Brock thinking

Got up this morning and played some curling (finally a big win). No lifting today — going to rest and feed a bit. I spent part of the day reading up on how bodybuilding shows actually work. Up until last year, I had no clue how these shows were structured, so I figured I’d read up on it and make some notes for myself.

A competition is made up of a number of divisions, and each division has its own judging criteria. Men’s Physique and Classic Physique are the two that will be offered at the IDFA show I’ll be doing this year. I put together the notes below to help myself understand the differences (besides the type of shorts).

🩴 Men’s Physique

“The beach body look”

Men’s Physique is all about aesthetics over size. Judges are looking for something lean, athletic, and clean — not massive.

Overall look

The emphasis is on:

  • Wide shoulders
  • Narrow waist
  • Balanced upper body
  • A convincing V-taper

Legs aren’t judged directly since they’re covered by board shorts, so upper-body shape does most of the work.

Muscularity

Moderate. You should look shredded and athletic, not dense or striated.

This is one of the few categories where being too big can actually hurt you. If you start looking like a downsized bodybuilder instead of an athletic physique, you’re probably missing the mark.

Posing

  • Front pose
  • Back pose
  • No quads, no deep flexing, no vacuums

Flow, posture, and confidence matter more than hitting hard poses. You’re wearing board shorts — this is an upper-body-driven category.

🩲 Classic Physique

“The golden-era look”

Classic Physique is a very different ask. It’s still aesthetic, but it wants muscle fullness, balance, and flow across the entire body. Think prime Arnold.

Overall look

Judges are looking for:

  • Symmetry
  • Muscle density
  • Proportion
  • Classic lines

Legs matter a lot. Quads, hamstrings, and glutes are fully visible and heavily judged.

Muscularity

Noticeably more size than Men’s Physique, especially in the lower body.
Full quads, thick backs, round delts — unmistakably muscular.

Posing

  • Quarter turns
  • Mandatory poses
  • A freestyle routine

Vacuum poses, transitions, balance, and presentation all matter. You’re wearing posing trunks.

The goal is classic proportions: shoulders > waist > quads, with everything flowing together.

Where am I competing?

I’m a stocky guy. A narrow waist is going to be a challenge, and I think I’ve got decent quads — it would be a shame to hide them under board shorts. Because of that, I’m leaning toward Classic Physique.

That said, I’m not going to lie: being on stage in tiny trunks is probably going to be the hardest part.

Notes

  • Weight steady at 172.8 lbs

TODO

  • Build spreadsheet for weights and reps
  • Research posing and judging
  • Buy tiny shorts