Weightlifting (aka Olympic weightlifting) is a sport where athletes compete against each other by completing two lifts: the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk. The Snatch is performed by lifting a barbell from the ground to an overhead position all in one motion. For the Clean and Jerk, the weight is first lifted from the ground to the shoulders and then extended overhead. Each athlete has three attempts on both the Snatch and the Clean and Jerk, with the highest successful attempt on each lift counting towards the final total. The total of the two lifts are added up and the athlete with the highest total for both lifts is the winner. Athletes in this sport compete within specific age and weight classes which makes it a great sport for people of all ages and sizes.

Absolutely! Having prior experience is not a prerequisite for learning the Olympic lifts or participating in weightlifting as a sport. The only requirements are an eagerness to learn and working to the best of your ability. We will systematically teach you how to correctly perform the weightlifting movements along with the fundamental strength training principles required for success. Everyone in our program will progress at a pace that is appropriate for their skill and ability level.

Olympic weightlifting and/or general resistance training is safe for children of any age to engage in provided the program is designed and supervised by a qualified coach with experience teaching and developing youth. Furthermore, the sport of weightlifting itself has an exceptional record of safety including one of the lowest rates of injury per 100 participant hours compared to all sports. Check out the following resources to view more detailed information on the safety of weightlifting and resistance training for youth.

Position Statement on Youth Resistance Training: National Strength and Conditioning Association

Resistance Training for Children and Adolescents: American Academy of Pediatrics

Position Statement on Youth Resistance Training: British Journal of Sports Medicine

All training sessions will be planned and supervised by CJ Del Balso who possesses 20+ years of experience working with youth as both a teacher and coach. Coach Del Balso is a professional Physical Education instructor who has taught the weightlifting movements to thousands of individuals in his experience working in schools. He is an International Level Coach with USA Weightlifting in addition to being a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

There is no minimum age requirement for a child to begin weightlifting or general resistance training. The only prerequisites are that the child is mature enough to consistently follow instructions and undergo the physical stresses involved in a training program. The specific plan for each child will be appropriately structured based on age, developmental level, and overall physical skills.

No. One of the great aspects of weightlifting is that it is a lifetime sport that individuals of any age can participate in. Masters level (age 35+) weightlifting is growing in the U.S. and there are currently age divisions extending all the way to 80+ years old. If you would like to start weightlifting, contact us and we will work with you to provide a training program that is optimal for your current skill and ability level.

The Olympic lifts, consisting of the Snatch, Clean & Jerk and variations of these movements, are a time-tested and extremely effective tool for building strength, power and overall athleticism. The explosive nature of these movements makes them particularly valuable for building physical qualities that transfer well to improved athletic performance. Even if you are just training to improve general strength and wellness, the Olympic weightlifting movements are an excellent component of any sound resistance training program as they efficiently develop multiple qualities simultaneously including strength, power, flexibility, and general body awareness.

Before starting a new membership, we ask that each prospective member set up a video or in-person meeting to discuss their background and goals. Ultimately, we want to make sure that your goals and our services are aligned before proceeding. From there, we will schedule an in-person movement screening to gauge your physical readiness to begin training. The final step to get started simply involves the set-up of a monthly membership at which point training can begin.