Why choose Strength Ambassadors as your gym?

Frequently Asked Questions

Out of all the gyms in London, why should I choose Strength Ambassadors?

Apart from being one of the best gyms in London to get started in strength sports and learn to lift weights, we pride ourselves on being a supportive community whether you’re a complete beginner or seasoned lifter!

We have expert coaches in multiple strength disciplines and who run a variety of strength classes which you can find out more about below.

The Strength Ambassadors gym is friendly, relaxed, completely non-judgemental and most of all a really fun place to learn to lift. We run a number of in-house competitions and social events to keep motivation high and to meet new people and hopefully make friends!

What if I’ve never lifted before?

At Strength Ambassadors we strongly believe that strength training is vital for long-term health,  fitness and it’s also really good fun!

We are a perfect place for beginners looking to get into weightlifting and powerlifting, as we offer regular workshops and courses for complete beginners. We love welcoming new people to the sports we love so please try us out and see what you think!

What classes do you offer?

We offer a number of classes which focus on weightlifting and strength training: 

• Strength training
• Powerlifting
• Olympic Weightlifting
• Strongman/Strongwoman
• Women’s-only lifting

Is Olympic weightlifting harder than powerlifting?

While both barbell sports involve specialist techniques and skills, it’s fair to say Olympic lifting is the more difficult of the two, but both are a challenge and fun to learn.

Most of our clients find powerlifting quicker to learn initially as Olympic lifting requires more coordination and mobility, however expert coaches are on hand to teach you everything you need to know.

One of the best things about these disciplines is that they are both excellent to carry over to other sports and everyday life, including a range of physical and mental well-being benefits too.

How do I start to be a strongman?

Strongman or strongwoman is a great sport to get into as it will be different to anything you’ve ever done before as well as being extremely fun!

The clue is in the name of the sport, building strength by lifting in the gym and building a foundation of basic strength is the ideal thing to do if you’re looking to get into Strongman. Learning the basics such as deadlift, squat, row and overhead press is also essential and puts you in a stronger position for what will be required.

Of course, the best way to get into Strongman and Strongwoman is by coming to our classes! Beginners are always welcome.

How to do strongman training in a gym?

Practising Strongman training in the gym is relatively easy if you follow the below tips:

• Get strong at deadlift, squat, row and overhead press
• Train your grip endurance by carrying heavy dumbbells
• Train your moving fitness by pushing a sled
• Pay special attention to shoulder mobility and injury prevention

If you’re unsure about any of the above exercises or training please make sure you ask one of our trainers, we are always there to help you.

Getting strong with normal gym exercises will take you a long way, even if you can’t practise the events.

How should a beginner start weight training?

A beginner who wants to get into weight training should ideally look for a personal trainer who specialises in the sport or even better go to a class, like our building strength classes, where you’ll learn the correct technique from the start to avoid any injury.

If you’re going to train in the gym, start with bodyweight exercises and dumbbells to build a foundation of strength and good movement.

How do powerlifters build strength?

Powerlifting strength is built from both neural adaptations and muscle size. Regular heavy training builds neural efficiency, and higher volume training builds muscle size. Therefore powerlifters need to do both.

When training, powerlifters don’t just do the competition lifts (squat, bench press and deadlift). They also do a variety of accessory exercises, to strengthen weak areas and help prevent injury. Powerlifters also don’t don’t max out every session as this is hard on the body and progress will stall. Instead, powerlifters train in a variety of load and rep parameters to keep progressing.

A popular powerlifting protocol is 5 sets of 5 reps, especially for beginners, but powerlifters will utilise anything from 10 reps to 3 reps at different times in their training.

Powerlifters like to train in cycles. When they have a competition coming up, they will peak for that competition, training with heavier weights and lower reps for several weeks. When they are in the off season, they will train with lighter weights and higher reps, to build muscle, improve technique and work on weaknesses.

Come along to our powerlifting classes for beginners to see what it’s all about and receive expert guidance from our specialist coaches!

What is the difference between a bodybuilding gym and a powerlifting gym?

As powerlifters train for strength and conditioning rather than aesthetics, you’ll notice a variety of body types in a powerlifting gym. Bodybuilders focus on building muscle and being lean, with the goal of looking ‘ripped’. They also focus a lot on dieting, which is not what we do here at Strength Ambassadors, we focus on building strength and having fun!

In regards to equipment a powerlifting gym will be dominated by free weights, especially barbells whereas a bodybuilding gym will have a lot of machines and large racks of dumbbells.

What is weight training?

Weight training is lifting weights or heavy objects for the purpose of getting stronger, fitter and healthier.

Weight training is suitable for everyone which is why we love it! No matter your age, gender, body type or level of strength we encourage everyone to give it a go. Weight training is vital for good health and longevity. To be healthy and active into your old age, you should take up weight training!

If you’re looking to increase strength and build muscle mass then weight training is the way forward!

Do you offer personal training?

Yes, we offer personal training in all areas of strength, from complete beginner, to those training for health and fitness, to those wanting to compete.