Contents

1 Men's categories (disciplines) in bodybuilding

1.1 Fitness

1.2 Arnold Classic

1.3 Men's Physique

2 Women's disciplines

2.1 Body Fitness

2.2 Fitness

2.3 Bikini

3 Other disciplines

3.1 Kids Fitness (Girls)

3.2 In International IFBB competitions there are categories

3.3 Athletes with disabilities

3.4 Mixed Pairs

4 Read also

Men's categories (disciplines) in bodybuilding

In the men's bodybuilding competition there are weight categories:

up to and including 70 kg;

Up to 75 kg inclusive;

up to 80 kg inclusive;

up to 85 kg inclusive;

up to 90 kg inclusive;

up to and including 95 kg;

up to 100 kg inclusive;

over 100 kg

In International IFBB competitions there are more weight categories:

up to 60kg (in Asia);

Under 65kg (in Asia).

In competitions among junior men's bodybuilding there are two categories:

Juniors under 23 years old - under 80 kg;

Juniors to 23 - over 80 kg.

In International IFBB competitions there are two categories:

Juniors under 23 - under 75kg;

juniors under 23 - over 75 kg.

In competitions among the masters - men (bodybuilding veterans) over 40 years old there is one absolute category.

In the International competitions IFBB there are categories:

Veterans 40-49 years old: up to 70kg, up to 80kg, up to 90kg, over 90kg;

Veterans aged 50-59: up to 80 kg, over 80 kg;

Veterans aged 60+: one absolute category.

Fitness .

In competitions among men fitness there is one absolute category, according to the rules:

Up to 170 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (allowed to exceed +1 kg)

up to 175 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (+2 kg permissible excess)

up to 180 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (+3 kg permissible excess)

up to 190 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (+4 kg permissible excess)

up to and including 198 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (+4.5 kg permissible excess)

over 198 cm (including) Max. weight = height - 100 (+5 kg permissible overload)

In International IFBB competitions there are also categories: juniors under 21 years old - absolute category (according to the same IFBB rules)

In Women Bodybuilding competitions there is one full body category.

In the International competitions IFBB there are more categories:

Juniors - under 23 years old - Absolute Category

Veterans - over 35 years old - Open Category

Arnold Classic

Arnold Classic category

In the competition among the men's classic bodybuilding there are two categories:

Under 175cm;

over 175cm.

According to the IFBB rules:

Up to 170 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (allowed to exceed + 2 kg);

Up to 175 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (allowable excess + 4 kg);

up to 180 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (permissible excess + 6 kg);

over 180 cm to 190 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (+8 kg permissible excess);

over 190 cm to 198 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (allowable excess +9 kg);

over 198 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (allowable excess of +10 kg);

At IFBB International Competitions there are categories:

up to 168cm;

up to 171cm;;

under 175cm; under 175cm;

up to 180 cm;

over 180cm;

Juniors up to 23 years old - one absolute category;

For juniors classic bodybuilding:

Up to 168 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (allowed to exceed + 0 kg);

up to 171 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (allowable excess + 2 kg);

up to and including 175 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (permissible excess + 4 kg)

up to 180 cm (inclusive) Max. weight = height - 100 (permissible excess +6 kg);

up to 190 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (permissible excess + 8 kg);

up to 198 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (allowable excess +9 kg);

Over 198 cm Max. weight = height - 100 (allowable excess +10 kg);

Veterans 40-49 years old: one absolute category;

Veterans over 50 years old: one absolute category;

Men's Physique.

In 2012 IFBB introduced a new men's category: men's physique. It is aimed at men who use strength training, keep fit, follow a healthy balanced diet, but prefer to develop less muscle, but still have an athletic and aesthetic physique. 

Beach Bodybuilding

Women's disciplines

Body Fitness .

There are three height categories in the women's bodybuilding competition:

Up to 163 cm;

up to 168 cm;

over 168 cm.

Read more: Body Fitness

In International IFBB competitions there are more categories:

Under 158 cm;

Juniors under 23 years old - under 163cm;

Juniors till 23 years old - over 163cm;

Veterans over 35 years - the absolute category.

Fitness

Oksana Grishina as the Joker in 2013 at the Arnold Classic in the fitness category

The goal of the competition is to have an athletic appearance, the judges look at the figure from different angles. This is the only category in which competitors demonstrate flexibility, elasticity and movement technique in dance.

In the women's fitness competition there are two height categories:

Under 163 cm;

over 163 cm.

At the International competitions IFBB there are more categories:

Juniors under 23 - under 163cm;

Juniors till 23 years old - over 163cm;

Bikini

In this category women take part with a very thin build. Judges are looking for a softer look than in the other categories (they are not looking for the same muscle mass in the fitness category)

There are three height categories in the women's bikini competition:

Under 163cm;

up to 168 cm;

over 168cm.

At the International IFBB competitions there is also a height category up to 158cm.

At the International competitions IFBB there are more categories:

Juniors till 23 years old - till 163cm; (no younger than 16 years old)

juniors to 23 yrs old - over 163cm (under 16 yrs old)

Read more: Bikini competition in bodybuilding

"Attention" Girls of 16 years and older are allowed to take part in the competitions!

Women bodybuilding disciplines

Other disciplines

Kids fitness (girls)

8-9 years old;

10-11 years old;

12-13 y.o;

14-16 year olds.

At the IFBB International Competitions there are categories

8-9 year olds;

10-11 year olds;

12-14 years;

15-16 year olds;

over 16.

Athletes with disabilities

At the International competitions IFBB there is also the bodybuilding category of disabled (men in wheelchairs) - one absolute category, as well as among veterans over 40 years - one absolute category.

Competitions among athletes with disabilities

Mixed pairs

As well as mixed pairs (man and woman) - one absolute category.

At the International competitions IFBB mixed pairs are included only at the European Championship among men.