CMP Comments: Sadik Hadzovic & Jason Poston

In a great Post-Olympia interview with Tony Doherty for NPC News Online, top 3 Men's Physique competitors Sadik Hadzovic & Jason Poston were asked (3:40) about their thoughts of the newly formed Classic Men's Physique Division (scheduled to debut in 2016). Sadik, who had to answer first, expressed solidarity with the current division and stated he wouldn't move up. 3rd place finisher Jason Poston, however, seemed more open to the idea, stating "I"m a Men's Physique competitor who loves to pose..."

Aside from the added size the new division will allow for competitors, there's no question that its athletes will have more time to pose on stage. In fact, there may even be individual posing routines (this is something I will be investigating and pushing for). I think it would be great for the CMP competitors to have even 60 seconds to play a song or mix, pose for the judges/audience, and really have an opportunity to showcase 12-16 weeks of preparation. 

In closing, I'm still not totally convinced that Sadik wouldn't move up. He's 2nd in the world and may be playing it safe or playing it by ear. He has a lot to lose, from being so close to the gold, he can taste it. Perhaps the idea of starting from scratch in a division that could potentially include dormant IFBB Natural Pro Bodybuilders, tons of former IFBB MPD Pro's scored down for their size & ultra-ripped look, and/or a whole wave of guys coming from the NPC with bigger legs, v-tapers, and full on vacuum poses that may be seen at the 2016 Olympia CMP... who knows if his reluctance to move up is based on that? To be quite honest, Sadik has the poster look for Classic Men's Physique, especially when 3x Mr. Olympia Frank Zane assessed his physique and made the comments he did. 

In any event, it's going to be an interesting 3-6 months. Who knows who will switch up or switch down to compete in this brand new division. 

Bringing Back Classic Muscle!!

3x Mr. Olympia Frank Zane calls Sadik's the best physique today!!

I still remember when Men's Physique was introduced and what many of the critics had to say. I, for one, have always been a fan of the concept of a more mainstream-friendly, even healthier looking physique-based competitive division. As time would tell, the division became wildly successful at the local, regional, & national levels. It's popular both at the amateur and professional level, but it's critics have consistently raised the solid point about legs. For one, you can't see them, they're not scored, and some guys don't even train them. In fact, what little is visible could get you in trouble on the score cards. That's right, I've heard of people getting looked down upon for having jacked calves. 

A friend of mine, legendary bodybuilding writer, John Romano, even called the new group "the lawn dart division," because some guys had zero legs. Combine zero legs with soft upper bodies and what you have isn't very marketable. In theory, you have a beach model, not someone who should have an IFBB Pro card. 

Nonetheless, and fortunately for the federation, the division weeded out the sickly-looking and most of the champions are guys that actually look like they lift; however, for the guys that are simply looking for that classic bodybuilding look w/o the gh guts, the 22+ guns, and enormous tree trunk legs that impede them from walking like normal human beings, the "traditional" men's physique division was not the place for them. To a guy that wants to look like Frank Zane, there's really no where to go. He'll lose in physique b/c he's ripped & separated, but he'll fail at bodybuilding b/c he's not big enough and not "freaky enough..." 

Artemus Dolgin looks like a 1970's Venice Beach Bodybuilder.

This new division is literally a Godsend. Of course, there's people just think in terms of dollars & cents, conspiracy theories, and spewing negativity. Some people just want to hate the NPC/IFBB. Talking to them is like talking into a dead phone - don't waste your breath. The bottom line is, the anticipation is building - from competitors & fans alike. In time, as I've stated many times before, physique will eventually take the spotlight from bodybuilding. 

If "Classic" Men's Physique lives up to the hype, then it will be the real bodybuilding division to fans old school muscle. If Frank Zane were to compete today, this would be the division for him. There isn't a doubt in my mind about it. I mean go back and look at the weight Arnold competed at!! If a guy with Arnold's height and weight competed on the most rinky dink of bodybuilding pro shows today, he'd all but get laughed off the stage. Let me paint this picture a bit more.

Arnold at 6'2 competed at roughly the same bodyweight as does Dexter Jackson at FIVE FOOT SIX today. Just think about that for a second. That's an EIGHT INCH height difference, at the SAME WEIGHT, lol. 

Case closed.

Why "Classic" Men's Physique

OMG!! What a question!! I recently made a vlog about this that took no less than thirty minutes. Now mind you, I was talking to a camera and striving for brevity. Could you imagine if I had a co-host or if I was part of a round table discussion. I think Jim Manion hit the nail on the head. This new division is exactly what the doctor ordered. If you want to watch my half-hour rant, click here.

Phyisque is the future. I've been saying that for all of of 2013, 2014, and 2015. When you go to as many local and regional shows as I do, you start seeing the writing on the wall. Bodybuilding is simply not as marketable, not as popular, and most certainly not growing at the same rate as Physique.

But like all good things, it can be improved.

What happened with Physique was that it became too big, too fast. Initially it was supposed to be a mainstream-friendly division. Some people thought it would be a place for natural bodybuilders, others thought it would be a beach model search, & some figured they'd just go with it.

Over the years, the division has grown by leaps & bounds, creating a media signing frenzy. But as the bodies in bodybuilding get bigger and [in some cases] softer physiques are winning more shows in physique, there needs to be some middle ground. And I think the federation(s) got it right. Bodybuilding has already been split into two divisions (open & 212) so to split one more time would have created far too much confusion. Bodybuilding has two divisions, now physique will as well.

With ClassicMensPhysique.com, I hope to showcase some of today's talent, who I hope will compete in the forthcoming division. Make sure to check this page often, join our official facebook group, and follow us on Instagram & Twitter!!