Types of Strength Sports and How to Choose Yours

**0 to Elite course · Lesson 89 of 100 · Level 5: Elite** By now you have a strong base and know your body well. If you want a goal to aim at, a strength sport gives your training a clear purpose and a date in the diary. This lesson compares the main options so you can choose with your eyes open. ## The main types of strength sports There are four strength sports most lifters consider. They overlap, but each judges something different: * **Powerlifting:** the heaviest single lift you can make in the squat, bench press and deadlift. * **Weightlifting** (often called Olympic lifting): the snatch and the clean and jerk, which test speed, power and mobility as much as raw strength. * **Strongman:** lifting, carrying, pressing and pulling awkward objects such as stones, logs, yokes and vehicles, often against the clock. * **Bodybuilding and physique sport:** judged on how your physique looks on stage: muscle size, proportion, conditioning and posing, rather than what you can lift. Most of these have drug-tested federations for natural athletes. If you compete, choose a tested event, for all the reasons in lesson 88. It is also common for lifters to try more than one sport over a training career. Your base from Levels 1 to 4 transfers well, so your first choice isn't a life sentence. ## How to choose between them Ask yourself three honest questions. First, which training do you actually enjoy? You will spend years on it, and only a few days on a platform or stage. Second, which suits your body and history? Long-limbed lifters often find deadlifts kinder than squats, very mobile and explosive people often take to weightlifting, and anyone with a history of struggling around food should think carefully before choosing a sport built on dieting. Third, what can you access? Some sports need specialist equipment, coaches and clubs, so check what is realistic where you live and train. ## Who each strength sport suits ### Powerlifting **Suits you if** you love the squat, bench and deadlift, enjoy chasing numbers and like a clear, objective result. Your training will build on lessons 54 to 56 on [barbell squat technique](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/barbell-back-squat-technique), deadlift and bench, plus the peaking methods from lesson 72. Competitions use weight classes, so you can compete at a body weight that suits you. Lesson 93 covers [preparing for your first powerlifting meet](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/powerlifting-meet-prep). ### Weightlifting **Suits you if** you are naturally quick and powerful, have (or are willing to build) good ankle, hip and shoulder mobility, and enjoy skill practice. The lifts are highly technical, so expect months of learning with light weights before loading heavily. Find a qualified weightlifting coach; this is not a sport to self-teach from videos. Our [strength and conditioning guide](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/strength-and-conditioning) explains how power training fits into a wider programme. ### Strongman **Suits you if** you are strong all over, enjoy variety and don't mind getting a bit battered. Events change from competition to competition, so you need general strength, a strong grip and good conditioning. Loaded carries from lesson 20 and the hinge from lesson 14 are your foundation. Most people train at a specialist strongman gym because the equipment is hard to find elsewhere. ### Bodybuilding and physique **Suits you if** you enjoy the craft of building muscle, are patient, and can handle a long, disciplined diet. There are several categories, from classic bodybuilding to physique and bikini divisions, each with different judging criteria. Artem competed in UKBFF bodybuilding in 2018, and the honest truth is that stage prep tests your head as much as your body. Lesson 90 covers the [bodybuilding contest prep timeline](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/bodybuilding-contest-prep), and lesson 95 covers the mental side. > **Before you compete:** if you have any heart condition, high blood pressure, a history of disordered eating, or a current injury, speak to your GP or physio before committing to a competition. Contest prep and maximal lifting both put real stress on the body. ## Your action steps 1. Rank the four sports from most to least appealing, and write one sentence on why for each. 2. Watch a full local competition in your top choice, in person or via a federation's live stream, and notice the rules, judging and atmosphere. 3. Run a four-week taster block built around that sport's main lifts or events, logging how your body responds. 4. Look up drug-tested federations for your chosen sport and note the date of an event at least six months away as a possible first target. ## Frequently asked questions ### What are the different types of strength sports? The main ones are powerlifting, weightlifting (Olympic lifting), strongman and bodybuilding or physique sport. Each tests a different mix of strength, power, skill and appearance. ### Which strength sport is best for beginners? Powerlifting is often the easiest to start, because the three lifts are the same ones most people already train. Weightlifting needs more coaching and mobility, and bodybuilding needs a long, disciplined diet. ### Is powerlifting or bodybuilding better? Neither is better. Powerlifting rewards maximum strength on three lifts, while bodybuilding is judged on how your physique looks. Choose the one whose training you would enjoy for years. ## Keep going Previous: [Lesson 88: Steroid Side Effects and Why We Train Natural](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/steroids-risks) Next: [Lesson 90: Bodybuilding Prep: A Realistic Contest Timeline](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/bodybuilding-contest-prep) Lost your place? [See the full course map](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/post/how-to-get-fit-from-scratch). > **Want Artem to coach you through it?** SYP Fitness is a private 1-to-1 personal training studio at 2-4 Navigator Square, Archway, London N19 3UB. Rated 5.0 from [106 Google reviews](https://share.google/yAAPDk0VhwxmSzymT). [Book a free consultation](https://syp-fitness.co.uk/#apply) or [WhatsApp Artem](https://wa.me/447301512215) on 07301 512215.