As anticipation builds ahead of the opening of entries for the 2026 national competitions, the Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) has kick-started the season with a series of in-person workshops and sessions geared at preparing competition hopefuls and their coaches for its updated local competition dates and sporting guidelines.

The first session, facilitated by the JABBFA executive committee, was held at the Sports Development Foundation on February 21.

Angella Brown Johnson, General Secretary of the Association, explained that the workshops form part of JABBFA’s overall efforts to prepare athletes for the upcoming opening of entries with the backdrop that the regional meet, the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, will be held earlier than expected in August.

She said, “This year we’re improving our athlete experience, and as a result, we’re doing more to prepare them not only for the local leg but for the CAC. We believe in the calibre of our athletes who continue to dominate at all levels, as is evidenced on the global stage.”

At the event, which discussed preliminary posing, competition rules, and preparation, Master Bryan Campbell, International Federation of Bodybuilding (IFBB) Judge and Co-Chief Judge for JABBFA, shared the judging criteria for each category of competition.

“For example, the Men’s physique category, your attire is a little bit different; you wear shorts, it still means that you will need to have developed legs and calves. As judges, we have seen contestants with good upper bodies and poor legs. It’s about the X factor.”

The session, attended by former winners and novices, sets the stage for the five events in the JABBFA calendar, namely: The Aerobics Marathon set for April 11, the Junior and Novice Championships Set for April 25, the National Senior Championships for July 25, the CAC Championships set for August 27, and the National Regional Invitational on November 28.

Since 1947, the Jamaica Amateur and Bodybuilding Fitness annual series of events has been a beacon for health and wellness by providing a platform for muscle fitness novices to become professionals in training and conditioning on global stages.

Persons interested in entering the upcoming bodybuilding competitions are encouraged to visit www.jabbfa.org, JABBFA’S social media pages, or call 876-469-0296 for more details.

Entries for the Junior and Novice Bodybuilding Competition open on March 7, 2026