No "awful plastic trophies" and "no blown out bellies", as new President Matthew Ali rings the changes
NEW IBFA President Matthew Ali is looking to set old-school standards as he promises the federation will get "bigger and bigger".
Ali took over from Martyn Yates Brown during the close season and revealed just how much it means to him to be running the federation. Many of the changes include a wellness class, disability class, a scored posing round and over 40s and 50s female classes. He also championed the IBFA's striking statue trophies and low entry fees as a reason to compete with the federation, in comparison to some of the "plastic cups" you see on offer.
In an exclusive interview with frontdouble.com, Ali said: "It [taking over the IBFA] means the world to me. What Martyn has done building it [IBFA] up from scratch, the job he's done of it has been brilliant. But for me, I've been competing since I was 15 years old. I'm 40 now and this is my transition, if you like, because I find it hard to step away from bodybuilding. So this is me giving back now. This is my way of staying involved in the sport without actually competing – even though I do have plans to compete again at some point."
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Martyn Yates Brown (left) and Matthew Ali
Ali had been running the IBFA Welsh, then the IBFA Rhonda last year before the time came to discuss taking over when it became clear Yates Brown would have to step down. Ali said: "Martin was going through some health problems. And I just think it came to that point where it was time for him to step down. Other people were stepping in for him, so we basically had a chat, just me and him. So I said to him, 'how do you feel about me taking over'?
"I told him my ideas and he gave me the green light. I said, let me take over and I'll revamp things and I'll get the shows going. So that's what I've done. But Martin's my mentor. He's given me this opportunity and I really appreciate what he's done for me.
"And being a former competitor, I know exactly what the athletes want. I listen to all the feedback and I'm changing what I can. If people don't like this or that, I'm changing things. I'm just trying to do my best to make the IBFA evolve."
New classes and new venue for British Finals
One of the changes Ali has implemented is the inclusion of a disability class in every show. But that is not without its problems. He explained: "When I took over, I made it mandatory that we put a disability class in every show. I don't want any discrimination. Everyone should be allowed to compete. The problem we have is, I can't do wheelchair. I can't get every venue to have wheelchair access. So as a starting point, what I've done is standing disability; as long as you can walk. That's my way of starting to include the disability class.
"I've included this in the British finals in October too. That's a big thing as well for the disability class. I've got a daughter who's disabled, so it's pretty close to me. And it's not just that, I just think everyone should be able to compete anyway. In the future, we will go down the route of including wheelchair. But it's a tricky one finding the venues to have wheelchair access, as some of the venues are old."
Another change is the moving of the British Finals from The Fed in Gateshead, to Blackpool – roughly 98 miles south. Ali said: "What you have to think is the UK, from Scotland right down to the south and the finals being in Gateshead. I didn't think it was really fair. So I thought, let's move this venue to be as central as we can. Blackpool's sort of in the middle, it's a good venue. So I listened to all the competitors and the feedback and a lot of people weren't happy with it [British Finals] being in Gateshead, unless they lived there.
"I looked at all the venues and I found something in Vegas style. It's called Viva Blackpool and it's a Vegas-style venue and it's really modern. It's got so many things included; the lighting, special effects, everything. That was a big thing and a lot of people are happy about it."
There will be several new classes too this season, including wellness, an over 50s female class and a focus on posing, which will now be scored.
Ali said: "Wellness is a new class and I've even brought back the bodybuilding class for women, because that is getting bigger now. The wellness class is in a lot of the other shows. It's not about just keeping up. But if there are categories in other shows, then we've got to offer it, otherwise we're just not moving with the times.
"I listen to the women. For one, I got a couple's class. You don't actually have to be couples, as in you're going out with each other, you just do a good routine. There were a lot of complaints from women that, 'how come there's so many men's classes and not women's'? They were saying there's no over-50s women, there's no this, no that. So I put on an over-50s open figure class and I got an over-40s figure class. What that means is any category from wellness, athletic, you can be any category but you've got to be over 50 years old. The person who best fits the category wins the class. So we've done that for the over-40s and the over-50s women. So it's whoever best fits the category wins. A bikini girl could easily beat a really good bodybuilder. It's going to be judged fairly.
"Also, I've introduced the posing round. Back in the 80s and 90s, the competitors were scored on their posing. This is now a lost art. This is one thing I'm really passionate about because I've always won best presentations and things like that. I put effort into the routines. These days the judges are just looking away when you do your posing routine. They're talking and they're just doing the paperwork. It's more for the crowd.
We don't want people standing there blowing their bellies out
"Part of the new judging criteria means there is going to be a posing round – and that doesn't mean just your posing routine. You will be judged on your overall posing. So if you're going to just stand there with your hands on your hips, blowing your belly out, then you're going to get marked down.
"We want to bring back the finesse, the polish. Also, the crowd, when you come to watch a bodybuilding show, it's all good seeing them do the compulsories, but they enjoy it when somebody does a really good posing routine. The competitors can have fun with it, they can be entertaining, make it funny. Or they can do a really good artistic posing routine.
"The crowd have paid money to see a bodybuilding show and that's the only time you get to yourself when all eyes are on you. So I just feel that if we start rewarding and marking it, it'll stop the bodybuilders just relaxing and blowing their bellies out, being lazy. I just think that's what will separate us as a fed as well and the others will start to copy that.
"All of that is going to count towards your final placing. So let's say it's really close between two competitors. If one of them is really letting their belly hang out, waiting for the results and standing around, then that can be a deciding factor. It's about you being professional. We just want you to compose yourself at all times. We don't want you just relaxing, blowing that belly out. And we don't want you talking to each other. We want you standing flexed.
"There's some things we need to bring back and the biggest thing for me is the presentation. The posing is nowhere. In fact, some people come out, do the compulsory poses but in their routine, they put their hand up and just can't be bothered. They know it's not being judged. When you're sat in the audience, it's not very good to watch. Also, every single show, I'm personally sponsoring Best Male and Female Presentation. It's only £100 each, but I'm doing it for every single show."
IBFA always have statues, not those awful plastic trophies
One thing the IBFA has always been notable for is its high standard of trophies. Even at regional qualifiers, their trophies have long been big, bold and tall statues, putting some federations to shame.
Ali said: "As the fed gets bigger, I'll introduce some more cash prizes and things like that. But we're never going to be able to be as big as the PCA, for example, giving out massive cash prizes. That's because we don't charge more. We keep the cost down for the athletes. We charge less than most of the feds. But if you look at the standard of our trophies, first to third place are the proper big statues. We don't have any of those little crappy plaques or plastic cups. It's disgusting that you do a show and you get given a plastic cup.
"I've seen other federations with the plaques. Most of the federations, they give out standard plaques with their logo on it. I just think it's really crap, let's be honest. The medals you get given – that's it for you for winning first place. It's awful. You work your arse off to win a show and you get given a medal on a piece of string. It's awful.
"This isn't any particular fed in particular but they charge you, like, £100 to join the federation. Then they charge you, £50, £60 per class. With the IBFA, we're charging £30, £35, that's including the postage of the membership cards. Then it's £30 enter the show. And with a lot of my shows I'm running personally I don't even charge for a second class. Another thing we don't do that some of these other feds do, is we don't charge the competitors to sit in the audience."
Strong words from Ali but many will agree with him. For now, the IBFA season kicks off on Sunday, April 26, with the IBFA Rhondda in Caerphilly. But Ali has a promise for competitors and fans alike.
He said: "We're just going to get bigger and bigger. And I want people to realize that. My personal shows, I give £100 to the best poser, male and female. Muscle Finesse have been sponsoring us since day one. They've sponsored all my Welsh shows, because they're friends of mine from Wales. Without Muscle Finesse, without their support, I don't think I would have done another show after the first one.
"And I've made Anthony Chia-Bradley the official photographer for all the shows. He also does all the posters. If you notice now, the posters that we're putting out, they're all of a set standard. They're all like the other federations, where they've got their trademark signature look. So Anthony does a lot of work. And he's promoting the Liverpool show as well. He's been such a big help. He's a really big part of the team."
No "awful plastic trophies" and "no blown out bellies", as new President Matthew Ali rings the changes
NEW IBFA President Matthew Ali is looking to set old-school standards as he promises the federation will get "bigger and bigger".
Ali took over from Martyn Yates Brown during the close season and revealed just how much it means to him to be running the federation. Many of the changes include a wellness class, disability class, a scored posing round and over 40s and 50s female classes. He also championed the IBFA's striking statue trophies and low entry fees as a reason to compete with the federation, in comparison to some of the "plastic cups" you see on offer.
In an exclusive interview with frontdouble.com, Ali said: "It [taking over the IBFA] means the world to me. What Martyn has done building it [IBFA] up from scratch, the job he's done of it has been brilliant. But for me, I've been competing since I was 15 years old. I'm 40 now and this is my transition, if you like, because I find it hard to step away from bodybuilding. So this is me giving back now. This is my way of staying involved in the sport without actually competing – even though I do have plans to compete again at some point."
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: Martyn Yates Brown (left) and Matthew Ali
Ali had been running the IBFA Welsh, then the IBFA Rhonda last year before the time came to discuss taking over when it became clear Yates Brown would have to step down. Ali said: "Martin was going through some health problems. And I just think it came to that point where it was time for him to step down. Other people were stepping in for him, so we basically had a chat, just me and him. So I said to him, 'how do you feel about me taking over'?
"I told him my ideas and he gave me the green light. I said, let me take over and I'll revamp things and I'll get the shows going. So that's what I've done. But Martin's my mentor. He's given me this opportunity and I really appreciate what he's done for me.
"And being a former competitor, I know exactly what the athletes want. I listen to all the feedback and I'm changing what I can. If people don't like this or that, I'm changing things. I'm just trying to do my best to make the IBFA evolve."
New classes and new venue for British Finals
One of the changes Ali has implemented is the inclusion of a disability class in every show. But that is not without its problems. He explained: "When I took over, I made it mandatory that we put a disability class in every show. I don't want any discrimination. Everyone should be allowed to compete. The problem we have is, I can't do wheelchair. I can't get every venue to have wheelchair access. So as a starting point, what I've done is standing disability; as long as you can walk. That's my way of starting to include the disability class.
"I've included this in the British finals in October too. That's a big thing as well for the disability class. I've got a daughter who's disabled, so it's pretty close to me. And it's not just that, I just think everyone should be able to compete anyway. In the future, we will go down the route of including wheelchair. But it's a tricky one finding the venues to have wheelchair access, as some of the venues are old."
Another change is the moving of the British Finals from The Fed in Gateshead, to Blackpool – roughly 98 miles south. Ali said: "What you have to think is the UK, from Scotland right down to the south and the finals being in Gateshead. I didn't think it was really fair. So I thought, let's move this venue to be as central as we can. Blackpool's sort of in the middle, it's a good venue. So I listened to all the competitors and the feedback and a lot of people weren't happy with it [British Finals] being in Gateshead, unless they lived there.
"I looked at all the venues and I found something in Vegas style. It's called Viva Blackpool and it's a Vegas-style venue and it's really modern. It's got so many things included; the lighting, special effects, everything. That was a big thing and a lot of people are happy about it."
There will be several new classes too this season, including wellness, an over 50s female class and a focus on posing, which will now be scored.
Ali said: "Wellness is a new class and I've even brought back the bodybuilding class for women, because that is getting bigger now. The wellness class is in a lot of the other shows. It's not about just keeping up. But if there are categories in other shows, then we've got to offer it, otherwise we're just not moving with the times.
"I listen to the women. For one, I got a couple's class. You don't actually have to be couples, as in you're going out with each other, you just do a good routine. There were a lot of complaints from women that, 'how come there's so many men's classes and not women's'? They were saying there's no over-50s women, there's no this, no that. So I put on an over-50s open figure class and I got an over-40s figure class. What that means is any category from wellness, athletic, you can be any category but you've got to be over 50 years old. The person who best fits the category wins the class. So we've done that for the over-40s and the over-50s women. So it's whoever best fits the category wins. A bikini girl could easily beat a really good bodybuilder. It's going to be judged fairly.
"Also, I've introduced the posing round. Back in the 80s and 90s, the competitors were scored on their posing. This is now a lost art. This is one thing I'm really passionate about because I've always won best presentations and things like that. I put effort into the routines. These days the judges are just looking away when you do your posing routine. They're talking and they're just doing the paperwork. It's more for the crowd.
We don't want people standing there blowing their bellies out
"Part of the new judging criteria means there is going to be a posing round – and that doesn't mean just your posing routine. You will be judged on your overall posing. So if you're going to just stand there with your hands on your hips, blowing your belly out, then you're going to get marked down.
"We want to bring back the finesse, the polish. Also, the crowd, when you come to watch a bodybuilding show, it's all good seeing them do the compulsories, but they enjoy it when somebody does a really good posing routine. The competitors can have fun with it, they can be entertaining, make it funny. Or they can do a really good artistic posing routine.
"The crowd have paid money to see a bodybuilding show and that's the only time you get to yourself when all eyes are on you. So I just feel that if we start rewarding and marking it, it'll stop the bodybuilders just relaxing and blowing their bellies out, being lazy. I just think that's what will separate us as a fed as well and the others will start to copy that.
"All of that is going to count towards your final placing. So let's say it's really close between two competitors. If one of them is really letting their belly hang out, waiting for the results and standing around, then that can be a deciding factor. It's about you being professional. We just want you to compose yourself at all times. We don't want you just relaxing, blowing that belly out. And we don't want you talking to each other. We want you standing flexed.
"There's some things we need to bring back and the biggest thing for me is the presentation. The posing is nowhere. In fact, some people come out, do the compulsory poses but in their routine, they put their hand up and just can't be bothered. They know it's not being judged. When you're sat in the audience, it's not very good to watch. Also, every single show, I'm personally sponsoring Best Male and Female Presentation. It's only £100 each, but I'm doing it for every single show."
IBFA always have statues, not those awful plastic trophies
One thing the IBFA has always been notable for is its high standard of trophies. Even at regional qualifiers, their trophies have long been big, bold and tall statues, putting some federations to shame.
Ali said: "As the fed gets bigger, I'll introduce some more cash prizes and things like that. But we're never going to be able to be as big as the PCA, for example, giving out massive cash prizes. That's because we don't charge more. We keep the cost down for the athletes. We charge less than most of the feds. But if you look at the standard of our trophies, first to third place are the proper big statues. We don't have any of those little crappy plaques or plastic cups. It's disgusting that you do a show and you get given a plastic cup.
"I've seen other federations with the plaques. Most of the federations, they give out standard plaques with their logo on it. I just think it's really crap, let's be honest. The medals you get given – that's it for you for winning first place. It's awful. You work your arse off to win a show and you get given a medal on a piece of string. It's awful.
"This isn't any particular fed in particular but they charge you, like, £100 to join the federation. Then they charge you, £50, £60 per class. With the IBFA, we're charging £30, £35, that's including the postage of the membership cards. Then it's £30 enter the show. And with a lot of my shows I'm running personally I don't even charge for a second class. Another thing we don't do that some of these other feds do, is we don't charge the competitors to sit in the audience."
Strong words from Ali but many will agree with him. For now, the IBFA season kicks off on Sunday, April 26, with the IBFA Rhondda in Caerphilly. But Ali has a promise for competitors and fans alike.
He said: "We're just going to get bigger and bigger. And I want people to realize that. My personal shows, I give £100 to the best poser, male and female. Muscle Finesse have been sponsoring us since day one. They've sponsored all my Welsh shows, because they're friends of mine from Wales. Without Muscle Finesse, without their support, I don't think I would have done another show after the first one.
"And I've made Anthony Chia-Bradley the official photographer for all the shows. He also does all the posters. If you notice now, the posters that we're putting out, they're all of a set standard. They're all like the other federations, where they've got their trademark signature look. So Anthony does a lot of work. And he's promoting the Liverpool show as well. He's been such a big help. He's a really big part of the team."
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