Arnold Classic Sports Festival - A Month Later

Arnold Classic - A Community of Athletes Striving to Achieve and Inspire!

It has been a little over a month since the Arnold Classic Sports Festival was held in Columbus, Ohio. This year was the first time I attended it and I was really impressed! After going to the Olympia in Las Vegas two years ago, this Sports extravaganza crushed the Olympia in every way. It really made the Olympia seem insignificant. The Arnold was a true gathering of athletes - over 17,000 to be exact - of all ages and nationalities representing their various sports. There was gymnastics, power lifting, Olympic lifting, bodybuilding, strong man, fencing, dancing, boxing, MMA, wrestling, table tennis, cheerleading, and the list goes on and on. Who would have throught you would see such a wide variety of athletics all taking place under the same roof? I really thought this to be impressive. The atmosphere was motivating, and all of the athletes were supportive of one another.

I think I was most impressed by the amateur (NPC) bodybuilding portion of the contest, regardless of whether or not the physiques were achieved with the help of synthetic methods. They were the most aesthetically pleasing, dense, and symmetrical bodybuilders that I've seen at a contest. They were truly the top level amateurs from all over the world. The audience was in awe of the physiques presented by the amateurs. To tell you the truth, it felt good to see the curiosity and respect that the stage was receiving with the huge crowds of people surrounding the stage and taking pictures in amazement of the quality of these physiques! I was delighted by people appreciating the work that the bodybuilders put into their contest preparation. It was a big change from some of the smaller and lower quality shows that I've been to where people just want to see a "freak show."

Another highlight of the Arnold wasa the Saturday n ight IFBB Men's Bodybuilding (Mr. International) and Strongman Finals at the Veterans Memorial Arena. It was a display of muscle and brawn at it's best! Pairing the professional bodybuilding with Strongman finals on the same night was awesome! The night started with the posing routines of the pro bodybuilders, went into the final Strongman event, then went back to bodybuilding for awards, and then ended with the strongman awards.

I was thoroughly impressed by the athleticism that Kai Greene (the Mr. International winner) displayed in his routines. He showed strength movements that highlighted how he has complete control over his body. He demonstrated incredible stabilization in some areas while also producing precise, controlled movement in others. He transitioned between poses with almost liquid, break-dance type moves. He not only looked incredibly dense and symmetrical, but he was one of the only bodybuilders to really show how comfortable he was in his own body. He confirmed that he wasa a true master of his physical mechanics and kept the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the performance. It was really exciting to watch!

Most bodybuilders that I've seen are not masters of their bodies on the inside OR outside. They are more like strangers in their body regarding how it moves and operates. They may have massive amounts of muscle, but are not "athletic" at all. This can be seen from amateurs all the way up to the pros through their awkward, disconnected movements and shaky presentation of their physiques... Yup! I said it!

In order to build on and present your physique in the best way possible, you must be able to understand how your body functions. You need to use ATHLETICISM to stabilise your body and yield mobility, not just brute force with bulky muscles. Being ATHLETIC really is a scarcity in the sport of bodybuilding! Just look at Kai Greene at the Arnold and you will see a great balance between athleticism and bodybuilding

Pictures of Kai Greene at the Arnold from Musculardevelopment.com Website