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

OFFICIAL AND NOT OFFICIAL CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

MEETINGS AT SPORT MINISTRY.

BEGINNING. SITUATION IN SOCIALIST WORLD.

Bodybuilding sport has never been created and developed by athletes. Bodybuilding was developed by top officials and organizers. On the bodybuilding way to future organizers were building the road to sport. Bodybuilders were like kilometre signs at this road. Often organizers led bodybuilding wrong way. Today problems of bodybuilding are evident and guilty persons are known very well.

Contemporary bodybuilding does not appear as it is. Only few persons dared to act when bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist Countries. Being afraid of prosecution nearly all bodybuilders left the sport.

We will speak about bodybuilding in Czechoslovakian SSR – they influenced all Socialist Countries. Now after fifty years we look upon our relations with Czechoslovaks from another angle.

Due to political reasons bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist World in 1973. Socialist States started to prosecute bodybuilders. After 1968 revolution in Czechoslovakia their Government was lojal to bodybuilders. Comparing with other Socialist Countries after the revolution U.S.S.R. political powers let Czechoslovaks much more. At the same time bodybuilders in other Socialist Countries suffered much. Everybody envied the Czechoslovaks. There is no another person who was and still is close to Czechoslovak bodybuilding so much as President W.F.F. – W.B.B.F. (World Fitness Federation, World Bodybuilding Federation)  International DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.

Activities of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS were supported only by the leader of bodybuilding in Estonian SSR INNAR MARDO (Иннар Мардо, 1945 – 2002) and creators of famous „Vilnius Bodybuilding School“ («Вильнюсская школа культуризма») CESLAV TAMULEVIC (Чеслав Тамулевич) and VITALIJ ASOVSKIJ (Виталий Асовский). Today we are proud that we respected both of them in time – at the Parliament Republic Lithuania both received „International Honour Silver Medals“ («Международной Серебрянной Медалью Почёта», „Tarptautinis Garbės Sidabro Medalis“).

During the prohibition of bodybuilding only few officially permitted not regular contests were held in Tallinn (Estonian SSR). That was the International „Georg Tenno Memorial“ („Georgo Tenno memorialas“, «Мемориал Георга Тенно», 1971 – 2024). Also at the same time several underground and not officially permitted contests were organized in Lithuanian SSR. It lasted until in 1978 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS dared to write bodybuilding defending petition and brought it to Headquarters of the Central Committee of the U.S.S.R. Communist Party in Moscow.

This way we got political permittion to organize the International „Amber Prix“ („Gintarinis prizas“, «Янтарный приз»  1968 - 2025) in Klaipeda (Lithuania SSR) in 1978.

Being afraid of prosecution all other U.S.S.R. bodybuilding organizers did nothing. After defeat at 1974 „Georg Tenno Memorial“ best R.S.F.S.R. bodybuilder VLADIMIR DUBININ (Владимир Дубинин) isolated himself and left bodybuilding for thirteen years. Until 1987 VLADIMIR DUBININ was not among bodybuilding organizers, he was only athlete. Only in 1980 representing their gyms Russians led by VLADIMIR SUBOV (Владимир Шубов, Moscow) and EUGENE KOLTUN (Евгений Колтун, Tiumen) started participating at bodybuilding contests in Baltic Countries. Both were representing their bodybuilding gyms that were acting illegally.

IMPORTANT 1975. MEETINGS AT SPORT MINISTRY.

Bodybuilders went on their own way when bodybuilding was prohibited in Socialist Countries in 1973. There was no communication in between. Nearly no...

In 1975 bodybuilders of the Chechoslovakian SSR got permittion to participate in the „West“ due to efforts of the President of Czechoslovakia Bodybuilding Federation VOJTECH FIALA. After 1968 revolution in Czechoslovakian SSR Czechoslovaks had many advantages comparing with other Socialist Countries. This way led by VOJTECH FIALA Czechoslovakia bodybuilders participated at the 1975 I.F.B.B. (International Federation of Body Builders) Europe Championship. Then PETR STACH won his category and became the Over All Europe Champion. Since that time for long time on Czechoslovakia bodybuilders were the only ones permitted to participate at the „Western“ competitions.

In 1975 basing on the exchange of the University students DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS went to Czechoslovakia for two months. In Prague DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS met VOJTECH FIALA. During the following two months their meetings were often. Both had enough time to speak over the International bodybuilding situation. VOJTECH FIALA organized a visit to PETR STACH who was living close to Prague. PETR STACH told about the Europe Championship and explained DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS about his training systems and posed in front of him.

At the same time VOJTECH FIALA organized the meeting of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS with the Chairmen of the Ministry of sport of the Czechoslovakian SSR (Č.S.T.V., Československy Svaz Telesne Vychovy). Questions of the situation around bodybuilding was spoken over. VOJTECH FIALA wanted to demonstrate his good relations with the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding leaders and  since 1973 DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS was the only one to visit his country. Seeking to learn about the situation of bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. Czechoslovaks addressed one of the U.S.S.R. bodybuilding pioneers GENADIJ BALDIN (Геннадий Балдин). GENADIJ BALDIN wrote them that bodybuilding in the U.S.S.R. is dead and only some bodybuilding organizers in the Baltic Countries still unofficially develop this sport on underground level.

1977 MEETINGS AT SPORT MINISTRY.

In 1977 still as a student of Vilnius State University DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS for two months went to Czechoslovakia again. Again working on the future cooperation between the U.S.S.R. and Czechoslovakian SSR bodybuilders DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS and VOJTECH FIALA visited the Ministry of Sport of  Czechoslovakian SSR. For the discussion meetings with the Chairmen of the Ministry were organized. In 1977 Czechoslovakian bodybuilding Federation had a room at the Ministry. Secretary of the federation was a famous bodybuilder PETER TLAPAK. He presented the headquarters of the federation, discussed the situation and posed in front of DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS.

VOJTECH FIALA for DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS organized a trip to a mountain resort where Czechoslovakia bodybuilders under support of the Government were preparing for the coming World Championship. DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS discussed various questions with athletes and trainers.

Also VOJTECH FIALA invited DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS to two meetings of the Czechoslovakia Bodybuilding Federation Council. The meetings were held by Professor FRANTISEK BULVA in the city of Brno. Under the requests of the participants DSc. EDMUNDAS DAUBARAS spoke on bodybuilding situation ion the U.S.S.R. and in Lithuania SSR.

The Article will be continued. Follow International Page www.wff.lt

FACEBOOK does not allow long texts. Get full Information on the same site 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

World Sport History. Honorary Doctorate for Polish Patron Jerzy (Jurek) Gotowski.

In November 2026, immediately following the 37th WFF-WBBF World Championships in Nida, Lithuania, a ceremonial event will be held in Poland during which Jerzy (Jurek) Gotowski, a long-standing friend of the World WFF-WBBF Federation, renowned Polish businessman, patron and public figure, will receive one of the highest academic distinctions – the title of Honorary Doctor. The ceremony will also be attended by the leadership of the World WFF-WBBF Federation.

A Long-standing Friendship and Partnership

Jurek Gotowski’s cooperation with the World WFF-WBBF Federation began in 2006. That year, he became one of the organisers of an international WFF-WBBF tournament in Bydgoszcz. However, his involvement did not end there.

Recognising the importance of international sports cooperation, J. Gotowski became actively involved in the Federation’s activities and soon emerged as one of its most important supporters in Poland.

His most significant contribution to WFF-WBBF activities was the organisation of the WFF-WBBF World Championships in Bydgoszcz in 2008. To this day, the event is regarded as one of the most impressive championships in the history of the Federation.

It was not only a top-level sporting competition, but also a major international event that attracted considerable attention in Europe and beyond.

An Impressive World Championship in Bydgoszcz

The World Championships were held at the prestigious “Łuczniczka” Sports Hall. Bydgoszcz was decorated with Federation symbols, exceptional conditions were provided for athletes and guests, and unique crystal medals were presented to the winners.

The high standard of organisation became an example for many international WFF-WBBF championships that followed.

Particular attention was devoted to promoting the event and strengthening its international prestige. As many as eight international press conferences were held before and after the World Championships.

Official meetings were also held at Bydgoszcz City Hall with the then Mayor Konstanty Dombrowicz and Deputy Mayor Kazimierz Drozd.

On the occasion of the World Championships, Poland’s then Minister of Sport, Zbigniew Pacelt, hosted an official reception for the leadership of the World WFF-WBBF Federation at the Ministry of Sport in Warsaw. This was a significant sign of the Federation’s international recognition at the governmental level.

Contribution to Lithuanian-Polish Cooperation

In 2008, Jurek Gotowski also financed the participation of a large Polish national delegation in the 40th International “Amber Prize” Tournament in Klaipėda, Lithuania.

The delegation was led by Bydgoszcz Deputy Mayor Kazimierz Drozd. During the visit, cooperation projects between Bydgoszcz and Klaipėda were presented and discussed with Viačeslav Karmanov, then Director of the Administration of Klaipėda City Municipality.

In this way, sporting cooperation developed into broader ties between Lithuanian and Polish cities, encompassing sport, culture and public cooperation.

Recognition of His Merits

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the international activities of WFF-WBBF, in 2009 Federation President Dr. Edmundas Daubaras presented Jurek Gotowski with the International Honorary Gold Medal.

This distinction added to J. Gotowski’s extensive collection of state and public awards received for his services to the Republic of Poland.

A Loyal Friend of the Federation

For nearly two decades, Jurek Gotowski has remained a loyal friend of the World WFF-WBBF Federation. He continues to support Federation events in Poland, attends major Federation celebrations as an honorary guest and contributes through his activities to the strengthening of international sports cooperation.

True patronage is measured not only by financial support. It is demonstrated through a long-term commitment to people, ideas and shared values.

Jurek Gotowski’s longstanding activities represent precisely such an example of patronage and international friendship.

The awarding of the Honorary Doctor title in Poland in November 2026 will become another significant recognition of his longstanding work and outstanding contribution.

More information is on international site www.wff.lt