After almost two years of crossfit, I had hit a wall with the level of coaching I was able to receive to improve my Olympic weightlifting. I came to Max's gym looking for better programming and a higher level of understanding of the technical elements of the lifts, and was not disappointed on either account. I had watched scores of YouTube videos and recorded myself trying to figure out why I wasn't improving my lifts and after a couple months I had a note on my phone with 3 things that I thought were the problem. I asked Max to watch one lift of mine and he immediately listed those exact three things and gave me cues to make the appropriate corrections. Before I came to Max's I had done only a handful of snatches over 100kg and all of them were ugly and unstable. Now less than six months later, I've hit PRs over 120kg for snatch, and every week have several sessions snatching between 90-115kg, and the reps are consistent and slowly improving each session. My front squat has jumped from ~180kg to 200kg and I'm regularly hitting 170kg for sets of 3-4. If you want to take your Olympic lifting to the next level, it's hard to describe the difference between lifting in a crossfit or other environment and having a team who shows up every time and pushes their limits and yours at every training session. Folks 50-70% of my weight are hitting numbers close to mine (or more) consistently and with better form, and it's motivating to show up and work hard. Max, Jo, and the other coaches are all extremely high level athletes and coaches, and the wall is decorated with trophies, medals, and other awards or paraphernalia from the top athletes in the world. There are 5 platforms and a powerlifting area, and it's nice to be able to choose supertotal training, powerlifting, or Olympic lifting depending on your goals. It's important to advocate for yourself and speak up when you need special help because nobody is going to hold your hand the way a personal trainer might, but even in the bustling environment, someone is almost always watching from across the room and ready to give feedback when necessary. The atmosphere alternates between goofy banter / camaraderie and intense encouragement when someone is pushing for a maximal attempt. No matter what you're looking to improve, you'll be able to make the next step at Max's gym. Even if you come for a few months to get shocked out of a slump or plateau in your training, it will be a worthwhile investment into your athletic career. read more

I did my level one here. Jo was a great teacher, and the facility is well maintained. Fun and exciting energy.

I started off with remote coaching with Jo during the pandemic. Eventually I was able to make it to the Women's Strong School sessions at Max's Gym. From WSS to Team Training, I've always had nothing but positive experiences there. The coaches are all knowledgeable & have so much experience. Teammates are top notch & the environment is empowering. Highly recommend visiting Max's if you haven't done so! Great for weightlifters, powerlifters, and hobbyists & everyone in between (: read more

See all

I've been coming to Max's for a couple years now as a powerlifter and am a huge fan. The coaching it top notch and has helped me consistently improve performance and grow my competition numbers. Great gym community as well. The fun and friendly group make all the difference and there's always someone there to provide a spot or celebrate a PR. read more

I've been a member Max's Gym as a part of the team weightlifting since July of 2021 and really love it. My technique has improved immensely from the coaching and programming I've received here. Prior to working with the coaches at Max's, my snatch technique was poor, and I couldn't consistently hit even very low numbers. The coaches are incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and their feedback has really helped me clean up some major technique issues that I had when I joined the gym. My technique is always a work in progress but i'm excited for what is next at the end of every training cycle or meet. Generally someone is always watching to provide helpful corrections in between training sets and you will get out of it what you put into it. The atmosphere is A1. Other members of the team and of the gym are very encouraging, helpful, and make training fun. If someone is gearing up for a max effort lift, people generally stop and watch and cheer that person on because the camaraderie between everyone is very genuine. Whether you are looking to improve in powerlifting, olympic lifting, or supertotal, joining Team Aita will definitely help you get to the next level. I highly recommend joining Max's Gym. read more

I'm currently enrolled in Strength School with Jo Ann. I seriously love it here. Atmosphere - it's in the back of Oakland Crossfit so you get the vibe of their workouts and intensity while you're powering through your own sets. The people are amazing. So far for my experience with everyone here has been very pleasant. The crossfiters are polite and will help direct you if you need to borrow some bars or equipment from their side. This is a place to hit PRs and learn about your body. Everyone is super supportive and will cheer you and your body to the maximum potential you can do: Class - the class is designed to teach you about your body and help build a great foundation. Expect to learn many stretching positions to help ensure your body is in its peak condition as well as additional accessory work to really maximize your gains. Definitely recommend to all women and even men for all the classes at this gym. Strength school has expanded due to popularity and they offer 2 classes. Both are Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday. Class A is 5-6:30pm T/Th and 9-10:30am S. Class B is 6:30-8pm T/Th and 6:30-8am S. read more

Max's Gym - Oakland - Strong School B class - Trainers Near Me - Oakland, California

I have been a member of Max's Gym for over a year and have loved every moment. Great programming, knowledgeable coaches, and friendly members. Regardless of what level you are at, the coaches are supportive and can help you learn or improve your olympic weightlifting and powerlifting technique properly and effectively. I would recommend stopping by and seeing for yourself. read more

I've been training with Max's Gym since it opened! Max, Jo, Josh and all the coaches are extremely knowledgeable about weightlifting and powerlifting, as well as injury prevention and rehabilitation. I enthusiastically recommend coming over here to lift! read more

I've been doing weightlifting technique class at Max's Gym for about a year now and really love it. The energy and camaraderie in the class is something special. The class is friendly to a variety of skill levels, ranging from awkward beginners like me to serious musclebound athletes (y'all know who you are). The instructors are great and do a good job keeping us safe but also pushing us to excel. Max and Jo clearly run a high-level gym and it's very neat to feel welcomed into such a space. read more

Max's Gym is an incredible place! I've been able to hone my Powerlifting technique and transition to Olympic Weightlifting through the amazing coaching from Max, Jo and Josh! read more

Great community! Great coaching! Awesome place for beginners and Olympic level athletes to up their game

If Hanz and Franz lived in the Bay Area, this is where they'd go. OK, lame joke but I got your attention. The reality? Max's Gym is for serious lifters who want to dramatically improve their form and strength. But this is not your regular gym, learning from Max and Jo is like learning guitar from Keith Richards. But it's not just the skill you learn, its the fact that Max and Jo actually give a damn (yeah, corny, but read on, you'll see what I mean). I signed my teenager up to improve his rowing during the summer. The results were dramatic--he rapidly rose through his program. But it wasn't just the program they developed, Jo and Max really spent time with him to increase his strength by micromanaging his form. His rowing coaches were astounded and told me he was one of the most improved rowers on the team. Personally, I tried Cross Fit and lifted on my own. Though my experiences were good, I didn't realize just how suck ass my form was until I came here. Jo Ann is like your powerlifting mom, coaching you with tough love and encouragement. (For the record, Jo is probably younger then me, but she is like a stronger, younger version of my mom). For example, when I injured my rotator cuff swimming, Jo put me a on a program that dramatically accelerated the healing process without any drugs. I swim daily and it's amazing to see how my swimming has improved. My swim coach, unprompted, noted how I've become one of the strongest swimmers in my Master's team. DISCLAIMER: you really have to devote yourself to the program. This is not for people who will buy a membership and show up twice a month. This requires a major commitment. read more

Do you want to move heavy things from the ground to over your head in a smooth and powerful way? Do you giggle like a 13 year boy every time you hear the phrases "clean and jerk" or "snatch"? Want to emulate famous Olympic weightlifters Pisarenko or Suleymanoglu? Have no idea who I'm talking about nor do you know *why* you'd want to move a weight from the ground to the sky in a short amount of time (trust me, you do) but just want to be as strong as you can be and have fun in a supportive group setting? See Max Aita immediately for the right training so you don't drop said weight back on your pretty little head. Olympic lifts develop power like no other type of weight exercise but also require a lot more technique than your regular squat, deadlift, bench or favorite barbell exercise. Having the right training is paramount with these exercises and if you can find a trainer of Max's caliber, it'll go a long way into making sure you do it correctly so you MAXimize (see what I did there??) the benefits and minimize the chances for injury due to overtraining or doing it incorrectly. Max will train you in a group setting where you're going to be surrounded by other like-minded individuals. . Under Max's watchful eye and guided tutelage you will learn proper technique on the 2 olympic lifts. Don't worry, he is more than able to devote 1-on-1 time with you when you lift. And don't worry, the rest of the people in your class aren't there to judge, they are there to encourage you and encourage you they will both by their actions and their words. First part of a class is spent warming up. Your choice as to how you warm up. Second part eases into the lifts as Max helps you on your form, and tells you what weights you seem capable of handling that session. Third part is assistance or GPP work: squats (back, front), deadlifts (full, halting, RDL), or anything else that needs strengthening. The pace of the class is spurts of intense activity followed by the necessary rest period YOU need to recuperate. Every student moves at their own pace, or with a gentle prod by Max if you're just being lazy. REMEMBER: Dropping weights is ok; they've got bumpers, the floor is padded and you're not slamming them into the ground, you're just letting them... go. Grunting in public is allowed and encouraged if it amps you up and you don't lose form. Chalk is encouraged. Max's wide knowledge in general strength training as well as his specific focus on the Olympic lifts, coupled with his easy personality makes him a great coach. Couple that with the kind of dedicated students that he's attracted to his sessions, and you're guaranteed to get better and have a ton of fun along the way. Check his website for the latest schedule and list of locations; as of May 2012 Max holds training sessions in San Francisco (United Barbell Crossfit, where I've trained with him, you don't need to be a member of United Barbell) and his own gym in Emeryville. If you're already a member of CrossFit Pleasanton, he has training sessions there too but you *must* be a member. EDIT: for brevity read more

If you're in the bay area and you want to be a weightlifter this is the place to be. Real weightlifting gyms and qualified coaches are few and far between. This is an invaluable resource for those of us in the east bay. Max is a pretty cool guy. eh lifts heavy things and doens't afraid of anything. read more

Amazing people. Top notch training. Committed coaches. I needed a competitive outlet after being a college athlete and this place was perfect. Teammates are from different backgrounds - and all super supportive of each other. read more

If you're going to get good at Olympic weightlifting in the Bay Area, this is the place. While I trained at Max's for 1 year plus, I shared my platform with not only great teammates but national level lifters and CrossFit Games and Regional athletes. I also became a much better lifter and a master's Worlds qualifier and competitor. Just as importantly, watching Max coach for an entire year made my a much better CrossFit trainer, especially on lifting days. Here's the lowdown: Max is a walking, talking weightlifting (and powerlifting) encyclopedia. His gym is an environment of healthy competition, support, and expectations. The last bit, expectations, is particularly important. You don't go to Max's gym to work out. You go to Max's gym to practice being your best. You're expected to do your sets with intention, focus, and effort ... sometimes all the effort you have in you (and sometimes, that means digging deep and giving more effort than you feel you have). This is also a great place to toughen the f___ up if that's what's missing from your training. read more

Got a chance to stop by this gym to lift with a friend who was in town. So impressed by the staff and the people there. Everyone was friendly and helpful. You can tell that they really know what they are doing and how to make the correct adjustments. They have all the equipment for powerlifting and Olympic lifting. It had the most powerful energy and vibe. I would definitely come back here and thank you for letting us drop in! read more

Want to get strong? This is the place. Want to get better at weightlifting to improve your crossfit? This is the place. Want to join a competitive team that will support and encourage you to train harder and achieve more than you thought possible? This is the place! Max's is my home away from home, my teammates are my second family. I don't know if I actually have the words to describe the incredible experience I have had (am having!) training with my teammates at Max's gym. I'll just let the numbers do the talking. When I started training with Max, I could barely snatch 84 kg (185) and clean and jerk 110kg (242), in a little over a year training with the team, I just snatched 103 (227) and C&J 126 (277) in competition. Sure, I am no Olympian, but at 37, I am no spring chicken either. I couldn't have done this on my own. I highly recommend Max's to anyone who wants to improve in weightlifting and powerlifting. Don't be intimidated. Come in, check it out, meet Max and Jo Ann, and get stronger. read more

Need motivation? All of the women that train at Max's are probably stronger than you. I just watched Kristy squat 430 lbs for a TRIPLE last week. Needless to say you'll get strong quickly. Also, everyone there is super friendly. It's the best gym in the bay area. read more

I came to Max weak and sloppy and now I'm much stronger and and I even look somewhat athletic when I lift. Also, of all the gyms I've been a member of, the community here is head and shoulders above the rest. So basically get strong and have friends, it's a pretty great deal. read more

After years of going at it alone, I decided to find a gym where I can learn from other coaches and be part of a team. Weightlifting has been an interest of mine for years, but I never practiced it consistently to understand the nuance of the movements. I found out about the gym after attending a seminar hosted by owner, Max Aita, in southern Califonia. I hopped on my cool bike and checked the place out. It's a small space but a lot of work is being done here. Coaches are very good at what they do. Zack and Jake are knowledgable because they practice what they preach. In 5 weeks, I have been able to add 60lbs....sorry, I mean 27kg to my squat. Skills on the lifts have improved quickly under their supervision. I look forward to more hard work and competing with this team. JOIN!!! read more

I started going to Max's to get in better shape and build some basic strength -- I'm not interested in massive bulk or making the olympic team. Max's (Jake in particular) has been awesome. My HS aged son is a Varsity athlete, and has also been going to Max's. His needs and goals are different than mine, and they have been fantastic with him as well. Highly recommended for young athletes. They are super attentive to your goals, make adjustments to routines when needed, and everyone there is super laid back and cool. I feel totally comfortable there, which is a HUGE plus. Don't get me wrong when I say "laid back" -- they will challenge you if that's what you need. And there is some serious lifting going on. But what's cool is that they are also able to make someone like me feel comfortable there. Definitely recommend Max's, no matter what level you're at. read more

I workout here with Joann Aita training and I love it and can't wait to go each and every time. There has never been such a good fit for keeping strong and staying motivated. Max's Gym is fantastic and I highly recommend you try it out for yourself. read more