Sculptures from Ancient Greece portray fit, muscular men. And there are many theories surrounding this depiction. Some suggest that most sculptures are of aesthetically pleasing men because most ancient men were naturally muscular due to the nature of their environment. But anthropologists and historians have come up with a more plausible explanation: ancient Greeks lifted weights. Here's a history of how bodybuilding has evolved over the years.
From China, India, Egypt, Rome, to Greece, men lifted stones to build stamina and transform their bodies. In India, for instance, weight training was the go-to pastime for men looking to build strong and healthy bodies. As early as the 16th century, India had gyms equipped with stone dumbbells called Nals. Unlike the preceding eras, when bodybuilders simply lifted weights without minding their diets, Indians incorporated dieting into their workout programs.
In the mid-1800s, there was Strongman, an early form of bodybuilding contest. Strongman inspired a generation of men to lift makeshift weights in backyards. Around the same time, amateur bodybuilders would engage in public contests on the streets for bragging rights.
During the Strongman era, Eugene Sandow emerged as a physical cultural icon. He professionalized Strongman. Sandow also designed weight training equipment and published "Physical Culture," the very first bodybuilding magazine. Because of his influence, weight training equipment sales increased considerably due to growing demand.
The founding of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) coincided with Sandow's US tour. And his efforts paid off in 1891 when the bodybuilding featured in the World Championship in England. And by 1896, bodybuilding had become a competitive sport, complete with rules, judges, and prizes. Bodybuilding even featured in the 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece.
In 1901, the fitness world witnessed its very first bodybuilding contest, "Great Competition," held at the Royal Albert Hall in England. Sandow organized it. He also established the rules for the contest and was one of the event's judges. It was also Sandow who emphasized physical aspects and aesthetics other than size in the judging criteria. And based on Sandow's criteria, William L. Murray became the first winner. Sandow's rules would dominate bodybuilding throughout the 1900s.
As more countries adopted bodybuilding as something more than a pastime, physical fitness culture went mainstream. The likes of Bernarr Macfadden became household names, and advanced weight training equipment emerged.
In the 1930s, the golden age of bodybuilding, several gyms opened. The physical culture spread across the US. Beachfront weightlifting became popular as amateur professional and aspiring bodybuilders worked out and flexed on the beaches.
In 1939, the AAU founded Mr. America, a considerable upgrade from Strongman. Then came the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB), a bodybuilding governing body, and even more contests - Mr. Olympia (1965) and Mr. Universe (1967). With the new developments came more bodybuilders with even better physiques than their predecessors.
In the meantime, researchers were looking into optimizing workouts to get the most out of a gym session. Researchers looked at the role of genetics, diet, resistance training, and rest periods, among others, in building muscle. The quest for a bigger, more-chiseled body gave birth to anabolic steroids, which most mainstream competitions outlawed.
Bodybuilding has attracted a vast following, from hobbyists to professionals willing to do what it takes to attain a Spartan-like physique. Modern bodybuilding has taken the practice to a whole new level with performance-enhancing drugs and supplements, not to mention research-based insights.
Early forms of weight lifting, as crude as they were, inspired the modern-day practice. The Greek stones paved the way for the slightly improved Indian Nals, which inspired the modern dumbbells and other free weights. Outdoor weight training led to garage gyms with even more sophisticated equipment. The rules of the game may have changed along the way, but the muscles and basics of working them remain unchanged.
