by Christian Duque
Let’s all welcome the Match Mannequin Division to the seemingly non-exhaustive record of divisions hosted on the NPC and IFBB Professional League. And earlier than happening, I’m under no circumstances selecting on the American-dominant IFBB as a result of the European dominant one launched a division that featured ladies in attire some years in the past. Each IFBB’s and any variety of different smaller federations prefer to introduce junk divisions for one easy purpose – cash. After all they received’t come and say it, however that’s what you have got me for.
Since I not do contest protection, I not have to look at what I say. And due to the robust help of IronMag Labs, because the title sponsor for StrengthAddicts, I don’t have to fret concerning the brass inserting a telephone name that may finish the connection. That stated, I’ve owned and operated StrengthAddicts since August 2008. It’s not going anyplace. And I’ve written properly over 800 articles for Iron Journal. Robert DiMaggio, or just Rob as I name him, can also be not about to let anybody inform him the way to spend his cash and/or enable anybody to instruct him on his writers for Iron Journal as to what they’ll and may’t say. Our digital journal is all about sincere information and sincere commentary. To chop to the chase, I feel “Match Mannequin” is bullshit, however will it’s an enormous success? Greater than seemingly, and right here’s why.
Bodybuilding is the flagship division and whereas I’m certain I’m going to in all probability ruffle many feathers – as I typically do – it’s the hardest division. There’s a purpose why you have got women and men preventing for years to earn a professional card in bodybuilding. We are able to’t neglect guys like Vinny Galanti who battled for over a decade to get to that time. Have a look at how onerous the late, nice Andy Haman needed to battle. Have a look at how a lot Jerome “Hollywood” Ferguson battled.
Going professional in bodybuilding really meant one thing again within the day. And even as we speak, it’s nonetheless far tougher than the opposite males’s and ladies’s divisions. That stated, when the newer divisions had been first unveiled, you had individuals going professional that seemed like trash. When Bikini first got here out, there have been ladies who seemed like they by no means labored out earlier than. It was as if that they had completed their shifts at Hooters or the native strip joint, purchased a bikini, and obtained on stage. They usually went PRO!
You had guys who seemed like that they had educated all of three months incomes professional playing cards in Males’s Physique. I child you not. And when you’re a professional – you’re a professional for all times. Properly, supplied you’re not a insurgent like Lee Priest, however what I imply.
Subpar opponents convey down the general high quality of a division. We noticed this typically in Health. Now there’s a division that’s enjoyable to look at! A terrific health routine can convey the home down. The issue is, not all routines are nice. In actual fact, on the native and even on the regional degree, you had Health Divisions of 1. Which means one competitor confirmed up. That one competitor “received their class” after which went on to “win the general.” Typically that one competitor didn’t even know the way to pull off a few strikes, not to mention an incredible routine. That began occurring increasingly more and earlier than you knew it, these inexperienced “nationally certified” health contenders began exhibiting up at nationwide occasions. This occurs with all new divisions. The judges don’t know – definitively – what they’re in search of – and the opponents have even much less of a clue. In the course of the confusion that ensues, numerous mediocre athletes will “earn” professional playing cards.
The brand new Match Mannequin Division would be the similar factor. It’s an all however forgone conclusion that the judges will fumble round with it for the primary 1-2 years. It would even take three years earlier than they know precisely what they’re in search of. And why? What’s the purpose of including one other division? Is it going to be extra inclusive? Will bodybuilding develop?
The fact of the matter is that this would be the eleventh division – supplied it’s just for the ladies. Think about in the event that they add it for women and men? If that’s the case, they’ll have a dozen divisions complete. Think about how a lot later native, regional, and nationwide exhibits will end. Think about what this may do to professional exhibits. Think about how lengthy the Olympia will now run. And for what? What’s the good thing about one more delicate division that may inevitably get as onerous as the remaining. And by “onerous,” I don’t imply aggressive, I imply drug use will make for tougher physiques. I imply all of those new divisions begin out being mainstream and striving for seashore physique appears to be like to promote protein powder and suntan lotion, however the medicine flip all of them into massive, ripped-to-shreds freaks. It’s occurred with Bikini and Determine on the ladies’s aspect and it’s occurred with MPD on the lads’s aspect.
Males’s Physique guys are bordering on Traditional. And Traditional guys might simply crossover into bodybuilding and do fairly properly. I imply have a look at Chris Bumstead. Two weeks after doing the Traditional Physique Olympia, he virtually received a Professional Bodybuilding present and battled with the #4 bodybuilder on the planet. The traces that separate the divisions are BLURRY AT BEST. So then why create extra divisions?
I’ll provide you with one guess. When you stated, MONEY, you guessed proper. That’s what the actual motivating issue is. But when it meant extra attain for physique-based sports activities, then I’d be all for it. But it surely received’t translate to that in any respect. It would simply enrich the federation and water down the professional card.
Ultimately, I like to present you, the loyal readers of Iron Journal, the ultimate phrase. So what say you? Is that this new division a superb addition? As all the time, thanks for studying my article. I look ahead to studying your suggestions within the feedback.