THE INBF - WHO WE ARE

Founded in 2000, the INBF is the non-profit amateur affiliate of the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF). The organization features the finest amateur natural bodybuilders, figure athletes and Ms. Fit Body competitors in the sport.

Both the INBF and the WNBF require athletes to have been drug-free for a minimum of seven years. Every competitor is tested prior to competition via polygraph to ensure that they have complied with the extensive banned substance list. Subsequent urinalysis is required from athletes upon winning their class at INBF shows. The INBF & WNBF does not do random testing at events – each contest is fully tested.

With affiliates in Switzerland, Italy, Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada and the Caribbean, the INBF is a worldwide organization. Several events are held in cooperation with the U.S. Military at bases throughout the United States, Germany, Iraq and Korea.

In 2010, the INBF will be launching a series of Pro- qualifiers across the United States. These include Rookie, Pro, Advanced and Super Pro-Qualifiers. This provides a greater opportunity to earn a WNBF Pro card, while ensuring INBF promoters attract the very best drug-free bodybuilders to participate in their shows.

A Rookie Pro card allows athletes to compete in WNBF events for the remainder of the calendar year upon earning this status. Should the athlete fail to earn prize money during that period, he or she returns to amateur status. If the athlete wins prize money, he or she will be granted full WNBF Pro status.

The overall Open class winner of a Pro-Qualifier receives a WNBF Pro card. Full Pro status is granted and the athlete must activate their card within two weeks of earning Pro status and compete in a WNBF event in the one-year period following the competition.

An Advanced Pro-Qualifier awards WNBF Pro cards to the top two athletes in the Open class posedown. As with all WNBF Pro cards, the athlete must activate their card within two weeks and compete as a Pro in the one-year period following the competition.

Super Pro-Qualifiers allow each Open class winner to earn a WNBF Pro card, provided there is a minimum of five competitors in the class. The INBF holds two of these national-level events each year, with the winners of the Naturalmania Nationals receiving an invitation to the WNBF Pro Natural World Championships.

Events are covered by Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness, a quarterly magazine now in its third decade of publication. Subscription to the magazine is included in the INBF membership and provides athletes with the latest training and nutrition information, contest coverage, upcoming events and competitor profiles. It is written for natural athletes by natural athletes.

Rather than compete in events that do not offer drug-free athletes a level playing field, join the INBF and be a part of a truly natural family.

INBF Figure Rules:

Most INBF contests have added the "Figure" division since the division's inception in 2002. Figure is judged based on one round of prejudging, where competitors will be compared while wearing a two-piece swimsuit and high-heel shoes. •Comparisons will be made in the standard quarter-turns of the competitors. Judging will reward toned muscularity, relative leanness, overall symmetry, facial beauty (makeup, hair, etc.), stage presence, poise, elegance and an overall fit look. There is no fitness demonstration, and this is not a bodybuilding competition (there are no mandatory "poses" other than the quarter-turns).

  • The quarter-turns will examine all ladies in the same positioning to the judges. In this regard, the "face front" command will require both feet together, with toes and hips facing the judges. Quarter-turns will be made to the right in four steps, until the contestants are again facing front. The Head Judge may ask for movement among the competitors to see different people together in different locations onstage.
  • All competitors will perform a stage walk in their swimsuits at both the prejudging and the night show. In the case of high athlete turnout, however, it is up to the promoter's discretion whether the walk will take place at prejudging.
  • The walk will be conducted in a manner according to the promoter's site restrictions, but in accordance with INBF rules. Competitors will enter stage right, walk to the center stage, do a complete turn; walk to stage left and do another complete turn; walk all the way over to stage right for one more turn and then exit. The turns are designed to allow contestants to show themselves to the judges and exhibit stage presence that enhances their presentation. However, overly exaggerated displays or taking excessive time onstage will be scored down.
  • The two-piece swimsuit must be in good taste; thongs or T-back bottoms are not allowed. The suit must be a solid color (no bold patterns allowed), but may be adorned with rhinestones, sparkles, sequins, etc. for added effect. There is no one-piece swimsuit round in INBF competition.
  • Body jewelry (piercing) is allowed, so long as it is not offensive. Other jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelets) may be worn, but should not obscure the physique or be in poor taste.
  • The INBF is looking to reward women who have fit, toned physiques, yet who are not necessarily proficient in gymnastics or another performance art. To find out which shows carry the Figure class, check out the "Coming Events" in every issue of Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness, or log onto inbf.net. You can also e-mail Charlie Carollo, INBF Chairman, at inbf@epix.net for contest schedule information.

Figure Stances:

The INBF Figure Rules require that competitors use the following stance positions during prejudging of any INBF Figure event.

From the Front:

Heels must be together and in line, without either foot ahead of the other toward the front. Heels cannot be spread wider than 2-3 inches apart. The hips MUST face the judges and the arms must remain to the sides (although they shouldn't touch the sides or be exaggerated spread wide).

Toes must face the judges, but competitors can angle their toes out SLIGHTLY if it helps to accentuate their thigh presentation. The angle of outward extension cannot exceed 15 degrees with either foot! (However, this is not always the most flattering thing, so caution should be exhibited.) Any exaggeration of this ruling will be corrected by the head judge. In addition, the head judge may insist on both feet to be completely touching together, so be prepared in your stance in case that is requested.

From the Side(s):

A slight turn of 35 degrees (upper body only) is acceptable, so the rear shoulder can be seen, but nothing exaggerated. The hips must face the side of the stage. The eyes must face the side of the stage. Toes must also face the side of the stage, with both feet flat. The feet can be offset only half the distance of the foot (front or back foot offset). Long hair should be pushed back behind the front shoulder so it doesn't obscure the judges' view.

The front and rear hands must not be placed on the body, and should hang freely. However the head judge may request the side stance with the hand farthest from the judges to be placed on the hip, so be prepared if this is asked.

From the Rear:

This is pretty much the same position as from the front. Both feet must be together or very close (heels within 2-3 inches of each other). The toes cannot be spread wide apart. The feet cannot be offset to any degree (i.e., one in front of the other).

Competitors should brush their hair to one side when they turn to the rear so their back can be seen (if they have long hair). But they cannot twist to the side or put a hand on their hip, etc. Arms must be at the sides with the hands hanging freely, with the back (lats) spread wide to show upper body symmetry.

MS. FIT BODY

The INBF has done it again!!! The INBF has added a new division to its natural competitions worldwide. Beginning with the 2007 INBF MuscleTech World Bodybuilding and Figure Championships, women competitors were invited to compete in Ms. Fit Body - and more than 20 entered the first show!

This new division is called the INBF "Ms. Fit Body." What is this new classification, you ask? The new Ms. Fit Body division picks up on a trend popular in Europe and Australia. In these countries, women competitors have a division that combines the beauty and fit-looking body of Figure with a few poses borrowed from Bodybuilding, yet which are done with unique femininity.

The INBF has introduced this new specific division as "Ms. Fit Body," which uses some of the same rules, but with specific requirements of competitors.

COMPETITION ATTIRE:
  • Two-piece bikini swimsuit (may have sequins or other adornments, but should be single colored.
  • High heeled shoes
  • Jewelry permitted
TWO ROUNDS OF JUDGEMENT
  • Symmetry (Beauty) Quarter Turns (Four Sides)
  • Fit Body Posing (Five Poses)
SYMMETRY ROUND:
  • Face Front: Heels together, toes facing forward. Lats spread, arms in semi-relaxed position at sides.
  • Side Pose- Feet offset slightly (foot of choice either with toes shifted forward by three inches or back by three inches; feet still must be beside one another to some extent). Hips toward the side of the stage, face toward side of the stage. Upper body turned toward the judge no more than 30 degrees.
  • Rear Pose- (Facing curtain)- heels together, toes facing the curtain. Lats spread, arms in semi-relaxed position at sides.
FIT POSES:
  • Front Double Biceps: One leg shifted towards the side or crossed in front of the opposite legs, with both arms up in double-biceps pose. Hands must be open in feminine pose.
  • Side Chest: (side of choice)- Arm facing the judges is bent at 90 degrees, with the back arm reached across the torso to grasp the bent arm wrist. The bent arm must have an open hand in feminine style. One leg should be shifted back to tighten the calf.
  • Side Triceps (side of choice)- Arm facing the judges should be extended straight down at the side. The rear arm should be bent with that hand on the hip. (The hands are not clutched behind the back). One leg should be shifted back to tighten the calf.
  • Rear Double Biceps- (hands open)- One leg shifted toward the side, with the calf tightened. Both arms are lifted up in double-biceps pose. Hands must be open in feminine pose.
  • Front Abdominal Pose- (one or both hands overhead)- One leg must be extended toward the judges. Hands can be positioned either together behind the head, or with one hand behind the head and the opposite one positioned on the hip.
JUDGING CRITERIA:

The Ms. Fit Body judges the competitors based on their physical symmetry (in the quarter turns), facial beauty, grooming (make up, hair), costume, stage presence, muscle tone and shape (in the five poses) and overall fit look. This is not a hardcore bodybuilding competition, but it is also not a swimwear contest. The desired look is for muscle tone, symmetrical shape, beauty and the appearance of health and fitness.