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 By: MuscleTech
No, this is not a story about a couple of bodybuilders at the circus! This is about a sport that is defined as much by muscle as it is by the focus and commitment of the athlete. Like many other competitive sports, the sport of bodybuilding requires gut-splitting determination, unwavering sacrifice and artful technique. It's not just about getting up on a stage, hitting a few poses and showing off the animal you've become. Bodybuilding has evolved into a sophisticated, smart and refined sport and it attracts sophisticated, smart and refined athletes. Only an elite group has the physical potential, the single-mindedness and the smarts to pull together all the elements of the bodybuilding balancing act: mass, proportion, symmetry and definition. Whether you plan to step on a bodybuilding stage or you're just trying to get into the best shape of your life, your key to success is mastering these critical elements!
To the untrained eye, the subtleties of each element may be lost, but I can assure you that those judging bodybuilding competitions have a keen eye, and will not be seduced by size alone. These same details are what will make sure your body is picked out of a crowd.
This is why every blood-sweat-and-tears competitive bodybuilder and hardcore athlete has to not only bust their @ss in the gym to sculpt their work of art, but also must train smart, eat smart and prep smart to make sure all the judging requirements have been met. Let's break them down.
Of course, muscle mass is the most obvious and easily recognized criterion to the world. It has always been the foundation of bodybuilding. Mass deals with the muscular size of an athlete. The bottom line is how much jaw-dropping, rock-hard muscle they have put on their frame. Related Mass Gain Programs Articles:
Take a look at the top pro bodybuilders in the world, such as Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren and, of course, the reigning Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler. They're all packed with muscle.
  Click To Enlarge. Dexter Jackson & Branch Warren. The sheer mass of these guys gives you goose bumps and has sparked the dreams of many up-and-coming bodybuilders and athletes. While mass is crucial for bodybuilding success, or for someone trying to turn heads everywhere, you can't just be a collection of body parts. This is where proportion comes in.
 Click To Enlarge. Jay Cutler.
Proportion is the even balance of muscular development in comparison to the whole physique. For example, if you have biceps the size of basketballs and calves the size of golf balls, then you have some serious work to do - leave the posing trunks at home!
You have to figure out how to get those body parts in balance before stepping on stage or the beach. Remember, you want to get noticed for the right reason. So what's the difference between proportion and symmetry? Symmetry is a little more precise.
"Extreme Definition Is Obtained When The Athlete Is So Ripped To The Bone, You Can See Every Muscle Group Clearly Through Their Skin!"
Symmetry is about the equal development of muscularity on both the right and left sides of the physique. Picture a car with one flat tire - not a good look. It's a subtle distinction but it is hugely important. Related Symmetry Articles:
A proportioned and symmetrical body is more pleasing to the eye and sends the message that the athlete has trained smart and considered all variables. Watch any bodybuilding competition and you will see tons of competitors with huge arms or massive thighs. At the end of the day, who gets the most attention? It's those who have mass and virtually perfect proportion and symmetry.
 Click To Enlarge. Those Who Have Mass And Virtually Perfect Proportion And Symmetry Get The Attention.
Jay Cutler and other pros like him didn't get to where they are by mass, proportion and symmetry alone. All of that is an absolute waste of time if you don't get shredded. This is where the muscle definition criteria comes into play. Definition is the degree of muscularity brought out by the absence of body fat and water retention. In other words, the athlete is ripped to the bone. But getting shredded isn't easy.
"Building Your Best Body Ever Requires Gut-Busting Determination, Unwavering Sacrifice And Artful Technique."
It requires discipline and focus to lose as much fat and water as humanly possible while still holding on to every inch of granite-hard muscle you've packed on your frame.
Good nutritional habits, cutting calories and carbs, and keeping the body flooded with protein are part of the formula.
The bodybuilding balancing act doesn't sound so easy does it? Well, if you think you have the intestinal fortitude, passion, desire and commitment to achieve a supreme level of size and conditioning, go for it, brother. Whether you're counting down the days until you step on stage, or you're just trying to build your best body ever, it will be among the most rewarding things you ever do!
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