I'm Ewan. I have proudly been working as a Mirafit blog writer since mid-2021, during which time I have continued working towards my PhD in exercise and health science, expanded my online and in-person coaching career and competed in both Olympic weightlifting and Powerlifting.

I have competed in multiple weightlifting and powerlifting competitions in the same calendar year, proving that, below the elite level, you can enjoy and progress in both strength sports at the same time.

My highest weightlifting totals to date are 226kg (100kg snatch and 126kg clean and jerk) and my strongest powerlifting total is 550kg (180kg squat, 130kg bench press and 240kg deadlift). Both were achieved within the same 6-month period and significant improvements on my previous competitions. While not record breaking by any stretch, it inspired many of my clients to try different disciplines rather than specialising prematurely.

Benefits of Multidisciplinary Strength Training

More well-rounded - training in a multifaceted way will make you good at lots of things, rather than very good at just one thing. This is great if you want to be able to take part in lots of different physical activities whenever you like, be it running, skiing, golf, or football.

Reduced risk of injury - overtraining can cause injuries, which is more likely to happen if your training is less varied due to increased exercise repetition.

More sustainable - for some people, specialised training can be boring because of the lack of variety. If this is the case, opting for multidisciplinary training may be a better way to maintain long term enjoyment and adherence.

Downsides of Multidisciplinary Strength Training

Slower progress - as with anything in life, when you spread yourself thinly across multiple training goals, you will inevitably progress at them all slightly slower than if you were to focus on less things at once. So, if you want the fastest progress possible in your OWL or PL, you are better of specialising in just one of them.

Higher Complexity - because you need to factor in multiple training regimes, structuring your progress can be more complex. This is especially true if you want to compete, as you will need to base your training around when competitions are held. This is where hiring a coach might help you manage these big training block changes.

How I Programme Two Sports at the Same Time

I keep all the main Olympic weightlifting exercises (snatch, clean and jerk) and powerlifting exercises (squat, bench and deadlift) in the programme all year round. I then put more time and effort into the lifts and accessory exercises that are in the next competition.

Equipment I Recommend for Training

An Olympic Barbell Weight Set is essential. You need weights, bars, and collars for both sports. You'll need a full or Half Power Rack for bench press and squat, as well as a Flat Weight Bench.

If you are new to training or even struggling with motivation, why not try releasing the shackles and adding more variety into your training, whether that be at a competition level or not. The key is to remember that periods of more multidisciplinary training do not have to last forever, you can always resume specialised training at any point. Enjoyment is key – now go and lift some weights!

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Tags: Exercise Type > Strength ; Misc > Lifestyle