Fitness and figure competition

A physique-sport event with fitness and figure divisions. Figure is judged on muscularity, symmetry, and conditioning; fitness also includes an athletic routine.

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Figure competition judging: A judging process that ranks figure competitors by muscularity, symmetry, conditioning, and presentation. It defines the physique standards applied to the figure division.
Bikini competition: A physique-sport division emphasizing a lean, balanced appearance with less muscularity than figure. Its softer muscularity standard marks a boundary below figure.
Resistance training: Exercise that makes muscles work against external resistance to build strength or size. It develops the muscularity assessed in both divisions.
International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness: An international organization that sanctions bodybuilding and fitness competitions. It governs prominent fitness and figure competition pathways.
Fitness routine: A choreographed athletic performance combining strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular movement. It supplies the athletic component that distinguishes fitness from figure.
Women's physique competition: A bodybuilding division for women emphasizing greater muscular development than figure. It shows the higher muscularity threshold beyond figure.
Periodization: The planned variation of training over time to manage adaptation and performance. Competitors organize training phases around physique goals and event dates.
National Physique Committee: A United States amateur physique-sport organization that sanctions competitions and awards professional status. Its contests provide a major route into professional divisions.
Bodybuilding posing: A system of practiced poses used to display muscular development onstage. Stage presentation overlaps with physique judging but uses different competitive standards.
Bodybuilding: A physique sport in which competitors develop and display muscular size, symmetry, and definition. Fitness and figure belong to physique sport but do not center maximal muscularity.