"Natural bodybuilding" is a relic
Here comes the extinction

"Natural bodybuilding" is done for. It's FINISHED folks. Over. Pack it up.

"Natural bodybuilding" doesn't stand a chance. Neither does "drug free" bodybuilding for that matter. And I for one am RIGHT THERE to see it go, tossing out the bon voyage confetti and HAPPY to see it set sail. LATER! Good-bye! Asta asta asta, baby! No more "natural bodybuilding"! HOORAY!

And while we're at it, let's toss "enhanced", "juiced" and "Clean" on the bonfire as well, shall we?

Time to face reality, people: the SPORT ain't going anywhere, but the TERMS we use are old, clunky relics from a by-gone agenda that, quiote frankly is meaningless. This CLASSIFICATION system we currently use is broken, meaningless and FOOLISH to continue employing. It is a farce of reasoning, a denial of logic, and the FURTHEST THING from academically substantiated.

Bodybuilders so OFTEN toss out their science-horny reasoning, and claim that solid research and logical study is our backbone. We are SO proud of our smarter-than-thou science, and are VERY quick to demand back-up references and PROOF of every new idea out there.

Yet meanwhile, in spite of being SO profoundly horny for science, science, SCIENCE! we are still meanwhile using a classification system for defining "natural" that is about as flawed as they come. It is the LEAST scientific thing we have - yet we use it VERY AGGRESSIVELY!

No academic authority worth their salt would take the term "natural bodybuilding" as a SERIOUS classification. It would mush like play-doh under scrutiny of definition.

Like I said, "natural bodybuilding" on the endangered species list.

And I say: GOOD RIDDANCE!

When you look at classification systems, the BEST and most accurate systems are usually ones are not judgemental. The BEST systems of classification to not IMPLY anything beyond category.

An alphabetical classification does not favor the letter "M" as more "ideal" than the letter "V".

The word "heterosexual" does not by itself imply a "correctness" over the word "homosexual."

The scientific classification of "feline" does not claim to be "anti-canine."

So, understand that the term "natural" is impotent and useless. It is a relic from a time frame and an attitude that does not always apply to today's athletes. It is based more int political righteousness than in clear, concise reasoning.

It saddens me to see the term "natural" used so aggresively by those who simultaneously put themselves out there as leaders in the sport. I myself slip up and use the word "natural" from time to time - not because I believe in it, but out of force of habit. Meaning that it is HARD to change our language. New terminology ALWAYS causes static. Yet it is the LEADERS who will make the most profound impact in correcting this miscatagroization. Or rather, I should call it a NON categorization . . . if "natural" can mean almost anything to anyone, based solely on the whims of what they WANT it to mean, then therefore "natural" actually means nothing.

"Natural" often ONLY means they "passed a drug test." Not that that test was accurate, or that it was even conducted perfectly.

"Drug free" does not address a lot of the "steroid like supplements" currently out there on the market.

"Clean" . . . well that is just a flat out UGLY way to describe something.

And besides, sometimes of these bodybuilders who use these terms - "natural", "drug free", "clean" (ugh!), etc. - are athletes who can not actually be considered to have done it "ONLY by the means integral to their innate human ability."

When you classify it THAT way, things shift a little . . .

"Integral" bodybuilding is pursuing practices that are within the realm of your human capacities, or which reasonably mimic those capacities. In other words, if you could (in theory) kill it, pick it, cook it and eat it, then it falls within the realm of INTEGRAL bodybuilding.

All the -drol supplements, and the andros and other similar hormone products are NOT things you could INGEST by YOUR OWN HUMAN CAPACITIES. there is nothing you could pick, kill or eat that would supply these substances. It is ANCILLARY to your abilities.

"Ancillary" bodybuilding is pursuing practices that fall OUTSIDE of your human capacities. This not only includes supplements described above, but also steroids and growth and all the other thinggs you could not technically "find, kill and eat" all by yourself.

Things like SYNTHETIC vitamin C are still considered integral. Even though it is manufactured in a factory, the substance "vitamin C" is still within your INTEGRAL abilities to consume. So the source does NOT dictate whether it is integral or ancillary.

This therefore covers things like the aminos (glutamine, taurine, creatine, etc.) that people supplement. Although the "powder form" is made by a factory, the "ability to consume" these substances is still within your human ability. Likewise with other substances such as caffeine, tryptophan and even the improperly maligned ephedra. If it can be consumed as a food source then it falls within the bounds of "integral" to your innate ability.

All told, the whole idea that "natural is how you define it" is finally going extinct. SLOWLY. The "natural" bodybuilder is is becoming a relic - the terminology is an endangered species. Too mired in morality, politics and personal preference, it no longer means anything substantial.

Hence newer, more understandable criteria like "integral" versus "ancillary."

The leagues, however, will take time to catch up and catch on. Leagues move slow, and are operating on a judicial and business model established a few decades ago. In short, leagues can NOT be reasonably seen as the definers - or DEFENDERS - of these terms. Do NOT look to leagues for any clear understanding of what it means to be natural . . . because the term "natural" is itself undecipherable.

As a bodybuilder, we all make the choice of whether to use ancillary methods, or stick with our integral methods. The ethical dilemma can be compared to taking Viagara. If a man takes Viagara to have sex, iis the sex now considered "unnatural"? Of course not. However, the man DID use an ancillary method to HAVE that sex. This was his choice.

Whatever morality or authenticity one prescribes to these methos remains their own. The fact of the matter is that there are two CLEAR categories. All these sub-terms - "Natural", "Clean", "Drug Free", "Juiced," "Augmented", etc. - they all imply IMBALANCE. They imply heirarchy (upper, lower), morality (good, bad), ethics (better, worse), politics (ours, theirs), and a number of other perspectives that are NOT based on clear classification.

"Natural" is often politicized, and IMPLIES one is "anti-steroids."

"Enhanced" implies that these users of pharmeceuticals are "better" than others.

"Clean" implies others are "dirty."

The terms we currently use IMPLY a lot, but SAY very little. Which is why a departure from these terms is necessary ON THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL. Just by YOURSELF you must be more selective in how you categorize your bodybuilding. Use a NEUTRAL term, yet a DESCRIPTIVE one.

The terms "integral" and "ancillary" can be used OUT of context, and their MEANING remains understandable. Of course these meanings are not yet COMMON - all new language takes time to catch on - but they are at least EASY to understand, and therefore QUICKLY usable.

Perhaps we can all "begin being leaders" and begin changing our own language. Just you - as an individual. Start speaking and classifying things CLEARLY. Start making your OWN choice to clear up confusion. It won't cost you anything. We use the same amount of breath to say these words. Within a few weeks you may even become completely accustomed to saying these new terms. Sure, we may have to stop and occasionally EXPLAIN these terms to people, but that need to stop and explain will fade sooner than you think.

Change language and you change understanding. Change understanding and you change people. Change people and you change society. Change society and you can change the world.

Even if it is only the world of bodybuilding.

Be it ancillary OR the integral.

by Christian Mayti

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