Natural Bodybuilding….2003 style!

In a previous edition of Musclemag, a certain well-respected author concluded that natural Body building, or drug-free Bodybuilding (To use another term) died in the 60’s and 70’s along with the competitive careers of such early luminaries as Grimek etc..)

The truth is…,nothing could be further from the truth! Natural Bodybuilding, on these shores and in the States is alive and very, very well.

Whilst the names of natural Bodybuildings top stars may not be as well-known as some of the early greats, such could be also said of the top stars in every federation of this great sport. Quite simply, gone are the days when bodybuilding as a sport is looked upon as a healthy endeavour carried out by athletic young men. In it’s place is the freak show that can be found parading each and every year at such illustrious events as the Mr Olympia, Arnold Classic etc…hence the public lack of interest and general disassociation with the kind of physique displayed at these meets.

However if the aforementioned author had done his research correctly, he would find that the drug-free scene of 2003 is as alive and well as it was back in the 60’s, only nowadays competitors have the choice of whether to take drugs or not, back in the early 60’s, late 50’s such a choice was not available. Therefore early Bodybuilders can hardly be looked upon under the same light as todays’ natural athletes who actually make an informed decision, back then there were no drugs, therefore no options and no natural Bodybuilding scene.

As a competitive natural Bodybuilder myself, it’s refreshing to see the drug-free scene as alive and well as it is today. Both the prominent natural Bodybuilding federations in Britain (The Association of Natural Bodybuilders, A.N.B and the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation B.N.B.F.)) host a galaxy of exceptional physiques, deserving of the title “sports star”. It is only due to public misconception and ignorance that such top Professional drug-free Bodybuilders as Andrew Palmer, Nigel Davies, Robert Feesey, Lee Williams and Wesley Clarke are not viewed in the same light as the undisputed champions of other more “consumer friendly sports”.

The truth is, natural Bodybuilding and the general drug-free scene is growing and growing daily. The shows attract decent-sized crowds and the financial investment in the natural scene is increasing slowly year by year. However, the real interest in the natural Bodybuilding scene, particularly in the UK, comes with the non-competitive crowd. Whilst some may say that “only those who compete can be Bodybuilders”, we all know that such statements are nonsense. The amount of trainers throughout gyms all over the UK seeking to build a muscular physique without the use of drugs is staggerring, this is where the future of the natural scene lies. So hungry are these people for information and top-quality, unbiased advice that along with my business colleague Giles Thomas, I set up a natural Bodybuilding discussion forum called Jason Rickabys Natural Training team, on the website uk-muscle.com. Such has been the response from the natural Bodybuilding crowd in the UK, that what started as weekly chat, has now become almost a constant hourly chat-room, with input from every level of the Natural Bodybuilding scene. Eager beginners are logging on in their hundreds to share training, diet, supplement and lifestyle tips with each other enthusiasts and the top echoleon of the sport. The forum hosts many of the top UK amateur and professional natural Bodybuilders including Andrew Palmer (multi-title holder and professional BB, Fivos Averkiou- ANB Heavyweight Mr Britain 2002, Robert Feesey Overall Mr ANB Britain 2002 and ANB pro-am champion, Lee Williams-professional natural Bodybuilder, Dean Garratt and Steve Short-British and world champion natural Bodybuilders and many other top rank bodybuilders within the drug-free scene such as Peter Chown, Sean Ferguson, Campbell Brogan and Tony Montalbano. The interest in the forum and the website in general has not necessarily restored my faith in the natural scene (it never faltered) but it certainly filled me with satisfaction and re-assurance that both the BNBF and ANB’s top starts are actively promoting the lifestyle that natural Bodybuilding can offer.

So rather than believing in the death of natural Bodybuilding and believing statements from old-timers who choose to remain living in the distant past, with no interest in the present, keep up-to-date with the prospering, modern natural Bodybuilding scene and believe in yourself and how good you can be by following and believing in the dedicated natural Bodybuilding lifestyle.

Check me and Britains top natural stars on uk-muscle.com.

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