Muscle Building History - From Sandow to Modern Bodybuilding

When Eugen Sandow decided to display his well-developed physique for the public, specifically in carnivals, in the nineteenth century, he had no idea he would one day own the title "The Father of Modern Bodybuilding" and eventually become a household name --- for muscle building enthusiasts, that is.

Sandow himself was a strong supporter and promoter of the Grecian Ideal, which was, at that time, the established standard of the so-called perfect physique --- more or less proportionate to the stature of Greek and Roman gods. Using the anatomy of the gods as his yardstick, Sandow worked to achieve the "ideal" and later developed and sold the first-ever bodybuilding exercise equipment such as machines dumbbells, spring pulley, and tension bands.

In 1901, he organized "Great Competition," first bodybuilding competition, the winner of which was presented with a bronze statue of Sandow himself. The competition evolved into more sophisticated contests, one of which is Mr. Olympia, the most prestigious bodybuilding contest at present. The winner of this contest is awarded the same bronze statue of Sandow.

Aside from the winners and spectators of the competitions, Sandow gained followers who were instrumental in introducing professional bodybuilding to the world. There was Earle Liederman, who wrote a handle of the earliest books on bodybuilding. Maxick, the pioneer in the art of posing. Then there were the champions Gustav Fritensky and Alan C. Mead, who amazing bagged the bodybuilding title despite losing one leg in WorldWar I.

The 1970s was the golden age for bodybuilding with the rise of famous enthusiasts in the persons of Lou Ferrigno, Franco Columbu, Mike Sweiss, and no less than champion actor and budding politician Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose mere appearance and open support brought about the growing popularity of the sport.

The documentary film, Pumping Iron, released in 1977, even brought bodybuilding to the limelight. The film featured the life of Schwarzenegger and his contenders, Lou Ferrigno and Franco Columbu. The film was Schwarzenegger’s debut to the showbiz world, and Lou Ferrigno’s ticket to his starring role in the popular TV series The Incredible Hulk.

The sport’s ballooning fame gave rise to the creation of bodybuilding organizations such as the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), which later faced controversy that it promoted weightlifting more than bodybuilding. This prompted the founding of the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB) in 1946 by Canadian brothers Joe and Ben Weider. Joe Wieder is, at the same time, publisher of bodybuilding and fitness magazines namely Muscle Builder, Mr. America, Muscle Power, Shape, Men’s Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Living Fit, Cooks, Senior Golfer, Flex, and Prime Health and Fitness.

IFBB’s amateur offshoot, National Physique Committee (NPC), was founded in 1981 by former AAU chairman Jim Manion. NPC dominated the sport and worked its way to becoming the most successful bodybuilding club in history. NPC’s achievement forced AAU to bow down and permanently cancel all its bodybuilding events beginning 1999.

Today, bodybuilding gyms have infiltrated almost every corner of big and small cities alike where Dunkin' Donuts hasn't. More and more bodybuilding devotees are joining competitions and making money from them. In fact, statistics show it is the fastest growing sport in the United States.

So why do people spend long hours in the gym and spend on tons of protein bars, drinks, and vitamins that will supposedly enhance the muscle’s ability to develop and grow bigger. Some consider bodybuilding as a sport, some as a hobby. When asked why they work out that much, bodybuilding bugs will tell you all positive stuff like it makes them feel good about themselves, it helps build confidence, it makes them feel more manly, it makes them healthy and strong, it makes them more attractive, and so on.

Whatever they’re reasons are, however different they might be, they have more reason to flex some biceps and extend those triceps because bodybuilding is here to stay.