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The History of Bodybuilding

Bodybuilding as an organized sport with an adjacent culture has its historical beginnings in 11th Century India. I’ve been to India myself and trained in many gyms there. I was greeted with hospitality and treated with the utmost of respect. In India as in every country of the world, a well-developed natural physique created from years of devotion and discipline is highly esteemed.

Appreciation of physical perfection and admiration of raw muscle, power and strength goes back to the early days of the Greek and Roman Empire, in fact, as long as man has lived most likely. A muscular, well-balanced symmetrical physique is always admired from a distance and in close proximity. A review of recent history brings attention to the Spartans, who in 8th century Sparta set the stage for the eternal quest of organized physical perfection. At the age of seven, every male Spartan was sent to military and athletic school. The life of a Spartan male was a life of discipline, self-denial and simplicity. They valued courage, strength and education. In their society achievement of physical and intellectual excellence was the epitome of success. Both were considered equal and greatly respected.

The 19th Century introduced the sport to the world. Eugene Sandow is credited for many original bodybuilding techniques in the late 1800s. Charles Atlas blossomed in the 1930s. It was his enormously successful mail order course “Dynamic Tension” that sparked my own involvement in the natural bodybuilding culture at age 12. Like millions of young starry-eyed boys desirous of strength and muscle I wanted to build myself up as quickly as possible. There would be no sand kicked in my face and certainly not in front of my girlfriend.

The “Golden Age” of bodybuilding occurred between 1940 and 1970. The International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) was formed by Ben & Joe Weider in 1946. The first Mr. Universe was held in 1950. Bodybuildings’ most prestigious title, Mr. Olympia, was first awarded to Larry Scott in 1965. The modern era of female bodybuilding began in 1977. Rachel McLish was crowned the first Ms. Olympia in 1980. Of course no discussion on the history of bodybuilding could be complete without mentioning Arnold Schwarzenegger the “King of Bodybuilding”. To millions of young males throughout the world he was and still remains a bodybuilding hero.

Steroids entered the sport a short time after testosterone was first synthesized in 1935. Bodybuilding would soon divide into two distinct realms, natural and pharmaceutical. Today, an entire pharmacopoeia of doping agents including growth hormone, diuretics, thyroid hormones and dozens of testosterone analogues are used routinely by pharmaceutical bodybuilders to enhance muscle size, decrease bodyfat, minimize diet-related catabolism and improve strength and recovery. In spite of being officially banned based on detriment to health, steroid use among athletes in all sports continues to frustrate the organizations that disapprove of their use.

Formed in 1977 by Wally Boyko, Pete Samra, and Denny Kakos, the Amateur Bodybuilding Association (ABA) is the world's premier natural bodybuilding association holding contests all over the world. Both the INBA (International Natural Bodybuilding Association) and PNBA (Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association) evolved from the ABA as a means of growing and promoting the sport of natural bodybuilding. The INBA, formed in 1988 by Denny Kakos, is the host of the Natural Olympia Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition, the largest and most prestigious natural bodybuilding competition in the world. As an International branch of the INBA, INBA Canada is alive and well. President Ivan Strikwerda leads the way without compromise with aspirations of continued growth and development and the preservation of natural bodybuildings’ highest ideals.

Today bodybuilding is a highly sophisticated sport that attracts men and women from every continent and country of the world. Iron was and still remains the foundation of the game. All athletes who utilize weight training as a component of their training today can thank the original pioneers of drug-free natural bodybuilding.

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The articles and information in Muscle Muscle are for informational purposes only. You should consult your physician or other health care practitioner before starting or changing any exercise, diet or supplement program.