Are you an awesome loner who's been lifting things up and putting them down for over seven years? Do you like being surrounded by other awesome loners who pick things up and put them down, but you wanna do that shit without interacting and end up becoming a bit of an extrovert anyway? Have you been at it for almost seven years and were unable to improve after a while, but the berating yourself technique doesn't work? Worry not my friend! SoCal Weightlifting has got your back. SoCal's amazing and talented coaches have got your back! Here you will learn that you were berating yourself about the wrong things! Shit, you might even do it for only the first two personal sessions and stop doing that shit altogether. You might even berate yourself for berating yourself and unlock a new level of self-tough-love. At SoCal Weightlifting you will be lifting things up and putting them down with more efficiency and pain free! "Misha, you're full of shit and writing this amazingly creative and hilarious review for just a T-shirt!" Sure, but I am doing it for a renowned gym with full time coaches who actually give a shit about you and your predisposition to point out the obvious. If this motherfucking review doesn't get your taint tingling with excitement, at least do it just to see what a woman owned gym who will welcome your weird ass with open arms looks like! I will be training to compete at a national event while rocking a dope tee and you continue to unproductively berate yourself. XoXo. read more

If you are looking for weightlifting, strength and conditioning, or crossfit then look no further than Socal Weightlifting Club. This place simply has the best programming and coaching staff paired with an incredible facility. The head coach Chris Amenta has been in the fitness industry for a long time and has trained with and under some of the best weightlifting coaches in the nation. He brings that world of knowledge to everybody that he coaches and has developed some fantastic athletes. The environment in the gym is also phenomenal. There is a pretty tight knit group of people that are all there to work hard and help in any way that they can. Lastly, I think what separates them from everybody else is the diverse group of athletes that show up every day. They have serious national level weightlifters, high level crossfit athletes, and high school and college athletes that are there consistently. They also have numerous members who are just trying to have fun with training or who are looking to get into better shape. No matter what anybodies skill levels is, everyone gets along great. It is common for the more experienced lifters to stay later to help out anyone who asks. So if you are in the Orange county area and want the very best, do yourself a favor and stop by and see for yourself why the SoCal Weightlifting Club is the best around. read more

Just finished up my first day on Wednesday. I'm super impressed with the facility and how the coaches manage the flow of athletes throughout the sessions. All the logistics seem to be very well thought out and help to create a fun and interactive environment. Coaching was great. I met with Spencer for my consultation and he was very professional and understanding of my wants and needs, and I have no doubt that working with him and the rest of the coaching staff will get me to my goals. I also interacted with Kody while lifting. He was very friendly and gave me a few cues after lifts to help set me up for success on the following attempts. I hit some pretty solid reps afterwards and was very happy with the feedback. From the moment I walked in, the entire staff was friendly and welcoming, and just about everyone came to introduce themselves and talk to me. It's nice to walk in to a new gym environment and be welcomed and not glared at from a distance as is the case at many other gyms. I never felt like I wasn't welcome there, and that for me was huge. I look forward to lifting in the gym and also the remote coaching while I lift at home from the garage. Can't wait to see what the future holds! read more

I walked into this gym for the first time in April of 2017. I had a little under 2yrs of weightlifting experience and was coaching Crossfit at the time. My intent was to possibly start an internship and learn more about the coaching aspect of weightlifting. Chris invited me to train with the team one evening and I immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and coaching. I needed to be apart of this club!! I have since added 10kg to my snatch, 15kg to my clean and jerk, have competed internationally and won a bronze medal at the 2018 Master's World Championships in Spain! Not only that but I am now a part of their leadership training program to become a weightlifting coach. I believe in this club, what they stand for and what they are doing for the sport of weightlifting. It's not the cheapest, it may not be the most convenient location for everyone but if you want to succeed you need to be pushed, taught, encouraged and your talent cultivated. You need to be a part of the best weightlifting club, and in my opinion, I found it! read more

This gym is almost as good as the people who run it. Chris Amenta and Sarah Smith are incredibly devoted to the team and are always available. Besides their extensive weightlifting knowledge, they are just flat out great people. Everyone here is. There is no better place to train. I was just a recent college grad who wanted to get into weightlifting and had no idea how the process worked. So I called some big local weightlifting teams/gyms around Southern California and SoCal Weightlifting Club was the only one who called me back and not only gave me the information I needed but graciously accepted me into the team. Now I am headed to a U25 national meet thanks to their help! And don't sweat it if you can't make it out there. They have a killer online program that allows me to train remotely from Riverside. I film all of my lifts and send them to Chris and I get immediate feedback. If you want to get stronger with a great group of people, this is your gym. read more

I am a new athlete at SoCal Weightlifting and am beyond happy to be here! The coaches have been so supportive of me as I've been learning to break down bad habits and diligently working with me to establish new ones. Beyond excellent coaching, I also am delightfully surprised by the wonderful community. SoCal works hard at creating a place and space for athletes to come in and get their work done, but also for them to just hang out while others are working. The athletes here are so encouraging, fun to be around, and are there to celebrate wins with you and encourage you during the lows. Just last week, the coaches held an all club meeting and, in the meeting, discussed the importance of culture in our club. They also do an amazing job at supporting athletes when they go to their competitions encourage the community to come and support at well. I cannot recommend SoCal Weightlifting higher. read more

I decided to start Olympic weightlifting at the start of the year and was looking for a gym to really get into it from every aspect. I couldn't find anything else that seemed as well fit for that need so I signed up and its gone well beyond serving that purpose. This is a gym defined by dedication and passion for the sport and its community through top tier staff/coaches/athletes. Even with a year like 2020 being as unpredictable a time as ever, SoCal Weightlifting has showed why they are the best place for Olympic weightlifting in the area by working through the various restrictions and providing everything from remote sessions, outdoor training areas, enhanced cleaning protocols, etc. In summary, come here for Olympic weightlifting and stay because you couldn't ask for a better gym. read more

If you are looking to learn how to properly perform Olympic lifts and develop REAL functional strength and conditioning, you MUST come into this gym. Chris Amenta, the head coach, has been involved in the fitness world from a variety of different disciplines. He has also trained with many well known coaches such as Bob Takano. The atmosphere inside the gym is respectful, encouraging, and fun. Each day you train, Chris will have developed a specific program to help you progress in your lifts or a challenging conditioning workouts. The people that train here are awesome. Everyone gets along perfectly and everyone is invited regardless of your specific skill level. If your looking to join a tight group of weightlifters, crossfiters, whatever, this is where you should go. read more

I've been doing CrossFit for about 2 years. And I recently fell in love with the weightlifting aspect of it. I stumbled upon this gym and decided to stop by unexpectedly. The owner was a pleasure to talk to and I really appreciated the backstory of the gym. I signed up on the spot and they immediately invited me to a Halloween party that weekend. I went and had a great time, met a ton of awesome people, and immediately fell in love with the comradery. The coaches are very patient and very knowledgeable with multiple degrees to stand behind, which put my mind at ease knowing I was going to be learning from them. The people and the environment have definitely made me enjoy this sport immensely and I can't recommend this place enough. read more

What can I say about SoCal weightlifting? They're a solid bunch. Professional coaches, and driven athletes make for an incredible combination. The vibes that are present from a busy training session are incredibly special. If you are a weightlifter who doesn't have a home gym, wants to be part of something special, regardless of your level. SoCal Weightlifting is the place for you. The coaching staff are all top notch, and without them and their vision there is no SOCAL. I am incredibly fortunate to be a part of the team, and to be surrounded by such a great group of coaches, teammates, and weightlifters. If you need a place to train, a team to be on, or have the interest to start a new sport. SoCal is the place! read more

SoCal Weightlifting Club is about quality not quantity. I have been lifting with this club for about 7 months now and previous to that I did Crossfit for 1.5 years. In my 7 months with SoCal, I received better, more accurate and insightful ways on how to adjust and improve on my technique than my 1.5 years at Crossfit. Coach Chris Amenta takes the time to really engage with the athlete, both on and off the platform. This club has become my second family. They cheer me on when I am about to make a PR (Personal Record) lift or when I am struggling to even hit 80%. They are always by my side. I highly recommend coming on by and taking a look, because once you do- you will be glad you did. read more

I had been doing CrossFit for about 4 years and loved the weightlifting part. So, when I could not find a Crossfit gym around this area I liked I decided to find a Olympic lifting gym. I found Socal and called, Lucy was above and beyond nice and very informative. She set me up with Spencer as my coach and it was a great pick for me he's great. I can't say enough about how welcoming this place is and everyone in it. I feel comfortable at all times and am very excited to come in and workout. I have seen lots of changes in my body and even more in my lifting. If you are having any thought of dropping in and talking to someone Do it!!! You will not regret it! read more

This club is the best club in the So Cal area for sure. They were very receptive to me when I just dropped to check the place out. I have been getting great training from Spencer and Mark in a small group class. Chris, Kody and Sara are all so friendly to me every time I visit. There is a real sense of community there. I really like that there are Master Athletes, Senior Athletes, men, women, high school kids and everybody gets along so well. People are very supportive. There is also a-lot of talented athletes that will inspire you just buy being around them and seeing their technique. It's not a gym its a real club! read more

I just dropped in for a few weeks while I was in town for work. This place is not only a great facility, they are awesome people. I went on a friends recommendation to check them out and during the first 5 minutes of getting there I was sold. Im bummed Im only here for the 3 weeks because I know what being in an environment like this does for people. It brings out the best in them. Also as a former certified coach and trainer myself, these people know what they're doing. Hands down fantastic coaches who seem to genuinely care about your progress, no matter what level you're at. Couldn't recommend it more. read more

I am absolutely thrilled I decided to join So Cal Weightlifting! From the moment I walked through the doors, I knew I had found a special place. Their new facility is amazing and exudes a welcoming atmosphere that instantly put me at ease on my first day. What really makes So Cal Weightlifting stand out is the amazing coaching staff. They are not only experts in their craft but also genuinely care about their athletes' success. If you're looking for a place where you can feel like part of a community and also achieve your fitness goals, then So Cal Weightlifting is the place for you! read more

This place is the s***. I've been coming here for two years and I definitely do not take weightlifting, fitness or nutrition seriously, but the group of people that walk through those doors create an awesome and welcoming atmosphere that any noob or experienced weightlifter would want to be a part of. The coaches know their s***, and it shows with the improvement of not just me personally, but with everyone that comes in. It's been awesome seeing this place grow and seeing the lifters get strong as hell. 10/10 Would recommend to anyone who wants to try weightlifting. read more

The first time I walked into socal's gym was the moment I knew it was the place for me. They immediately had welcomed me with open arms and hugs! After finishing track and field, I wanted to look for another "family" to join. So far it's been a great experience lifting with people who are not only unique but also awesome to train with. The coaches are so patient with me! And they're truly passionate about weightlifting. But the best part is the overall atmosphere that always makes me eager until the next lifting session! read more

After only one month at SoCal Weightlifting, I can confidently say that I've found my new home away from home! Coming from 4.5 years of Crossfit, I was excited to focus more on the Oly lifts and to clean up my technique. My technical lifts have already improved a ton thanks to the hands on and thorough coaching and programming. If you're considering giving it a shot, or have been on the fence about it for a while, do yourself a favor and JUST DO IT. Great coaching, great programming, and good vibes all around. read more

Such a fantastic place to be with some of the best coaches I think I've ever come across. Exactly what I was looking for in a weightlifting club and the environment and atmosphere couldn't be better. All the coaches are incredibly supportive and there truly is something for everybody there. I'm a remote athlete right now and they were very accommodating and willing to help me figure out a plan that I would be able to get the most out of. Absolutely love the place, couldn't recommend more. read more