Shawn Ray Discusses The Lost Art Of Bodybuilding Posing In Recent Interview

As the world continues to evolve and grow, no week tends to be the same. While some people embrace the change, others find it hard to accept the new normal. Times have certainly changed in bodybuilding. 

In historical times, artists such as Lee Labrada and Frank Zane would craft awe-inspiring stage routines. Fans would watch and admire while their favorite bodybuilders showcased their aesthetics. In modern times, most focus is on the mandatory poses, with slight differences often deciding the end placings.

Shawn Ray, a former professional bodybuilder, has never been one to hold back about the changing times. He’s often divided opinion after not being afraid to express his thoughts, even when vastly different from the masses.

In his latest interview, he discussed posing routines and how they’re less artistic in the modern era. As has often been the case, his comments led to widespread discussion throughout the bodybuilding industry.

Shawn Ray Discusses The Decline Of Artistry In Open Bodybuilding

With 13 Olympia competitions under his belt, Shawn Ray is no stranger to the stage. While he never managed to win an Olympia title, his consistent top placings cemented him as a bodybuilding legend. Despite his accolades, it’s his antics off the stage that often get people talking. 

In a recent interview, Ray discussed how he thinks that bodybuilding has lost touch with the artistry it once had. In the modern era, he believes bodybuilders are more concerned with hitting the mandatory poses than properly displaying their physiques.

During the golden age, presentation and posing played a crucial role in contest scoring. Old-school bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva captivated fans with their signature poses. Ray thinks that while the Classic Division is making progress, the Open Division has a long way to go.

In Ray’s opinion, the posing and bodybuilding culture has changed. Foundational training and nutrition principles have been phased out and replaced with gurus and bodybuilding coaches. 

With this, the rapid influx of different experts has meant that bodybuilders can no longer think for themselves. They’re constantly been told when to eat, what to eat, and how to exercise. 

With fewer “chefs in the kitchen” as Ray puts it, bodybuilders were historically able to display more individuality on stage. This led to original posing routines that would define a bodybuilder as an athlete and person on stage. Furthermore, it would impact their score much more than today’s bodybuilding landscape.

While coaches still played a crucial role during competition prep, their influence wasn’t as prominent as today. Bodybuilders took pride in doing most of their training and nutrition. More often than not, most would aim to “fly under the radar” before appearing on competition day. In his recent interview, Ray firmly believes that this is no longer the case. 

Ray’s thoughts on posing and artistry may divide opinion. However, the subjective nature of bodybuilding is one of the things that makes it such an exciting sport to watch. As it continues to evolve, the art of posing will likely change with it. 

Do Current Bodybuilders Care About Posing?

Take a glance online and you’ll find a lot of debate surrounding the current state of posing on the professional stage. The main points focus on the judging criteria and the importance placed on posing in modern times.

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As you can naturally expect, the judging criteria between different divisions have changed. Over the years, judges have stated what they’re looking for before changing the perceived requirements as the competitive landscape evolves. Throughout this, posing has remained a vital part of stage performance but shifted in focus. 

Posing is an artform. It allows the competitors to express themselves as individuals. They’re able to showcase their hard work, putting it on stage for everyone to admire. 

There’s no denying current bodybuilders care about posing. The issue in modern times is how much importance is seen to be placed on it. 

Bodybuilders are judged on their ability to showcase their physique. However, a lot of them focus on hitting the mandatory poses perfectly. This takes away from the unique elements of their physique which allows them to express their individuality. 

What’s Next For Bodybuilding Posing?

Bodybuilding posing is not what it once was. With more focus being placed on the mandatory poses, today’s bodybuilders are shying away from expressing themselves. 

While Ray’s comments hold some merit, some of today’s bodybuilders continue to try to put posing back on the map. Athletes such as Chris Bumstead and Terrance Ruffin are redefining posing standards. As bodybuilding continues to evolve, we’ll likely see more changes going forward.

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