Bodybuilding in Taiwan

Bodybuilding in Taiwan dates back to the 1950s. The sport emerged during the post-war period alongside the establishment of private gyms and physical culture clubs. Taiwan's first bodybuilding competition, the "Mr. Taiwan" contest, was held in Taipei in 1958. During the following decades, bodybuilding developed from a niche activity practised by a small number of enthusiasts into an organized competitive sport with national and international representation. Taiwan is represented internationally by the Chinese Taipei Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation, which is affiliated with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB).

Bodybuilding became established in Taiwan during the 1950s through the growth of physical culture clubs and privately operated gyms. Among the earliest fitness facilities were Cheng-kung Fitness Center (成功健身院), established in 1953, and Ke-nan Fitness Center (克難健身院), established in 1954.^[1]

Taiwan's first bodybuilding competition was held on 9 September 1958 at Cheng-kung Fitness Center on Yanping South Road in Taipei. The event, organized to commemorate National Sports Day, attracted sixteen contestants. Hsieh Chun-kuei (謝鈞貴), a 28-year-old former air force serviceman, won the inaugural "Mr. Taiwan" title. Wei Chao-hsin (魏朝欣) and Chen Chi-ming (陳基銘) finished second and third respectively.^[2]

Provincial bodybuilding championships were subsequently organized on a regular basis between 1959 and 1972. During this period, bodybuilding remained a relatively small sport. Equipment was often difficult to obtain, and many enthusiasts improvised training equipment using locally available materials.

According to bodybuilder and coach Huang A-wen (黃阿文), who began training during the early years of the sport, information on bodybuilding was scarce. Imported bodybuilding magazines circulated among enthusiasts, while gym equipment and nutritional supplements were largely unavailable. Many trainees relied on homemade weights and traditional protein sources such as eggs and soybeans.^[3]

The popularity of bodybuilding increased during the 1980s as commercial fitness centers became more common and international bodybuilding media became more accessible. Taiwan joined the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness 23 August 1985.^[4]

Universities established weightlifting and bodybuilding clubs, providing opportunities for formal training. Taiwanese bodybuilders began participating more frequently in international competitions during this period. The growth of fitness culture also led to increased public awareness of bodybuilding as both a competitive sport and a recreational activity.^[5]

During this era, female bodybuilders began emerging after Ms. Kuo Mei-chou (郭美洲) introduced aerobics classes from Japan in the late 1970s, ushering in a new era of exercise for urban women.^[6]

Since the 2000s, bodybuilding in Taiwan has become closely associated with the broader fitness industry. New competition categories, including women's bodybuilding, fitness, physique, bikini, and classic physique divisions, have been introduced in line with international standards.^[7]

Taiwanese athletes regularly compete in regional and international IFBB-sanctioned events, with the most recent one held in Taiwan being "Mr Universe" in July 2025 in New Taipei.^[8] The sport has also gradually gained visibility through social media, commercial gyms, and fitness expos after medals were won by Taiwanese bodybuilders.^[9] According to FTV News, the gym is also becoming a popular destination amongst Taiwan's elderly people.^[10]

In November 2025, Taiwanese bodybuilder Liu Ming-i (劉明毅) won two gold medals at the 2025 IFBB World Bodybuilding Championships in Saudi Arabia.^[11]

Bodybuilding in Taiwan is governed on the national level by the Chinese Taipei Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (CTBBF; 中華民國健美健身協會). The association was founded on 23 August 1985 and is responsible for organizing national championships, selecting representatives for international competitions, and promoting bodybuilding and fitness activities in Taiwan. The federation is affiliated with the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness and represents Taiwan in international bodybuilding competitions.^[4]

• Bodybuilding
• Sport in Taiwan
• Weight training

• Zhao, Jian (2015). 健身教練118種技巧肌力訓練法 [118 kinds of strength training methods]. Human Intelligence. ISBN 978-986-373-142-9.