N.A.B.B.A. IS TELLING LIES OR IT DOES NOT KNOW IT’S OWN HISTORY?

“WORLD BODYBUILDING ENCYCLOPEDIA”.

Contemporary N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) history writer SI SWEENEY in his articles even does not mention the real first “Mr. Universe” contest. Also he writes incorrect information about the second “Mr. Universe” competition.

The same do writers who write about the I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) history. These they underline that there was nothing before the WEIDER brothers JOE and BEN I.F.B.B. Commercial Company. They neglect the previous BOB HOFFMAN’s (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985 m.) “Bodybuilding Empire” which WEIDER brothers copied from beginning to the very end.

Many people want to rise themselves and they create unreal stories. Next followers use their creations and go on developing them.

1947. FIRST “MR. UNIVERSE” CONTEST.

The first real “Bodybuilding Empire” was created through the A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union)  in the USA by American BOBO HOFFMAN. In real A.A.U. united USA National Federations and it was the Ministry of Sport in the USA. They use to call BOBO HOFFMAN “the father of America Weightlifting”. A.A.U. since 1939 was organizing USA bodybuilding “Mr. America” contests. BOB HOFFMAN wanted to make bodybuilding an official recognized sport through A.A.U. and F.I.H. (Federation Internationale Halterophile). USA weightlifting though A.A.U. was a member of the International Weightlifting Federation F.I.H. Later F.I.H. name was changed to F.I.H.C. (F.I.H.C., Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme) when F.I.H. started ruling World’s bodybuilding sport. BOB HOFFMAN decided to do the same with bodybuilding.

In 1947 F.I.H. organized the World Weightlifting Championship and International Congress in Philadelphia (USA). Under the efforts of BOB HOFFMAN the International Congress decided to lead and control World’s bodybuilding on official level. It was immediately decided to organize the first in Sport’s History International Bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” contest alongside with the F.I.H. World Weightlifting Championship in Philadelphia. Then the Over All “Mr. Universe” Champion was a pupil of BOB HOFFMAN a famous America weightlifter STEVE STANKO. That was a Historical Happening and STEVE STANKO became a Historical Person.

1948. SECOND “MR. UNIVERSE’ IN LONDON.

It was a tradition of F.I.H. not to organize World Weightlifting Championship in “Olympic” years. What to do with the second F.I.H. bodybuilding „Mr. Universe“ comprtition? Then the idea to organize the F.I.H. bodybuilding “Mr. Universe” during the 1948 “Olympic Games” struck BOB HOFFMAN. There were real ways because F.I.H. was a member of the International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.). BOB HOFFMAN addressed British OSCAR STATE who was the President of B.A.W.L.A. (British Amateur Weight Lifting Association) to assist him. At the same time B.A.W.L.A. asked the Chairmen of the British Bodybuilding “Health and Strength” Magazine to assist them too. Through F.I.H. departments in various countries B.A.W.L.A. invited athletes to the contest in London. At the same time BOB HOFFMAN brought USA bodybuilders to compete. There were 1800 spectators at the second F.I.H. “Mr. Universe” in London. All money profit of the competition went to B.A.W.L.A.. After several preliminary rounds the finalists were ANDRE DRAPP (France) and Americans JOHN GRIMEK and STEVE REEVES. JOHN GRIMEK was proclaimed the Over All Winner of the second F.I.H. “Mr. Universe”. STEVE REEVES spoke on microphone saying that “John Grimek is the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived“.

1950. FIRST N.A.B.B.A. “MR. UNIVERSE”.

In 1950 under the efforts of the Chairmen of “Health and Strength” Magazine N.A.B.B.A. association was created in the Great Britain. As the former N.A.B.B.A. President  IVAN DUNBAR told us – N.A.B.B.A. Association was juridically registered as a „Public Club“. In 1950 N.A.B.B.A. organized the first “Mr. Universe” in London. The Over All Champion was STEVE REEVES (USA). At the same time a member of the International Olympic Committee F.I.H.C. went on organizing it’s own “Mr. Universe” contest. Comparing with N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universe” F.I.H.C. competitions were the official ones. For the two decades no one could confront F.I.H.C. as the official Bodybuilding Sport was under F.I.H.C. control. Even the Commercial I.F.B.B. Company of the WEIDER  brothers JOE and BEN could not imagine to think being equal to F.I.H.C..

INFORMATION.
More detailed information on the Global International Site www.wff.lt, see forum topics.

N.A.B.B.A. NEŽINO SAVO ISTORIJOS ARBA MELUOJA.

“PASAULIO KULTŪRIZMO ENCIKLOPEDIJOS” MEDŽIAGA.

Dabarties N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body Building Association) asociacijos istorikas SI SVINEJUS (Si Sweeney) savo publikacijose net neužsimena apie tikrąjį pirmąjį “Mr. Universe” turnyrą, o apie antrąjį rašo klaidingai.

Panašiai kultūrizmo sporto istorija sukurta ir I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) istorikų. Pagal šiuos istorikus, iki I.F.B.B. nieko nebuvo. Jie nutyli, kad I.F.B.B. komercionės firmos savininkai broliai BENAS ir DŽO VEIDERIAI (Ben and Joe Weider brothers) visur kopijavo iki jų sukurtą BOBO HOFMANO (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898 - 1985 m.) kultūrizmo imperiją.

Nestebina, nes daug žmonių aukštindami save, kitus žemina ar net visai nemini. Gaunasi iškreipta istorija, į kurią remdamiesi paskesni istorikai kūria jau savo istorijas, kurios labai tolimos nuo realybės.

1947. PIRMASIS KULTŪRIZMO “MR. UNIVERSE” TURNYRAS.

Pirma tarptautinė kultūrizmo imperija buvo JAV “sunkiosios atletikos tėvu” vadinamo BOBO HOFMANO (Bob Hoffman) pastangų dėka per A.A.U. (Amateur Athletic Union) sukurta Amerikoje. A.A.U. jungė visas JAV sporto federacijas ir iš esmės buvo JAV sporto minieterija. Kol JAV nebuvo sporto ministerijos, jos funkcijas atliko A.A.U.. A.A.U. buvo JAV Nacionalinio Olimpinio komiteto narė ir ilgą laiką vadovavo visoms sporto šakoms. Nuo 1939 metų pradėjusi organizuoti JAV nacionalinį kultūrizmo čempionatą, pavadintą “Mr. America”, BOBO HOFMANO dėka A.A.U. ryžosi oficialiai įteisinti kultūrizmo sportą.

1947 metais Filadelfijoje (JAV) vyko Tarptautinės sunkiosios atletikos federacijos F.I.H. (Federation Internationale Halterophile) pasaulio sunkiosios atletikos čempionatas ir tarptautinis kongresas. BOBO HOFMANO pastangomis F.I.H. (F.I.H. ėmus valdyti pasaulio kultūrizmą, pavadinimas pakito į F.I.H.C., Federation Internationale Halterophile et Culturisme) tarptautiniame kongrese priėmė nutarimą vadovauti pasauliniam kultūrizmo sportui ir rengti tarptautinės kultūrizmo varžybas. Taip iškart po kongreso Filadelfijoje buvo organizuotas pirmasis tarptautinis F.I.H. “Mr. Universe” turnyras. Absoliučiu varžybų nugalėtoju tapo BOBO HOFMANO auklėtinis amerikietis STVIVAS STANKO (Steve Stanko). Tai buvo istorinis įvykis ir istorinė pergalė.  

 1948. ANTRASIS KULTŪRIZMO “MR. UNIVERSE” TURNYRAS.

“Olimpiniais metais” F.I.H. sunkosios atletikos pasaulio čempionatai nebuvo organizuojami. Kaip organizuoti planuotą F.I.H. kultūrizmo “Mr. Universe” turnyrą? BOBUI HOFMANUI kilo idėja organizuoti antrąjį F.I.H. kultūrizmo “Mr. Universe” turnyrą 1948 metų Londono Olimpinių žaidynių metu. Juk F.I.H. buvo tarptautinio Olimpinio komiteto (I.O.C., International Olympic Committee) narė. Tam buvo pasitelkta Britanijos sunkiosios atletikos asociacija  B.A.W.L.A. (British Amateur Weight Lifting Association), kuriai vadovavo OSKARAS STEITAS (Oscar State). B.A.W.L.A. per Britanijos Imperijos kolonijų sunkiosios atletikos asociacijas į kultūrizmo “Mr. Universe” varžybas sukvietė įvairių šalių sportininkus, o BOBAS HOFMANAS atvežė JAV kultūristus. “Mr. Universe” varžybas stebėti atėjo 1800 žiūrovų, o turnyro metu surinktos lėšos atiteko B.A.W.L.A. asociacijai.  Talkinti varžybose B.A.W.L.A. pasikvietė britų kultūrizmo žurnalo “Sveikata ir jėga” (“Health and Strength”) redakciją. Po eilės trankinių atkrentamųjų etapų į “Mr. Universe” finalą pateko prancūzas ANDRE DRAPAS (Andre Drapp) bei amerikiečiai STIVAS RIVSAS (Steve Reeves) ir BOBO HOFMANO auklėtinis DŽONAS GRIMEKAS (John Grimek). Absoliučiu nugalėtoju tapo DŽONAS GRIMEKAS. Per apdovanojimą prie mikrofono STIVAS RIVSAS pasakė, kad “Džonas Grimekas yra geriausias pasaulio kultūristas” (“John Grimek is the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived“).

1950. PIRMASIS N.A.B.B.A. KULTŪRIZMO “MR. UNIVERSE” TURNYRAS.

1950 metais žurnalo “Sveikata ir jėga” (“Health and Strength”) redakcija inicijavo nacionalinės kultūrizmo asociacijos N.A.B.B.A. įkūrimą. Pasak buvusio N.A.B.B.A. prezidento AIVANO DANBARO (Ivan Dunbar), N.A.B.B.A. juridiškai buvo registruiota visuomeninio klubo statusu.  Tais pačiais 1950 metais N.A.B.B.A. Londone organizavo pirmąjį “Mr. Universe” turnyrą. Absoliučiu turnyro nugalėtoju tapo STIVAS RIVSAS. Toliau Tarptautinio Olimpinio komiteto narė F.I.H., du dešimtmečius oficialiai vadovavusi pasaulio kultūrizmo sportui, tęsė “Mr. Universe” tradicijas, o N.A.B.B.A. “Mr. Universe”, kaip ir brolių DŽO ir BENO VEIDERIŲ (Joe and Ben WEIDER brothers) komercinė I.F.B.B. firma, nuėjo individualiu keliu, iki tolimu nuo oficialaus pripažinimo. 

INFORMACIJA.

Išsamesnė informacija globaliame tarptautiniame interneto puslapyje www.wff.lt, skaitykite forumą.

REAL WORLD BODYBUILDING HISTORY.

SOLE MAN AGAINST U.S.S.R. POLITICAL POWER.

FIGHTS AGAINST BODYBUILDING PROHIBITION.

Fifty three years have passed since bodybuilding sport was prohibited and prosecuted in the U.S.S.R. and Socialist countries. Everybody keep silence as they have nothing to say. Yes, in 1973 most bodybuilders left the sport. Somebody went to weightlifting. Somebody went on with bodybuilding illegally. But – who dared to make real steps to fight with prohibition of bodybuilding by political powers? The only one and it was DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS. It is the right time to speak about this. We will tell the full story in the nearest future. We will cover the facts, we will present documents and we will make conclusions. Sure – the false „heroes“ will not like this.

SOLE MAN AGAINST U.S.S.R. POLITICAL POWER.

We will speak about the period of time afrer bodybuilding prohibition – after 1973. Topics of the article are:

-        Personalities of bodybuilding

-        Meetings of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS at Ministry of Sport of the Č.S.S.R.

-        Meeting of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with Minister Sport of Lithuanian SSR

-        Discussions of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with U.S.S.R. press

-        Petition of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to U.S.S.R. Communist Party Central Committee in Moscow

-        Results, followers.

Detailed information, documents, articles and pictures are on International Site www.wff.lt

IN THE WEST – F.I.H.C., N.A.B.B.A. AND I.F.B.B.. IN THE EAST – US. THE SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED TO THIS DAY.

Looking back through the prism of the previous century, the key foundations of world bodybuilding history become increasingly clear.

For a long time, political circumstances divided the world into two parts – the “capitalist” West and the “socialist” East. The two worlds were isolated from one another, and bodybuilding, like many other sports, developed along separate and largely independent paths.

In the West, officially recognized bodybuilding was led from 1947 to 1969 by the international weightlifting federation F.I.H.C. (Fédération Internationale Haltérophile et Culturiste), under the significant influence of American Bob Hoffman (Robert Collins Hoffman, 1898–1985). Later, from 1971 to 1998, the leading role was assumed by I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders).

The unofficial, internationally unrecognized bodybuilding movement in the West was represented by N.A.B.B.A. (National Amateur Body-Builders' Association), established in Great Britain in 1950.

THE BEGINNING

In the socialist world, attempts were made to organize bodybuilding through F.I.H.C. In 1963, a bodybuilding organization – an athletic gymnastics commission – was established within the USSR Weightlifting Federation.

This was the first international-type bodybuilding organization in the socialist world. At the time, however, bodybuilding in the USSR was still in its infancy. The Weightlifting Federation had little interest in actively developing what was essentially a new sport introduced from above, and the organization gradually faded away.

In 1968, in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet bodybuilding enthusiasts established a new USSR bodybuilding organization (commission). It remained active until 1973, when bodybuilding was banned and persecuted in the USSR and other socialist countries.

During this period, the organization managed to hold two USSR bodybuilding championships and establish a tradition of international competitions – the “Amber Prix” in Lithuania and the “Georg Tenno Memorial” in Estonia.

THE YEARS OF THE BODYBUILDING BAN

After bodybuilding was banned in 1973, a period of confusion and uncertainty followed. The former USSR bodybuilding organization was largely forgotten. Official competitions were discontinued, but the bodybuilding movement did not disappear.

In 1974, DSc. Edmundas Daubaras illegally organized the “Amber Prix” tournament in a bomb shelter belonging to the Klaipėda Seaport. That same year, Estonian Inaras Mardo organized the “Georg Tenno Memorial” in Tallinn.

In Estonia, the tournament was held semi-legally. The authorities were persuaded that, given Estonia's long and internationally renowned tradition of strongmen, bodybuilding could be regarded as a distinctive part of the country's national sporting heritage.

These two tournaments – Lithuania's “Amber Prix” and Estonia's “Georg Tenno Memorial” – became the most important symbols of continuity in the bodybuilding tradition of the socialist world. Despite bans and persecution, they continued to be organized.

THE USSR BODYBUILDING FEDERATION OF 1987

During the period of perestroika, the greater freedoms emerging in public life made it possible for bodybuilding to organize more openly again.

In 1987, the USSR Bodybuilding Federation was established in Kubinka, RSFSR. The traditional international competitions of the socialist world – the “Georg Tenno Memorial” and the “Amber Prix” – continued to be held.

It appeared that bodybuilding had finally broken free and would soon merge with the Western sporting system. Caught up in a kind of euphoria, the bodybuilding community of the socialist world immersed itself in the Western sport it had discovered through heavily promoted bodybuilding magazines and long admired from afar.

Yet it soon became clear that reality was considerably more complicated.

AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE USSR

In 1991, the USSR collapsed, and the bodybuilding forces of the former socialist world also fragmented. National federations and organizations emerged in the newly independent states, while sports organizers continued to develop, drawing knowledge and experience from the West.

Over time, however, as this interpretation of bodybuilding history maintains, another side of the picture became apparent. Western bodybuilding was not as advanced in every respect as it had appeared from a distance. In the socialist world, distinctive approaches to athletic preparation and sports organization had been developed over decades, and these traditions remained alive.

These differences also became apparent in the activities of international bodybuilding organizations.

WORLD FITNESS FEDERATION

In opposition to the growing trend toward bodybuilding gigantism, in 1995 DSc. Edmundas Daubaras and German Klaus P. J. Hoffmann took the initiative to establish an international organization – the World Fitness Federation (W.F.F. – International).

In 1996, the federation's founding meeting was held in Stuttgart. Austrian Peter Papula and Greek Anargiros Tsopouridis also participated.

Klaus Hoffmann relied on representatives of N.A.B.B.A. member countries, while Edmundas Daubaras relied on countries of the former socialist world. The aim was to create an international organization that would continue the distinctive bodybuilding traditions of Eastern Europe and the former socialist world.

Over the decades, a kind of international bodybuilding system had emerged: I.F.B.B. for athletes prepared to accept stricter anti-doping controls, N.A.B.B.A. for bodybuilders committed to its traditional approach without doping control, and W.F.F. for an organization whose roots were connected with the bodybuilding tradition of the former socialist world.

THE “AMBER PRIX” AND THE “GEORG TENNO MEMORIAL”

Today, viewed from a historical perspective, one may argue that one of the most important foundations of bodybuilding in the socialist world was not a single institution, but a living tradition of international competitions.

Its most prominent symbols were the “Amber Prix” tournament in the Lithuanian SSR and the “Georg Tenno Memorial” in the Estonian SSR.

These tournaments survived political bans, organizational changes and the collapse of the USSR. Their history reflects a distinct path of bodybuilding development that, for decades, evolved separately from the Western bodybuilding system.

Therefore, the history of world bodybuilding should not be viewed solely through the activities of Western organizations such as F.I.H.C., N.A.B.B.A. and I.F.B.B. Alongside them existed an independently developed Eastern bodybuilding tradition, built on people, organizations and, above all, a competition tradition that continued for decades without interruption.

More about this history, its people, organizations and key events will be presented in forthcoming articles.

Follow the international website: www.wff.lt

INTERNATIONAL JUDGES AND TRAINERS SEMINAR IN KLAIPEDA. WHEN BODYBUILDING BECAME JUST ABOUT MUSCLES: WHERE DID THE ART OF POSING GO?

Bodybuilding was once about much more than displaying muscles. It was about the stage, music, movement, artistry, and the ability to turn one’s physique into a true stage performance. Today, much of that has disappeared. Has bodybuilding become too simplistic?

This question will be discussed on September 27, 2026, in Klaipėda, Lithuania, at an international seminar for coaches and judges, organized by the World WFF-WBBF Federation and the International Sport University (ISU).

One of the main topics of the seminar will be the art of posing, its importance in competition, new categories and judging principles, as well as the future development of bodybuilding.

There Was a Time When Muscles Alone Were Not Enough

There was a period in bodybuilding history when an athlete had to be more than physically well prepared. He had to know how to present his physique.

In 1987, during the establishment of the USSR Bodybuilding Federation, a series of specialized seminars was organized. One of them was conducted by Vitalijus Asovskis, then head of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding.

Together with Česlavas Tamulevičius, the founder of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding, and drawing on their practical experience and years of work with athletes, he developed a classification of the main bodybuilding poses.

This was not merely technical work. Posing was understood as a special language through which an athlete told the story of his physique on stage.

On Stage, It Was Not Enough to Be Strong — You Had to Know How to Show It

At that time, the free posing routine played a particularly important role.

An athlete did not simply perform the mandatory poses. He created his own performance: choosing the music, arranging the sequence of poses, transitions and movements, and creating a complete stage presentation.

Judges evaluated the overall impression of the routine, artistry, stage presence, musicality, posing technique and the athlete’s ability to move smoothly from one pose to another.

This forced athletes to develop far beyond the gym.

Lifting weights alone was not enough to become a stage virtuoso. Athletes had to learn how to control their bodies, understand music, use the stage, connect with the audience and present themselves to the judges.

Anyone can lift a barbell. Far fewer can command a stage.

As a result, there were occasions when a physically outstanding athlete lost to a competitor who was better able to present his physique on stage.

This judging philosophy encouraged bodybuilders to work harder and develop not only their physiques, but also their stagecraft.

The Vilnius School Created Not Only Physiques, but Stage Art

Specialists of the Vilnius School of Bodybuilding carefully studied the experience of other sports. They analyzed routines from artistic gymnastics and figure skating, examining their structure, artistry, musicality and judging principles.

This experience was then adapted to bodybuilding.

As a result, Lithuania produced an entire generation of athletes for whom the stage was just as important as the training hall.

Among them were Pranas Murauskas, Jevgenijus Gorelikas, Jevgenijus Žurcevas, Rišardas Krinickis, Vytautas Pleckevičius, Saulius Misevičius, Vladas Kapcevičius, Viačeslavas Chleborodovas and many other athletes of that era.

Their performances were not simply demonstrations of poses.

They were performances.

What Happened to Bodybuilding Today?

Today, free posing routines are no longer evaluated in many bodybuilding competitions.

And this creates one of the fundamental problems.

If posing skill has no impact on the final result, why should an athlete spend hundreds of hours developing it?

Perfecting posing requires time. It requires coaching, specialized knowledge, stage experience, musical awareness and countless rehearsals.

As a result, athletes naturally focus on the elements that directly influence their competitive results.

The result is increasing uniformity.

The same movements. The same poses. The same stage solutions.

The athlete walks onto the stage, displays his physique and walks off.

But where has the individuality gone? Where is the personality of the performance? Where is the moment when spectators are waiting not only to see what kind of physique an athlete has brought to the competition, but how he will present it?

Is Bodybuilding Losing Its Stage Identity?

Bodybuilding has always been unique because it brought together sport and stage performance.

Muscle was only one part of the equation.

The other was the ability to present it.

When the artistic component disappears from the judging system, competitions become increasingly uniform. And the more uniform they become, the fewer reasons spectators have to look forward to the next athlete’s performance.

Perhaps this is why it is time to look again at something that was once considered an essential part of bodybuilding.

2027 Could Become a Year of Change

The WFF-WBBF Federation has announced plans to reintroduce the evaluation of free posing routines for professional bodybuilders starting in 2027.

This would represent an attempt to bring back an element that once encouraged athletes to become not only physically powerful, but also true stage performers.

Will this change bodybuilding?

The answer will depend on how the judging criteria are formulated and how the idea is received by athletes, coaches and judges.

But one thing is clear:

Bodybuilding cannot be reduced to a display of muscles.

An athlete on stage should not simply stand there.

He should perform.

This will be one of the key subjects discussed on September 27, 2026, in Klaipėda at the International Seminar for Coaches and Judges.

Perhaps it is time to remember that bodybuilding does not begin when an athlete steps onto the stage.

It begins when an athlete learns how to tell the story of his physique on stage.

More information about the seminar: www.worldfitness.lt