If you think becoming a bodybuilding champion is all about weight lifting, sadly you will never become one. Some of the most gifted physiques have fallen short because of lack of preparation in their presentation.

One of arts of becoming a champion that is not talked about is how you present the finished product the day of the competition. You may have a winning physique, but if you fail to show it to your advantage you may lose. I have won many of contests not just because I was in the best shape, but I learned how to hide weakly developed body parts with more well defined ones within my presentation.

Bodybuilding is an art through and through. While there is a selective number of posing required to go through during the judging portion and personal presentation rounds, it is how you do them that can make or break you. Here are some very important things to remember that could directly or indirectly win you championships.

Proper Planning:

This should go with out saying; practice posing long before the contest. As important as any other time in the gym is practicing posing, over and over and over again, until it is second nature. Judges can tell immediately if you have practiced.

Transitions:

The only smooth thing you want during a bodybuilding contest is the transitions from one pose to another. You want posing to look effortless. Smooth transitions are only a small detail, but they speak volumes to the judges. Going from one pose to another should not be noticeable if done correctly.

Relax But Don’t Relax:

Judges will say to the group of competitors, “relax” after they call out a certain pose. DON”T! Well, relax but stay tense. If you are lean, every detail of muscle needs to show. If you relax between call outs, the muscularity will show that. In other words, your lines may temporarily disappear.

Music:

Pick music that fits your physique more so than your personality. You can turn off a judge if both are not connected. Too many make the mistake of fitting their personality. Judges don’t care about your personality; they care about your presentation of the finished product.

Oil:

Depending upon your physical shape and skin type it is very important to apply just the right amount of oil to enhance the muscle definition. You can make your body look “smooth” if you put to much oil on, or you can look thin if you apply to little.

Remember, you can have the best product, but if the fine details are not practiced and presented right, you will be put right back on the shelf.