Q & A #1: What is the Next Era in Bodybuilding?

Today I am starting my first Q and A answering a popular question which is, if we have had the Bronze Era, Silver Era, Golden Era and Mass Monster Era, then what is the next Era in the evolution of Bodybuilding?

This is a great question so let’s have a look at answering this question.

Firstly, I am responsible for defining the eras in bodybuilding which the bodybuilding world seems to have adopted, with the Bronze Era being between 1900-1930 corresponding with no steroids and bona fide natural physiques, the Silver Era between 1930-1960 with larger physiques and early steroid experimentation, the Golden Era between 1960-1990 with steroid use and ever larger and more defined physiques, and the recent Mass Monster Era, which saw its beginning with Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman, through to the Jay Cutlers, Phil Heaths and Big Ramy’s, physiques that are huge, massive and ripped and no doubt achieved through PED abuse. And if we use the 30 year period ending from the Golden Era, then we can assume that this Mass Monster Era has run it’s due course because it should have been between 1990 until 2020. However, it is obvious that in Open Bodybuilding, we are seeing bigger and more ripped physiques than ever. Some have called this current Era the Mutant Era including me, and I could easily coin the term, but I think this current Bodybuilding Era is not that easy to define as there are other factors to consider and developments in the iron game.

Firstly, we are living through this new 30 year period, and we are only 5 years into it. Unless you have been living under a rock, you would have noticed that bodybuilders are dying younger by the year, an observation that I proved in my recent publication titled, The Golden Paradox: Mortality Trends across 3 eras of Bodybuilding (1900-1990). This concern in the health of athletes, which has been going on since the first high profile deaths were recorded, led to the birth and rise of Classic Physique, a hark back to the Golden Era of Bodybuilding that focused on aesthetics as opposed to extreme mass monster physiques, with extreme size, bloated midsections or GH gut, and an overall lack of aesthetic presentation.

However, it has not stopped Open Bodybuilding from continually showcasing ever bigger physiques, and the Mass Monster Era persists. Even Classic Physique which at its infancy showcased physiques that likely depended on less PED use, the current state is presenting larger and more ripped physiques, surpassing the look of the 80s and 90s, and already starting to claim high profile deaths.

As mainstream bodybuilding continues to spiral down a road of no return, an emerging rise in the popularity in the natural bodybuilding scene is happening and is accelerating at a fantastic rate. I believe that increasing transparency in PED use, increased knowledge in the subject of PED use and athletes that admit to use and abuse of PEDS have helped shed light on the matter and allowed those that wish to consciously make the choice to not use them to stand up and be heard. These are the "Noble Natty’s" that are rising, and one could argue then that a parallel in this era is occurring, a renaissance in natural bodybuilding so to speak, or as some call it, the Platinum Natty Era.

So as you can see, it is very hard to name this current era as it is still developing, however, if I was to name it, I would call it the Mutant/Natty Era, an era with opposing parallels. And thanks to increased knowledge and social media, it is now transparent to see what occurs when PEDs are abused. Freaky mutant physiques develop, but usually with the cost of decreased health and longevity, which one cannot associate with strength and health. It is also apparent that with channels such as my own, which educate on the methods of lifters from periods before the advent of steroids empower natural lifters with knowledge of real natural bodybuilding, allowing those that wish to pursue health and strength to do so.

So I hope that I have answered this question in my first Q and A, and if you have enjoyed this blog, then and leave me your comments. What would you call this current era? I would like to know. That’s it from me, and until next time.