Article 3 – Categories

3.1 Categories:
There are five categories in Senior Men’s Classic Physique competition, currently as follows:

1. Up to & incl. 168 cm
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 4 [kg]

2. Up to & incl. 171 cm
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 6 [kg]

3. Up to & incl. 175 cm
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 8 [kg]

4. Up to & incl. 180 cm
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 11 [kg]

5. Over 180 cm:
   a. Over 180 cm up to & incl. 188 cm:
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 13 [kg]
   b. Over 188 cm up to & incl. 196 cm:
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 15 [kg]
   c. Over 196 cm:
   Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 17 [kg]

Note 1: Upon agreement between the IFBB and the Organizer, one additional category may be opened for competition.

3.2 Junior Men’s Classic Physique world level competitions:

• 16 to 20 years of age inclusive:
  a. One open category

• 21 to 23 years of age inclusive:
  a. One open category

Both groups have the following bodyweight limitations:

• Up to & incl. 168 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 2 [kg]

• Up to & incl. 171 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 3 [kg]

• Up to & incl. 175 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 4 [kg]

• Up to & incl. 180 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 6 [kg]

• Up to & incl. 188 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 7 [kg]

• Up to & incl. 196 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 8 [kg]

• Over 196 cm
  Max Weight [kg] = (Height [cm] - 100) + 9 [kg]

3.3 Master Men’s Classic Physique competition:

There are three categories in Master Men’s Classic Physique competition, currently as follows:

• 40 to 44 years of age inclusive:
  a. One open category

• 45 to 49 years of age inclusive:
  a. One open category

• 50 years and over:
  a. One open category

Note 1: Bodyweight limits for Master Men’s Classic Physique competitors are the same as for Senior Men’s Classic Physique (Point 3.1)

3.4 Except for the World and Continental Championships, a category can only be run if there are not fewer than 3 athletes. If fewer than 3 athletes, categories will be combined wherever possible. Masters categories will not be combined.
At the World and Continental Championships, a category can only be run if there are not fewer than 5 athletes. If fewer than 5 athletes, categories will be combined wherever possible.

3.5 Crossovers:
Men’s Classic Physique competitors may also participate in Games Classic Bodybuilding and Classic Bodybuilding and Bodybuilding at the same contest if they meet specific requirements and bodyweight / body height limits obligatory in each of those divisions. They may also participate in the Mixed-Pairs division.

Article 4 – Rounds
1. Prejudging: Elimination Round
(Four Mandatory Poses)
2. Prejudging: Round 1
(Four Mandatory Poses and comparisons of Seven Mandatory Poses)
3. Finals: Round 2
(Seven Mandatory Poses x 2 and Posedown)
4. Finals: Round 3
(Free Posing Routines – 60 sec.)

• Article 6: Prejudging: Posing Attire for All Rounds
  6.1 The posing attire must meet the following guidelines:

1. Competitors will wear a one-colour, any colour, opaque gymnastic shorts, with at least 15 cm high sides, covering the whole gluteus maximus and all the frontal area but allowing to display the upper legs. No ornaments in the attire will be permitted. The use of padding anywhere in the trunks is prohibited.
2. Except for a wedding ring, competitors will not wear footwear, glasses, watches, pendants, earrings, wigs, distracting ornamentation or artificial aids to the figure. Implants or fluid injections causing the change of the natural shape of any other parts or muscles of the body are strictly prohibited and may result in disqualification of the competitor.
3. Headgears are generally prohibited but if it is required by the official rules of the country represented by a competitor or due to the religious principles observed by a competitor, a small, tight cap with no vizor, may be used. This cup should be shown at the Official Athlete Registration and approved by the designated IFBB official.
4. The use of props during the Prejudging or Finals presentation is strictly prohibited.

6.2 The use of tans and bronzers that can be wiped off is not allowed. If the tan comes off by simply wiping, the athlete will not be allowed to enter the stage. Artificial body colouring and self-tanning products may be used. Professional competition tanning methods (airbrush tanning, cabin spray tanning) may be used if applied by the professional companies and qualified personnel. Sparkles, glitter, shiny metallic pearls or gold coloring are prohibited whether applied as part of a tanning lotion or applied separately, regardless of who applied them on the competitor’s body.

6.3 The excessive application of oil on the body is strictly prohibited; however, body oils and moisturizers may be used in moderation.

6.4 The IFBB Chief Judge, or a delegated by him official, will have the right to make decision if a competitor’s attire meets the criteria established in the Rules and an acceptable standards of aesthetics. The athlete may be disqualified if the attire doesn’t meet them.

MEN’S CLASSIC PHYSIQUE MANDATORY POSES

1. Front Double Biceps (see Figure 1)
   Standing face front to the judges, with one leg 40-50 cm forward and to the side, the competitor will raise both arms to shoulder level and bend them at the elbows. The hands should be clenched and turned down so as to cause a contraction of the biceps and forearm muscles, which are the main muscle groups that are to be assessed in this pose.
   In addition, the competitor should attempt to contract as many other muscles as possible as the judges will be surveying the whole physique, from head to toe.
   The judge will first survey the biceps muscles looking for a full, peaked development of the muscle, noting whether or not there is a defined split between the anterior and posterior sections of the biceps, and will continue the head-to-toe survey by observing the development of the forearms, deltoids, pectorals, pec-delt tie-ins, abdominals, thighs, and calves. The judge will also look for muscle density, definition, and overall balance.

2. Side Chest (see Figure 2)
   The competitor may choose either side for this pose, in order to display the “better” arm. He will stand with his left or right side towards the judges and will bend the arm nearest the judges to a right-angle position, with the fist clenched and, with the other hand, will grasp the wrist. The leg nearest the judges will be bent at the knee and will rest on the toes.
   The competitor will then expand the chest and by upward pressure of the front bent arm and contract the biceps as much as possible. He will also contract the thigh muscles, in particular, the biceps femoris group, and by downward pressure on his toes, will display the contracted calf muscles.
   The judge will pay particular attention to the pectoral muscles and the arch of the rib cage, the biceps, the leg biceps and the calves, and will conclude with the head-to-foot examination. In this pose, the judge will be able to survey the thigh and calf muscles in profile, which will help in grading their comparative development more accurately.

3. Back Double Biceps (see Figure 3)
   Standing with his back to the judges, the competitor will bend the arms and wrists as in the Front Double Biceps pose, and will place one foot back, resting on the toes. He will then contract the arm muscles as well as the muscles of the shoulders, upper and lower back, thigh and calf muscles.
   The judge will first survey the arm muscles and then do the head-to-foot survey, during which there are more muscle groups to look at than in all of the other poses. This includes the neck, deltoids, biceps, triceps, forearm, trapezius, teres, infraspinatus, erector spinae, external obliques, latissimus dorsi, gluteus, thigh biceps, and calves. This pose, probably more than the others, will help the judge to determine the quality of the competitor’s muscle density, definition, and overall balance.

4. Side Triceps (see Figure 4)
   The competitor may choose either side for this pose so as to show the “better” arm. He will stand with his left or right side towards the judges and will place both arms behind his back, either linking his fingers or grasping the front arm by the wrist with his rear hand. The leg nearest the judges will be bent at the knee and the foot will rest flat on the floor. The leg farthest to the judges will be bent at the knee and the foot resting on the toes.
   The competitor will exert pressure against his front arm, thereby causing the triceps muscle to contract. He will also raise the chest and contract the abdominal muscles as well as the thigh and calf muscles.
   The judge will first survey the triceps muscles, and conclude with the head-to-foot examination. In this pose, the judge will be able to survey the thigh and calf muscles in profile, which will help in grading their comparative development more accurately.

5. Vacuum Pose (see Figure 5)
   This is a new mandatory pose. Standing face front to the judges, the competitor will place both arms behind the head and will place the feet together. Then he will perform the “Front position, Vacuum Pose” in this way: he must deeply exhale, drawing the abdominals inward (abs in), pulling the belly button to spine, what is called “vacuum”, at the same time flexing the transverse inner muscle, flexing legs, torso and arms also. Abdominals muscles (Rectus abdominis) are not contracted in this pose.

6. Abdominals and Thighs (see Figure 6)
   Standing face front to the judges, the competitor will place both arms behind the head and will place one leg forward. He will then contract the abdominal muscles by “crunching” the trunk slightly forward. At the same time, he will contract the thigh muscles of the front leg.
   The judge will survey the abdominal and thigh muscles, and then conclude with the head-to-foot examination.

7. Classic Pose of Athlete’s choice
   Standing face front to the judges, the competitor will perform one of his favorable front Classic Pose but not the “Most Muscular” one. He will then contract the main muscle group presenting in this pose as well as other muscles, if possible. Athletes are allowed to perform only one pose in this presentation.