Bodybuilding is the art of modifying one’s body where the muscles define the total form. Men who engage in bodybuilding are often regarded as alpha males or perfect humans as they push the limits of muscle development through extreme weight training. Sculptures of men dating back to Ancient Greece suggest that men had been bodybuilding way back then but bodybuilding in the present context, super toned muscles soaked in oil or tanning lotions can be credited to Eugen Sandow, “The Father of Modern Bodybuilding.”
Eugen Sandow was the first man to promote bodybuilding as he organized shows for the main purpose only of displaying his well-defined physique. People were thrilled to see a man flexing his well-defined muscles. As he traveled and made shows throughout different places, his fame grew. As his name became more popular, he came up with several inventions which were generally exercise equipments like machined dumbbells, spring pulleys and tension bands. A book titled “Sandow's System of Physical Training” written by his friend, Martinus Sieveking, was also published back then. Then on September 14, 1901, he organized the first bodybuilding contest at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK. The show was a great success as the show was a sold out. Big names like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Charles Lawes were co-judges with Sandow himself. That show paved the way for the modern bodybuilding contests such as Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia. Among the notable names that has won the coveted both or one of the prestigious bodybuilding contests had been the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Steve Reeves and Reg Park to name a few. All the aforementioned winners have appeared in one or more international blockbuster films.
During the 1950s, bodybuilding gained popularity as prime athletes like John Grimek of the US Olympic weightlifting team and a famous gymnast won the Mr. Universe title, giving bodybuilding a more athletic appeal to it. Around this time also, comic book superheroes were also being retrofitted to have more defined muscles and advertisements of products related to bodybuilding were being posted in comic books to entice young men to get into bodybuilding.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is perhaps responsible for the global appeal of bodybuilding. With his movies breaking box office records, bodybuilding got its much needed image boost. Fitness gyms, food supplements and magazines about bodybuilding were suddenly getting interest from people all over the world. Young adults all wanted to have a body like Arnold. Right now, even after long retired from the sport and currently serves as California’s 38th Governor, Arnold is still considered as the leading ambassador for the sport of bodybuilding.
Currently, bodybuilding contests judge a contest by symmetry and overall physique. With anabolic steroids banned, building muscle mass would take longer time and so physique seen from likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno might not be achieved. During the days when Arnold Schwarzenegger was competing actively, steroids were legal and so everyone was using them and building muscle mass was easy and the shaping comes later. Right now however, bodybuilding associations are strict about usage of steroids and so athletes would have a more difficult time of beefing up needed muscle mass. The coming trends in bodybuilding would depend more on symmetry as it would be an easier thing to do. Another thing to look out for is someone who can defy standards and bring a new perspective to bodybuilding like what Sergio Oliva did in 1967 when he wowed the audience with his V-shaped upper body.
