
Originally Posted by
GearHeaded
pretty Seth competed in the under 198 pound class in the NPC and believe thats the class he won the overall national and got his pro card. going into the IFBB he competed in the 212 and under class (don't think he ever made it to the open class) as there is no other class in IFBB for guys his size (either 212 and under or open).
so really the fastest way to a pro card . you gotta figure out what weight class your going to be able to compete in and do your best. if you can't win your weight class you can't even compete for the shows overall title let alone qualify for a bigger show.
so heres how it would go (unless rules and things are changing).
- you look your absolute best at 217 pounds. This puts you in the heavy weight class . you have to come in at under 219 pounds to make weight, if you don't then you don't make weight and can't compete in that class.
- you do a local show and win that weight class.. being you won your weight class you get to go to the 'finals' of that show, and you will compete against the winners of all the other weight classes (light weight, middle, heavy, super heavy etc.). if you win against all of them then you earn the 'overall title' .. you have experience under your belt which is great, but your no steps closer to a pro card.
- you then do a larger regional show. you win your class and win the overall class again.. more experience.
- now you move on to a larger 'national qualifier' show . a much much bigger show. IF you win your weight class again. you can compete in the overall of that show. IF you win the overall title . NOW your qualified to go to a national level show .
- From here you can move on and compete in the national level 'championships' shows (against guys from all over the world, as I believe the newer rules are allowing for this) and if you win here you can earn a pro card.
but different shows are different and some shows you have to win your weight class AND then move onto winning the overall too, and only then do you get the pro card (I believe there are some shows out there where you can earn a national title and pro card by just winning your weight class).
but either way . the weight classes and making weight are a huge part of it and in a certain weight class is where you'd compete for a pro card. again, there is no such thing as the open class until you are an IFBB open competitor .
my 'rules' may be off a bit here, and the NPC changes stuff as they see fit. but the basics of what I'm saying are relevant