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  Criteria

  Welcome the MABBA Criteria Page. Here you will find all the information on criteria for MABBA sanctioned events. This includes:
 
Categories Men's Bodybuilding Women's Bodybuilding Fitness  Figure Bikini

Please select a Criteria category that suits you!



Men & Women's Bodybuilding, Figure & Fitness Categories
Height Classes

Women's Bodybuilding

CATEGORY

WEIGHT LIMIT

Junior

21 years of age or under in competition year.

Lightweight

Up to & including 55 kg (121 lbs)

Heavyweight

Over 55 kg (121lbs)

Master Women

35 - 49 years of age in competition year

Grandmaster Women

50+ years of age

 

 

Men's Bodybuilding

CATEGORY

WEIGHT LIMIT

Junior

21 years or under in competition year.

Bantamweight

Up to & including 65 kg (143 lbs)

Lightweight

Up to & including 70 kg (154 lbs)

Welterweight

Up to & including 75 kg (165 lbs)

Light-Middleweight

Up to & including 80 kg (176 lbs)

Middleweight

Up to & including 85 kg (187 lbs)

Light-Heavyweight

Up to & including 90 kg (198 lbs)

Heavyweight

Up to & including 100 kg (220 lbs)

Super-Heavyweight

Over 100 kg (220 lbs)

Master Men

40 - 49 years of age in competition year

Grandmaster Men

50+ years of age

 

 

Women's Figure

CATEGORY

 

Short

Up to & including 158 cm (62.20”)

Medium

Up to & including 163 cm (64.17”)

Medium/Tall

Up to & including 168 cm (66.14”)

Tall

Over 168 cm (66.14”)

Women's Master Open

35+ years of age

 

Women's Fitness

CATEGORY

 

Short

Up to & including 164 cm (64.57”)

Tall

Over 164 cm (64.57”)

Bikini Class

CATEGORY

 

Short

Up to and including 5’4”

Tall

Over 5’4”





Men’s Bodybuilding

Round 1 – Seven compulsory poses

  1. Front double bicep
  2. Side chest
  3. Side tricep
  4. Back double bicep
  5. Front abdominal and thigh
  6. Front lat spread
  7. Back lat spread

Round 2 – Posing Routine (Maximum 60 sec)

- Athletes should showcase their muscle development
- Include poses which show front and back
- Creativity is encouraged
- Props are not allowed

Posedown – Top 3 finalists only

30-60 sec of free posing (athletes may show their best poses)
Good sportsmanship is encouraged (no pushing or shoving)



Women’s Bodybuilding

Round 1 – Five compulsory poses

  1. Front double bicep
  2. Side chest
  3. Side tricep
  4. Back double bicep
  5. Front abdominal and thigh

Round 2 – Posing Routine (Maximum 60 sec)

- Athletes should showcase their muscle development
- Include poses which show front and back
- Creativity is encouraged
- Props are not allowed

Posedown – Top 3 finalists only

30-60 sec of free posing (athletes may show their best poses)
Good sportsmanship is encouraged (no pushing or shoving)


If you have any question about our Bodybuilding Criteria please contact Tom Heffner



MABBA Figure Criteria

All three rounds are physique

Round 1- Quarter Turns
- Solid black bikini (no shinny, vinyl, rubberized, plastic, or similar material)
- Bikini must be plain (no frills, borders, lace, sequins etc)
- Velvet is acceptable
- Top must cover 1/2 of breast
- Bottom should cover 1/2 of butt
- G-STRING OR THRONGS ARE PROHIBITED
- Must wear black stiletto style shoes
- May be open toe or heel (sandal style)
- Shoes no more than 1/4" sole
- Shoes no more than 5" heel
- NO ACCEPTATIONS ON SHOES HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
- PLATFORM SHOES ARE PROHIBITED
- No excessive Jewellery in round 1 of Figure. Wedding rings and small earring only permitted

Round 2 - Quarter Turns
- One piece suit
- Colour, material optional
- Suit must cover 1/2 of breast
- Suit should cover 1/2 of butt
- All of the frontal abdominal area must be covered (holes or see through material is prohibited) NO ACCEPTATIONS
- Shoe color of choice
- Shoe style and height restrictions same as round 1
- PLATFORM SHOES ARE PROHIBITED
- Jewellery permitted, must be approved at weigh-in by head judge

Round 3 - Quarter Turns
- Color and material of choice bikini
- SEE THROUGH MATERIAL IS PROHIBITED
- Must cover 1/2 of the breast
- Should cover 1/2 of the butt
- G-STRING OR THONGS ARE PROHIBITED
- Shoe color of choice
- Shoe style and height restrictions same as rounds 1 & 2
- PLATFORM SHOES ARE PROHIBITED
- No excessive Jewellery permitted, approval at weigh-in by head judge



MABBA Fitness Criteria

FITNESS INFORMATION

Physique Round 1 - Quarter Turns
- Athletes will wear bikini and platform heels
- Bikini top must cover 1/2 of the breast
- Bottoms should cover 1/2 of the butt
- Bikini may be attached in the back only
- G-STRINGS OR THONGS ARE PROHIBITED

Physique judging criteria guidelines:
- Good to excellent muscle tone
- No excessive muscularity (this is not a bodybuilding contest)
- Definition (reasonable levels of body fat)
- Proportion (evenly developed muscle from top to bottom)
- Symmetry (equal development from left to right)
- Overall presentation (posture, stage presence)
- Grooming (hair, make-up, skin tone)
- Physical beauty and femininity

Round 2 - Athletic performance round to music
- Costume of choice
- Bottoms must extend 2 inches past butt line
- Top must cover 1/2 of the breast
- Fitness routine should not exceed 90 sec. at both pre-judging and finals
- Elements of routine should consist of;
- High energy and originality
- Strength
- Flexibility
- Endurance
- Complexity and difficulty
- Should appear effortless
- Showmanship
- Gymnastics and dance encouraged
- Props are prohibited in Fitness routine round

Physique Round 3 - Quarter Turns
- Same requirements as round one
- Only top 3 to 5 are scored (depending on competition)
- Finalists are determined from totals of round 1 and round 2

If you have any question about our Fitness/Figure Criteria please contact Janie Keith-Goodman



MABBA Bikini Criteria

Competitors Rules
  • National level contests do not permit competitors to crossover into Bodybuilding, Fitness or Figure at the same event.
  • Competitors will compete in a two-piece suit. The bottom of the suit must be v-shaped. No thongs are permitted. Competitors can compete in an off the rack suit. All swimsuits must be in good taste.
  • Competitors must wear high heels.
  • Competitors may wear jewelry.

Competition Judging

Presentation
  • Competitors will walk onstage alone and perform their Model Walk (personal preference)
  • The Model Walk consists of the following: Walk to the center of the stage, stop and do a front stance then a full turn and do a rear stance then turn to the front again in front of the judges and then proceed to the side of the stage.
Comparison Round, Two-Piece Swimsuit
  • Competitors will be judged wearing a two-piece swimsuit and heels.
  • The competitors will be brought out in a group and directed to do a full front and rear stance.
  • Judges will have the opportunity to compare competitors against each other in half turns. (No side judging permitted, front and back only.)
  • Judges will be scoring competitors on the following items:
    • Balance and Shape
    • Overall physical appearance including complexion, skin tone, poise and overall presentation.


Common Mistakes and Misconceptions in Women's Fitness
by Janie Keith-Goodman

1. "I don't want to get too muscular"
It takes a lot of dedication and commitment and time to attain the physique that is necessary to do well at the National level. Muscles do not appear overnight, and it is very easy to tone down a muscled bodied. We often think that we are "too muscular" when we see ourselves in the mirror 4 months before a show. This is not usually the case after 3-4 months of dieting! All of a sudden you are backstage, surrounded by buffed bodies, wondering where all of your muscle went! In other words, train intensely with heavy weights 3-4 times per week!

2. "Stop weight training two or three weeks before the show and focus on your routine"
This is one of the biggest mistakes that I have made as a fitness competitor. You work so hard to build up your muscles, then you think that you are doing your body a favor by giving up on the weight training for the last week or two before the show. Instead you are losing precious muscle as well as that well-defined, full muscle belly look that will score well in the physique round. Weight training is what got you those muscles, so do not stop! I usually train hard with weights (heavy) until the last two weeks. Then I decrease my weight slightly to avoid sore muscles and injury. I usually go down about 5 - 10 pounds for all of my exercises. This maintains the muscle and gives it a good pump. About three or four days before the show I weight train with high reps and light weight - simulating the pump-up that I will do backstage. The day before the show I do light cardio, flexibility, visualization of my routine and a very light full body pump up followed by quarter turns.

3. "You must cut out water for a few days to get as lean as possible and to avoid water retention"
NO! NO! Fitness is different from bodybuilding - we do not need to be striated and we definitely need water to perform our routines. I drink tons of water (3-4 litres per day) during my 12-week contest diet. This helps with my fat burning, flushing out the by-products of intense training and dieting. About three days before the show I decrease to two litres. Two days before the show I decrease to one and ˝ litres. The day before the show I have one litre and I sip water as needed the day of the show.

4. "You can throw together a great fitness routine in one month"
Maybe if you are a gymnast or a dancer who has competed for years! You should begin thinking about music 4 -5 months before the show. The music should be cut and ready at least 4 months before. Choreography should be mostly completed 2 - 3 months before the show so that you give yourself 6 - 8 weeks to perfect the routine! The highly anaerobic nature of a fitness routine means that your body will need time to adjust to this kind of work. I start doing track and bike sprints about 5 - 6 months before a show to get my anaerobic system ready. It is very important that you perform your routine in front of people before you compete. This will help keep your nerves in cheque and make you appear more comfortable on stage. Try to practice within a boundary that is similar to stage dimensions so that you will know exactly how much room you will need to mark out on the stage when you get to the competition. I always count ten steps back and about fifteen steps across. This ensures that I will always have enough room, even if the stage is small.

5. "You need breast implants and long hair to succeed in fitness"
I think that I am a living example of the stupidity of this statement! What you do need is excellent self-confidence and an open mind. I am always thinking of ways that I can improve my physique or my look. I never say "what more can I do?" - there is always something you can improve on. If breast implants give you that confidence, then by all means - get them! Just make sure that it is your decision and that you are not pressured into them by what others think. There is a need for role models of all shapes and sizes! You must present yourself in the best possible way for you - not based on how other girls look! You want to stand out in the crowd, not blend in!

6. "You need to win contests and be well-known to get sponsorship"
This is definitely not the case. The best time to start looking for sponsors is when you are starting. Sponsors love to grow with their athlete! If you show awesome energy and a willingness to help out a company they will probably love to help you out too. If you get a few "NO's", then keep on looking - there are so many people out there who will help you with your dream if you are passionate about it! Make sure you have a resume and goals typed out for potential sponsors. Have info for them about contests and if possible, have pictures of yourself. Tell the sponsors how you can help them promote their product and mention the growing popularity and magazine and TV exposure that Fitness has. Finally, give them a list of costs that you will incur as you prepare: bikini, routine outfit, choreographer, shoes, heels, body dye, trainer, dietician, travel, entry fees, hotel, supplements, etc.

7. "When I compete all the media will come running to interview me and I will be famous!"
Ha…ha…Ha…! Yes, sometimes you will be approached for pictures or an interview - but, the media in general does not follow the athletes. That is why there are agents! Be your own agent and send a write up and pictures to your local newspapers and TV stations after your contest or as you prepare for it. Send in pictures and your bio to Oxygen and Musclemag and Hers. Most of the publicity that I have received is because I have sent it in!

8. "You have to be a dancer, aerobic instructor, or gymnast to do well in fitness"
This is another area in which I will use myself as an example. I went in my first competition when I was 30 and had to relearn everything that I did as a child in gymnastics at age 13. I relearned back flips, front flips, areol cartweels, holds and splits, which I never lost as an adult. I believe that my routines were very well-balanced because I include a little bit of everything in it. I would recommend jazz, hip hop dance, sport aerobics, and adult gymnastics with Carrie Carriere as it compliments to your weight training programs. A great choreographer is a must if you have no prior training in dance or gymnastics. If you were never a dancer, aerobic instructor or even a gymnast, you might suprise yourself what you can do as an adult, so my answer to everyone is no, you do not have to have these elements in your childhood background to compete in fitness.

9. "My only goal is to have fun"
This sounds nice, if your idea of fun is sore muscles, hard work, early nights, early mornings, and strict dieting for 3- 4 months! It is a good idea if you can find reasons for competing that go beyond having fun. This will avoid disappointment and lack of motivation when the going gets tough - and believe me, it will! On the other hand - there is nothing like the thrill of accomplishing your goal and competing for the first time! Some great reasons might be: personal challenge, finishing something, learning experience that will lead to future success, practice in will power, meet new people, be a role model, etc.

10. "Are the other girls backstage really catty and self-absorbed?"
I have met many competitors in my lifetime, from all over the world and my experience has been wonderful. I have friends in many countries because of fitness and I know that we share something in common - the love of personal challenge and the perseverance to make it happen. Fitness competitors are special people - they are hard working, intelligent and fun! You determine your own destiny and will attract people by the energy that you send out. If you are personable, friendly, and enthusiastic, chances are that you will meet the other competitors who carry those same traits!

If you have any question about our Fitness/Figure Criteria please contact Janie Keith-Goodman

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- Download and fill out the form, then mail or drop if off
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Register online at www.Karelo.com

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©2010 Manitoba Amateur Bodybuilding Association