Bodybuilding competition with a difference

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From South China Morning Post

Contestants lift piles of tiles to show their muscles

Participants smear their bodies with baby oil in preparation for a bodybuilding contest in Majalengka, West Java, Indonesia. Photo: Agoes Rudianto

 

The bodybuilder, muscles shiny with baby oil, hoists a stack of roof tiles over his head. He clenches his muscles, strikes a pose and revels in the applause. The audience roars with appreciation as multicoloured spotlights glint off his body.

Dozens compete in the annual bodybuildingbcompetition at the Jatiwangi Art Factory (JAF) in Indonesia, a non-profit organisation focused on the arts and cultural activities. The factory is based in Majalengka, a district in West Java province, and all of the men taking part work for traditional roof-tiling factories known as jebor.

At the Jatiwangi building, the competitors take off their clothes, put on dark blue shorts, and rub oil over their bodies. The master of ceremonies begins the contest at about 7pm, and the audience on the first and second floors of the auditorium shout out the names of their favourite participants.

Each competitor strides onto the stage and strikes five poses. They begin with three free poses, and pose with roof tiles instead of barbells for the final two. The stage measures three metres by 10 metres, and the competitors lift the tiles over their heads or to their sides.

Some of the contestants had originally been unsure about which poses to choose and turned to the internet to find out. “I found out on You Tube before performing,” says Budi Hartono, 30. In the end he chose a front double-bicep pose.

To attract the judges’ attention, a number of contestants have bitten and broken the tiles and posed with the pieces. Most, though, simply try to present their bodies in the best possible way, so they look strong.

Another contestant, Bubun Gunawan, 33, says his body is sturdy and muscled thanks to his work in the factory, estimating that he lifts as many as 20,000 tiles with his partner each day. This year was the first time he had taken part in the bodybuilding contest, which was launched in 2015.

At the Jatiwangi building, the competitors take off their clothes, put on dark blue shorts, and rub oil over their bodies. The master of ceremonies begins the contest at about 7pm, and the audience on the first and second floors of the auditorium shout out the names of their favourite participants.

Each competitor strides onto the stage and strikes five poses. They begin with three free poses, and pose with roof tiles instead of barbells for the final two. The stage measures three metres by 10 metres, and the competitors lift the tiles over their heads or to their sides.

Continues with photos at

https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3100036/bodybuilding-competition-difference-indonesia-contestants