What are mandatory poses?

In one line

Mandatory poses are poses that a federation sets for each division and that every competitor does the same way, giving judges a common basis for comparing physiques side by side.

What are mandatory poses?
Poses every competitor does the same way
On a bodybuilding stage, competitors stand side by side and hold the same position together. When the judge calls 'front double biceps', everyone does the same pose. These set poses are called 'mandatory poses'.
In one line
Poses set by the federation that everyone does
Mandatory poses are poses a federation sets for each division, which every competitor does the same way in a set order. The word 'mandatory' means required. In the Korean dictionary, a pose is the way a person holds the body or a certain posture.
Why set them
To compare people side by side in the same pose
The judges call a few competitors to the center of the stage, have them do the same pose side by side, and compare them. This is called a 'callout'. Because everyone does the same pose, the judges can compare the same body part with the person right next to it.
IFBB men's bodybuilding has 7
Showing the body from the front, side and back
In International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) men's bodybuilding, there are 7 mandatory poses. Competitors do 3 facing the front, 2 standing sideways and 2 turned around to the back. So the judges can see the front, side and back of the body.
How to read the names
A direction plus the muscle to show
Pose names usually combine a direction and the muscle to show. Front means the front, back means the back, and side means the side. Biceps is the muscle on the front of the upper arm that bends the elbow, triceps is the muscle on the back of the upper arm, and lat is the broad muscle on each side of the lower back.
A signature pose - front double biceps
Raise both arms, bend them and flex
Facing the front, the competitor raises both arms to shoulder height, bends the elbows, makes fists and flexes the muscles on the front of the arms. 'Double' means both arms are shown together. The judge first checks whether the front arm muscles look full and rise up like a peak.
Lat spread
Spreading the back wide into a V shape
In this pose, the competitor puts the hands on the waist and spreads the broad muscles on each side of the back as wide as possible. Done facing the front, it is the front lat spread; done facing the back, it is the back lat spread. The judge looks for a V-shaped upper body that narrows from the shoulders to the waist.
IFBB Pro League and NPC have 8
'Most muscular' is added
Men's bodybuilding in the IFBB Pro League (a pro organization separate from the IFBB) and the NPC (a US amateur organization) adds 'most muscular' to the IFBB's 7, for 8 poses. 'Most muscular' means the most muscular look. Even in the same division, mandatory poses differ by federation.
Different by division
Some divisions have no flexing poses
IFBB Pro League classic physique replaces most muscular with a 'classic pose' of the competitor's choice, for 5 poses. Men's physique and bikini have no flexing poses with raised arms; they are judged by turning to face the front and the back.
Versus a posing routine
Set poses versus poses you choose
Mandatory poses are set poses that everyone does the same way. A 'posing routine', on the other hand, is a part of the finals where the competitor shows a chain of poses they choose, to music they pick. In IFBB Pro League men's bodybuilding, the posing routine can last up to 3 minutes.
Common misconception
Do judges only look at the muscle in the pose's name?
No. The IFBB rules say judges first look at the main muscle of the pose, then survey the whole body from head to toe. That is why the rules tell competitors to flex as many other muscles as possible, even in a pose that shows the arms.
Summary
Set poses everyone does, for comparison
Mandatory poses are poses a federation sets for each division that every competitor does the same way, so judges can compare them side by side. Even when the name points to one muscle, the judges look at the whole body. Related terms: posing routine, callout, bodybuilding division.