me an Rock with me truly appreciate you all ❤️For more in-depth why I’m switching , YouTube video will be up this week!!!Click link in the bio to subscribe ??”
It was a bit surprising to see Keone Pearson move to 212 in the first place. He saw success early on in Classic Physique winning the New York Pro and coming in fourth during the Olympia and Arnold Classic. When he made the change, the success continued.
Pearson won back-to-back titles at the Chicago Pro. This began in 2020 but he did not compete at the Olympia that year because of personal issues. He repeated as champion in 2021 but did not finish as high as he wanted during the Olympia. Pearson came in at 14th and has decided to make the switch back to Classic Physique.
The Classic Physique division is one that has improved over the years since Pearson was last involved. This begins with Chris Bumstead, who won his third consecutive Olympia title this year. Bumstead has become the competitor to beat and that has been a difficult task. Terrence Ruffin finished second to Bumstead at the Olympia this year after winning gold at the Arnold Classic. Breon Ansley continues to be in the mix as a former Olympia champion.
It will be interesting to see where Keone Pearson compares during his return to Classic Physique after a couple years away from the division. Pearson has vowed to bring back a better and healthier version of himself. If this is the case, Pearson might be able to throw his name in the mix moving forward.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Patrick Moore Explains The Reason It’s Offensive To Suggest He Move To Classic Physique
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Patrick Moore details why he was annoyed at the suggestion he move down to Classic Physique division.
In 2021, there are now more divisions in pro bodybuilding than there ever has been in the history of the sport. What once used to be squarely one division now has eleven. This allows athletes to determine what kind of ultimate physique they want to achieve and find success in that framework. It also brings a lot of couch critics out of the woodwork. Fans can and will often speculate if a pro competitor would be better off in a different division. Patrick Moore has no plans to leave Men’s Open bodybuilding – and has found it offensive to suggest he does otherwise.
This became clear when King Kamali publicly stated that Patrick Moore should move to Classic Physique. The comment sparked a back and forth reaction between Moore and Kamali and brought their debate into bodybuilding headlines. During our conversation with Patrick Moore, we asked him about this moment so that he could further explain his mentality and why he was annoyed by the comment. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Patrick Moore explains why it’s offensive to suggest he move down to Classic Physique.
With so many divisions in pro bodybuilding, there are more options than ever for athletes to find success. No one competitor is locked into the division they start in. There has been some debate as to whether or not this is a good thing. Some believe that this dilutes each division and encourages athletes to not push as hard. Supporters find that this brings in more athletes as a whole – and encourages athletes to compete who otherwise wouldn’t try due to the kind of physiques Men’s Open demands.
Some bodybuilders have had great success changing divisions, such as Hadi Choopan, who moved from Men’s 212 to Men’s Open. Many were worried he would fall behind against larger competitors. Ultimately, his risk paid off with consistent top five placings at Mr. Olympia. So when King Kamali suggested that Patrick Moore possibly move down to Classic Physique – it might not have been that crazy of an idea in general.
But from Patrick Moore’s perspective, this comment was unhelpful, unrealistic, and slightly insulting. During our interview, he explains that all it took was one competition where he looked off for the suggestion to come along. In fact, he points out that Kamali had praised his Men’s Open physique in 2019.
Patrick Moore points this out directly during our conversation:
“What lost it for me with him was this was a guy that was giving me praise in 2019 when I was in the open class. So once I come in a little off… so now I should go to Classic? It’s just crazy.”
Patrick Moore also points out that he would need to drop down to about 206 pounds at his height. So he would have to lose quite a bit of weight in order to qualify to compete in Classic Physique:
“So at the Olympia 2019, I was 236 [pounds]. There’s no way – and I was peeled. I had no fat. There was no way I was going to cut down to 206 pounds. So for him to say some ignorant sh*t like that… it’s like he’s miseducating… you’re telling people I should do something that’s impossible.”
Patrick Moore feels that, since King Kamali has a rather large following, his comments are misleading fans to expect something that Moore believes to be impossible. It poisons the well and changes the kind of fan interaction Moore has leading up into the next competition. Moore felt that key aspect is what made the comment disrespectful.
You can watch Patrick Moore explain his comments in full detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Results
Do we have a new Olympia 2020 Classic Physique champion? Or a three-peat?
The talk coming into this year’s Olympia was if Chris Bumstead could make it three in a row in Classic Physique. Would it be Bumstead? Could Breon Ansley return to the top or maybe a fresh name, such as Terrence Ruffin?
The top three was predicted by many and it ended up playing out just like 2020. Bumstead made it three in a row, followed by Ruffin then Ansley.
Classic Physique is full of competitors that bring it on stage every competition. Ruffin was named the Arnold Classic champion two weeks ago, when he defeated the 2020 champion Alex Cambronero. Bumstead come in with back-to-back victories at the Olympia after Ansley won two in a row in 2017 and 2018.
During prejudging, there was a top six, including Urs Kalecinski and Ramon Rocha Querioz. It was a question of who would jump into the top five and if anyone could take down Bumstead. A show was put on during this portion of the show and it set the scene for an exciting night at the final.
The full results have been announced and there is a champion. Below, you can find the full results along with the official score card.
Olympia 2021 Classic Physique Results
First Place – Chris Bumstead
Second Place – Terrence Ruffin
Third Place – Breon Ansley
Fourth Place – Urs Kalecinski
Fifth Place – Ramon Rocha Queiroz
Previous Classic Physique Olympia Winners
2020: Chris Bumstead
2019: Chris Bumstead
2018: Breon Ansley
2017: Breon Ansley
2016: Danny Hester
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Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Olympia 2021 Men’s Physique Prejudging Report & Analysis
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Olympia 2021 Men’s Physique Prejudging Report & Analysis
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
2021 Olympia: Classic Physique Preview & Predictions
Here is a breakdown and predictions in the Classic Physique division at the 2021 Olympia.
The 2021 Olympia will take place this weekend in Orlando. This is the biggest competition of the year and many of the top bodybuilders in the world will be on stage competing. This includes the Classic Physique division.
Chris Bumstead highlights the group as the winner of the previous two Olympia competitions. He has taken over the division from Breon Ansley, who will also be on stage this weekend. Terrence Ruffin is coming off a victory at the Arnold Classic and could be one of the top contenders to take down Bumstead.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that he believes Classic Physique is the future of bodybuilding. There is certainly enough star power and talent for it to take over. This will be a must-watch competition this weekend. Below, you can find a full list of competitors along with predictions for the top six.
2021 Classic Physique List of Competitors
Zeek Andrews (USA)
Breon Ansley (USA)
Jose Maria Mete Bueriberi (Spain)
Chris Bumstead (Canada)
Alex Cambronero (Costa Rica)
Tommy Clark (USA)
German Pastor Cueto (Spain)
Neil Currey (UK)
Sabur Favors (USA)
Bryan Jones (USA)
Urs Kalecinski (Germany)
George Kawalawu (USA)
Seonghwan Kim (South Korea)
Brady King (USA)
Laszlo Kiraly (Hungary)
Gabriel Zancanelli Machado (Brazil)
Fabian Mayr (Austria)
Peter Molnar (Hungary)
Courage Opara (USA)
Ramon Rocha Querioz (Brazil)
Terrence Ruffin (USA)
Abtin Shekarabi (IRAN)
Mike Sommerfeld (Germany)
Tony Taveras (USA)
Robert Timms (USA)
Darwin Andres Uribe (Colombia)
Wesley Vissers (Netherlands)
Divine Wilson (USA)
In Seong You (South Korea)
Dani Younan (USA)
Classic Physique Top 6
6. Bryan Jones
It was a fifth place finish at the Arnold Classic for Bryan Jones this year. This was the same place he finished at last year’s Olympia. Jones has an intriguing physique because of his size and height. He has a strong presence on stage and is one of the up-and-coming stars in the sport. He has a chance to be a first callout competitor and it would build some consistency in Classic Physique until he is able to take that next step toward victory.
5. Courage Opara
Courage Opara is one of the dark-horse athletes in this competition. He put on a strong showing at the Arnold Classic with a fourth-place finish and is looking to keep up the momentum heading into the biggest event of the year. He is not one of the tallest competitors but the judges seem to like his physique. This has made him a name to watch from this point on.
4. Breon Ansley
Breon Ansley was the name to beat for years in Classic Physique. He won back-to-back Olympia titles in 2017 and 2018. Since then, he has fallen one spot over the last two years. Ansley finished third in last year’s Olympia and might continue this trend in 2021. Ansley is 41 years old. He still shows an incredible physique but might be getting passed by some of the younger competitors. With that being said, Ansley can still put on a show and has a chance to potentially finish in the top three or four.
3. Alex Cambronero
Over the last five years, Alex Cambronero has been a model of consistency in this division. Cambronero finished second in this year’s Arnold Classic after winning it in 2020. He also finished fourth at the Olympia last year. Now, he could climb into the top three and continue to impress. Cambronero has been competing consistently since 2016 and has failed to make the top six just twice.
2. Terrence Ruffin
Terrence Ruffin had a year full of second-place finishes in 2020. He finished as the runner-up in both the Arnold Classic and Olympia. This time around, he is looking to change his fortune. Ruffin bested Cambronero in this year’s Arnold Classic and now has his eyes on the prize on the biggest stage. Ruffin showed up in incredible shape at the Arnold Classic and his posing routine was top notch. He is a true contender for the title at this year’s event.
1. Chris Bumstead
Chris Bumstead is the reigning two-time champion at the Olympia and is the favorite to make it three in a row. There is not much. to dislike about the Canadian bodybuilder — and he has been showing it in his physique updates. Bumstead is massive with great conditioning. He has been the name to beat over the last two years and that might not change in this year’s competition.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger Believes Classic Physique Is The Future Of Bodybuilding
Arnold Schwarzenegger joined the broadcast on Saturday to share some insight on the future of the sport.
The Arnold Classic 2021 took place on Saturday. There was plenty of action in the four divisions that took place and Arnold Schwarzenegger joined the broadcast to discuss the event. During the show, the best bodybuilder of all-time made some comments on a division that he had a hand in building.
Schwarzenegger is one of the legendary figures that built Open bodybuilding to what it is. Despite this, the seven-time Olympia champion believes that Classic Physique is the future and there are risks in the Open division.
Terrence Ruffin finished with the win in the Classic Physique division at the Arnold Classic after placing second in 2020 behind Alex Cambronero. At this year’s event, the two switched places. This was an exciting race and Schwarzenegger believes this could be the future of bodybuilding.
“I was not only impressed, I was delighted to see a great performance when it comes to posing and the way they relax their faces. It looks so much more appealing,” Arnold Schwarzenegger said on the Classic Physique Division.
“I think this is the direction we need to go, no two ways about it. I think that you really need to build this part of the bodybuilding sports, so that it’s equal to the Open competition. That way people always have choices, and there’s always a good thing with sponsorship money, and get them more cash prizes. So I’m going to work on that because I think that it’s the right direction to go.”
Chris Bumstead is currently the biggest name in the division coming off back-to-back Olympia titles. Bumstead will look for three in a row this year but Ruffin will have momentum heading into the biggest competition of the year.
Nick Walker took home the Men’s Open title on Saturday defeating the likes of Iain Valliere and Steve Kuclo. All competitors entered with incredible size and mass. This has become the norm in this division and it could lead to some complications.
There have been some tragic deaths in the sport of bodybuilding and other speculation on how dangerous the supplements could be that these athletes are taking. This includes comments made by eight-time Olympia champion Ronnie Coleman, who believes diuretics should be banned.
Arnold Schwarzenegger backed up this notion during the broadcast with some comments on Open bodybuilding.
“Let’s not forget, they (Classic Physique) don’t have to take all of this stuff that some of the other guys are taking to be bigger.”
“This is, I think, what the danger is. In this sport, it’s the most dangerous sport in the world. In MMA fighters, you’ve had four guys die in the last ten years. In bodybuilding you’ve had 14 guys over the last ten years. So it just shows you how dangerous it is to take some of those medications and things that those guys take.”
For his full comments, check out the replay of the Arnold Classic broadcast. Arnold Schwarzenegger is not the first to make comments along these lines and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here.
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Arnold Classic 2021 Classic Physique Results
Terrence Ruffin wins Classic Physique at the Arnold Classic 2021.
The Arnold Classic 2021 was postponed due to COVID-19 and cut down to one day. There were a total of four events that took the stage in Columbus, OH — Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Bikini, and Fitness. The results have been announced and it is Terrence Ruffin who wins the crown in the Classic Physique division. This is Ruffin’s first win at the Arnold Classic after finishing second in 2020.
The Classic Physique division was extremely deep at this year’s Arnold Classic. The top two finishers from last year returned, in Ruffin and Alex Cambronero. This also included some newcomers looking to make an impact. Bryan Jones and Peter Molnar led the way for the newcomers, along with Logan Franklin, who has competed at the Arnold Classic in the Men’s Physique division previously.
The best poser award was also introduced to the Classic Physique division this year and the inaugural winner was Logan Franklin.
The full results have been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the Classic Physique division at the Arnold Classic 2021 results below.
Arnold Classic 2021 Classic Physique Results
First Place – Terrence Ruffin
Second Place – Alex Cambronero
Third Place – Logan Franklin
Fourth Place – Courage Opara
Fifth Place – Bryan Jones
Sixth Place – Fabian Mayr
Generation Iron Fitness Network will be coverage the full Arnold Classic 2021 event including pre-judging reports, analysis, and results updates. Stay tuned to Generation Iron and visit our official Arnold Classic 2021 coverage hub right here!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.