Our son is being coached online by Kyle and we could not be more impressed. Personalized workout plans and detailed videos catered to our son's competitive powerlifting goals. Kyle is a pro and an excellent teacher, supporter, and mentor. We are thrilled to have found SoCal to safely, professionally, and personally train our son in the myriad of required approaches, strength building, and lifting techniques for USAPL. read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Competition squat - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

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Did my 3 onboarding training sessions with Tim. He was rad, super down to earth and non judgmental at all. Gave me great tweaks to improve my lifts and I signed up immediately upon finishing my last session with him. The place is great, the people seem nice and I'm excited to be joining read more

I cannot say enough good things about SoCal Powerlifting. I was looking for a gym but I've become a SoCal Powerlifting evangelist after only a month! I started looking for a gym that had dumbbells higher than 50lbs because I had outgrown my small association gym. I knew I didn't want a commercial gym after previous bad experiences, but the idea of a powerlifting gym was incredibly intimidating since I'd never touched a barbell in my life. After reading all of the great reviews I figured taking a tour couldn't hurt. John was our tour guide and did a great job explaining how their gym membership works. I ended up signing up that day because something about the vibe had me sold. To be honest, I had no intention of working with a coach and looking back now I realize how incredibly foolish that would have been. Jenna has been absolutely amazing. She really knows her stuff and is great at explaining everything and answering all of my noob questions. The gym itself has an abundance of equipment, you are never left waiting for a rack. Most importantly, all of the members are respectful of the equipment and make sure to rerack their weights. A huge plus for me is the fact that the gym is open 24 hours! Aside from the awesome gym set up, the real selling point are the people that work at SoCal Powerlifting and the fantastic community they foster with the members. Everyone is so genuinely kind, helpful, and supportive. Even though I am completely out of my depth with this powerlifting stuff, the other members have been so gracious. Come for the equipment and stay for the community! read more

I have had a great experience with SoCal Powerlifting! When I joined with them almost 6 months ago I was looking to increase my strength and correct my form. I have since benefited SO much from professional coaching. I only wish I would have sought it out sooner in my fitness journey! I have seen a consistent improvement in my strength and technique, and I don't experience pain when lifting anymore. read more

Love this gym! I started going here a few weeks ago to get coaching. I was previously having back pain while deadlifting, but not anymore! Gym is awesome and Tim is a great coach. Highly recommend coming here! read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Gym - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

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Was a Casual Gym-goer lookin for a new gym, stumbled upon this place and ended up heavily interested in their coaching programs to challenge myself and gain more confidence lifting. The coaches all seem great and coach John has been dope! Facility is clean and the community built around also seems great! read more

I've been training at SoCal Powerlifting since before the Covid-19 pandemic started. My girlfriend and I reached out to SCP because she had a powerlifting meet and bodybuilding competition coming up and we were looking for some more serious training facilities. We started at SoCal and they had everything we needed to help get Eve and myself to the next level. I am a retired MMA fighter and still fight in Jiu Jitsu. When the pandemic hit SoCal did an extremely fantastic job of keeping all members safe and providing a healthy place for all of us to continue training. When you enter, there is a welcoming area that has fresh merchandise you can purchase as well as energy drinks and protein shakes. I was a member of LA Fitness (as well as 24 Hour) before switching over and I can tell you the biggest issue is trying to find a squat rack at those places but SoCal has so many platforms and racks that not only will you get one but you can ensure that you keep 6 ft from others which is really important to me and the safety of the community. As an added layer of protection, we get to schedule our training times so there is only a few people in the gym at once and there is NEVER over crowding. I would recommend this gym to anyone who's ready to take their training to the next level and find a place where everyone is super welcoming and the coaches are top notch. Since training here, Eve has place 2nd in her Power Lifting Meet and achieved elite level lifting scores. I have won every Jiu Jitsu match I have fought in, including IBJJF titles, NAGA Expert Level NoGi Championships and Jiu Jitsu World League titles. read more

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I came into SoCal looking for a place to train powerlifting by myself after finding work in Irvine. Kyle, Johnny, Tim and Zack were all super welcoming and understanding with my situation with joining. They're all incredibly knowledgeable about powerlifting as well as incredibly friendly and competent gym owners. The gym is well kept, organized and focused for lifting and there's no other place I'd recommend to lift out of in Irvine! read more

- Fantastic equipment, both in selection and quality. - Staff are friendly and knowledgeable - Can't beat 24hr access - Clean space, especially considering its a powerlifting gym and chalk is everywhere read more

Clean facility...very professional...if you are looking for a true POWERLIFTING GYM you have to check them out. Awesome equipment and great members. read more

Awesome gym, community, and coaching staff! With an abundance of combo/squat racks there is never an instance where you'll be sitting idly like at a commercial gym. Which goes to my next point where even if everything is taken the community at SCPL is super nice and willing to work in so no time is wasted. Been working with Sebastian for 3 months now and I really feel the progress coming along with my strength gains. Was extremely nervous at first joining because of imposter syndrome and new things but SCPL has definitely helped boost my confidence mentally and physically. read more

Had the opportunity to view the gym. It's a nice facility with plenty of equipment for your powerlifting needs. With that said, the "sales" experience here to sign up was absolutely insane. Was pestered the entire time to sign up from the initial phone call and through the entire in person visit. The sales experience made me consider the risk for any future business transaction and I determined it was not worth the trouble especially for the cost of a monthly gym membership (with limited hours if you're doing gym access only) read more

Been to the gym a couple times now and it has been a great change of pace compared to my prior gym. It has all of the equipment you would possibly need for powerlifting and you rarely have to wait for an open rack. Love the environment and the coaching they provide. I've barely started my program at this gym and my coach, John, has definitely helped pinpoint areas to improve. Highly recommend this gym to anyone who's even remotely interested in powerlifting. read more

I never ever got into this gym all they wanted was my money I got a injury they wanted roof from my dr that's a load of crap save your money this gym is a ripoff read more

Great gym for all levels of experience. The gym is very clean and well equipped; If you are someone who hates how people in commercial gyms just leave their weights/dumbbells lying around without ever returning/re-racking weights back to where they belong, then you'll love it here lol. Because this truly feels like a community, every one looks out for one another and cleans up after themselves. Highly recommend if you are looking to compete and want to take your training to the next level with a coach who is experienced and very responsive to your questions or concerns. read more

I've been training here for the last 6 months as an open gym member, and I love it so far. The experience is night and day compared to training at a commercial gym. This gym is primarily focused on coached athletes competing in powerlifting, so the open gym membership has one drawback - limited hours after 8pm on weekdays. However, the benefits greatly outweigh that - 24/7 access, high-end equipment (power bars, calibrated plates, SSB bars), tons of combo racks so you never have to wait, friendly and supportive members that re-rack their weights and keep the gym clean and safe, fewer crowds, and I can go on. As a powerlifting gym, it is for barbell and free-weight enthusiasts only. If you're into bodybuilding, you'll have a limited selection of fancy cables and machines, but you will have access to everything you need and more to be successful in powerlifting. read more

Amazing facility. Really good vibes, well organized, and densely packed with incredible equipment from big brands like Rogue, Rep, and Arsenal. Got a day pass and submitted info for a membership as soon as my workout was over. read more

I only came here for a brief amount of time since everything was shut down due to Covid but I felt like I learned so much. Everyone there was so nice and helpful. Equipments were immaculate. I appreciated that they are always making changes to improve the gym. Yes super pricey but worth it if you can afford it. Cool that it's 24/7 you can access and open door through your phone! I don't know if it's still the same but hours were blocked off during the time I went and they gave people with personal trainers prime time access (4-8pm) which was slightly inconvenient but I made it work at the time. Also their merch are so cute, I'm still wearing my SoCal powerlifting shirts around all the time lol. read more

If you're on the fence about joining, join. I was looking for a gym to get myself moving again after injuring myself from the Olympic Lifts and there is not one ounce of regret. Had a tour with John, saw the community and I immediately knew I needed to join. Since joining I've been working with Mike to get myself reacclimated to lifting and for the first time in a long time, I'm lifting pain free. Big shout out to Mike for giving me the confidence to get back under the barbell. read more

This place is great! Friendly staff, lots of equipment and great coaching! Coaches know their stuff. This place has about 16 racks that can be used. All 16 can be used for bench or deadlifts while roughly 10 or more can be used for squat as well. Have a great range of dumbbells from 10-150lb roughly with a couple machines for pulldowns, dips, leg presses and more! read more

SoCal Powerlifting - Main Floor - Gyms Near Me - Irvine, California

I was looking for a gym that would strengthen my lifts..I didn't know entirely what that meant until I was matched with Alyssa here at Socal powerlifting. With Alyssa as my coach, I was able to navigate my way through the world of powerlifting/weightlifting efficiently. This place has everything you could ever need to embark on your journey as a lifter or a superhero in the making! Pros: -You will never have to wait for a squat rack again -If you're confused on what ur doing (started with not knowing what KG meant), this environment is a completely safe space to ask questions -As a girl, I heavily struggled with creeps at public gyms. Here, I've never encountered such thing. Everybody's cool and has no other intention but to improve themselves. -You will have access to a program curated specifically for your fitness/aesthetic goals -I've never had issues with parking Cons: -None! read more

Started looking for a new gym because my previous one was constantly overcrowded, and started coming to SoCal with a couple friends who already had memberships. Couldn't be happier with the choice! It'a usually not too busy and it's a friendly environment--even for people with no powerlifting experience. read more

I recently made the decision to step up my training environment and knew it was time to explore new gyms. SoCal powerlifting was at the top of my list. I had full intention of touring multiple gyms in the OC before committing, but never quite made it lol. What can I say? When you know, you know. SoCal has everything you need and then some. Calibrated plates, various types of bars, multiple combo/power racks, platforms, etc. There is also a separate area with dumbbells and machines so you don't skimp on your accessories Lastly, the vibe is everything. I've enjoyed meeting people and watching everyone support each other's lifts. I love seeing people aggressively cheer for someone and then immediately switch back into work mode and crush their own lifts! Whether you opt for an in house coach or not, the staff is extremely helpful and attentive to everyone. Shoutout to Jon for facilitating my onboarding Extremely quick and smooth process. Can't express enough how happy I am with my decision. read more

I am about 3 weeks into my program after signing up and I can say that I am having an amazing time so far. John has been great at giving advice and programming the sessions to where my skill levels are at currently. If I ever have questions or need adjustments he's there with an answer. Definitely excited for all the growth and gains to be had read more

About a year ago, I was doing a little bit of everything as I didn't know what sport to commit to yet. Mostly strongman, dab of Mas, a smidge of armlifting, and occasional powerlifting. Well my friend would not shut up about how my body type is perfect for powerlifting (she's wrong btw, my bench is kinda poverty) so She would often tell me to come along to Socal Powerlifting. Finally got here, Alex checked me in and was pretty friendly. Made sure to let me know to go to him if I have any Qs. My first impression was holy sht, there's so many calibrated plates and combo racks. The equipment here is amazing and top notch; for us deadlift specialists, they have plenty of Texas DL bars and look absolutely photogenic when the slack is pulled just right. I've only had positive interactions with the staff here and even attended some of their seminars. The coaches at Socal Powerlifting practice and breath powerlifting; i've always walked out of the facility learning something new. Shout outs to Juan Sanchez for the feet down set up on bench. Socal Powerlifting is the gym that made me realize powerlifting is super fun and the community is supportive through the good and bad days. But you wanna know what can take a chill pill? The rising popularity of bulgarian split squats Anyways, come here and enjoy this amazing powerlifting facility. read more

I just joined a couple months ago and I am so glad I did! I am very new to lifting and have been very hesitant about starting on my own, so I signed up for training. I got paired with a really great coach, the facilities are well-maintained, and the other people are amazing. I'm already starting to see progress and I can't wait to keep going! read more

I love this gym!! Unfortunately I had to move and the commute was too far otherwise I would have stayed. I love the community within this gym and how the trainers are so helpful and readily available. I especially loved that it's open 24 hours and we can record our workouts to send to our trainers. If you're in the area I would definitely recommend checking this gym out first before any other! :) read more

Started recently with their online coaching and been loving everything about it, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Working with Coach Tim has been so fun and made so much progress in such a short time. Looking forward to the future with these guys, 10/10 recommend to anyone wanting to get into powerlifting. read more

SoCal Powerlifting is an anomaly among gyms. Collegiate level strength coaching, top-notch equipment, and a community feel unlike any I've had across any industry/hobby. I joined in late 2018 after years of training on my own with zero direction/expertise. After joining SoCal, my strength, knowledge, and sense of the sport has grown exponentially. At SoCal, you're surrounded by literally all levels of skill...from paid professionals to hobbyists under a barbell for the first time. Staff and crew are as welcoming and accommodating as they are knowledgeable and well-intentioned. It is truly my home away from home. Anyone who is looking for a niche community to join and approach exercise in a different way than "do enough cardio to look pretty" should call on the fine folks here...strength will come and you may just gain a group of unforgettable friends along the way. read more

Love this place just started training here and I really love the care my trainer is taking. He is super knowledgeable and is definitely going to help me make progress safely. read more

What can I say about this place. It's an overall great gym and place to be. I got sick and tired of waiting for squat racks, or benches at other gyms. My workouts with waiting at other gyms usually take like 1.5 hours or more.. But over here, around 45 mins because I never have to wait for anything. So thats a big plus! They have an abundance of squat racks and benches. I originally joined because I wanted to learn some better techniques and variations on my bench, deadlift and squat. I was paired with coach Alex Bustamante. He's a great coach, he really pays attention to detail and gave me small adjustments and critiques on my 3 lifts to help correct my form. I have got to say that I have seen improvement in my overall performance in these lifts in the short time that i have been training here! He helps to push me and throws variations on my workouts to keep me on my toes. I am not planning on competing in any competitions but he still takes me seriously regardless! Another big plus is that they are 24 hours. SO I can get my lift in at odd hours of the night! read more

I work with John via online coaching. His attention to detail, personalization, and overall ability to get the best out of you is unmatched! And distance is no obstacle either. He is highly responsive and does a great job of explaining and communicating through the app he uses. Highly recommend John to anyone looking to hire an online coach. read more

After literally outgrowing LA Fitness. as I got tired of waiting for the squat racks, few people working hard, and the heaviest Dumbells available 100 poundwra feeling light I needed a new challenge so I joined So Cal Powerlifting and so glad I did. I go in the mornings and there are plenty of racks always available. Gym is not overcrowded. and everyone there takes their training serious. They have dumbbells they go way last 100 lbs. and I love the old school equipment and hard core dungeon like garage gym atmosphere I hired a coach named John who gives me daily virtual online feedback ion my video recorded technique and I meet him live once a month for personal training. So if your looking to take your training to the next level th is the place. read more

I have always wanted to try powerlifting but never felt comfortable. That all changed at SoCal Powerlifting. From our very first communication over Instagram I knew that these people and this place was different. It didn't take long for me to become a member and I feel very comfortable at SoCal Powerlifting. This gym is the real deal. They have every piece of equipment you need and plenty of racks so you don't have to wait to lift. Everyone is extremely nice and super welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive like a team or a family, and the staff is awesome. My coach Alex is amazing. He's knowledgeable and helpful but challenging and demanding as well. I feel like he has my best interests at heart and wants the best for me. When you're learning a new skill, that is an important feeling. The whole staff is awesome and the owner Zack is a top-notch individual. I'm just starting out but I am looking forward to getting stronger and stronger. I'm even looking at doing my first competition in the Fall. If you're looking for a place to train, look no further than SoCal Powerlifting. read more

I was hesitant at first when wanting to join a power lifting gym. I had been training at 24 and thought I was making good progress. I gave it a shot and started to see a difference instantly . From my first assessment my coach John was listening to what my goals are and what I want to achieve . The form that you learn and the constant feedback on your workouts is super beneficial. Coach John is always available when I have questions and is giving me great feedback to get stronger. Everyone at the gym is super welcoming and nice. It's definitely a great community that I am glad I joined. I've made more progress in getting stronger in one month than I did by myself previously. If you are looking for an amazing powerlifting gym definitely give SoCal Powerlifting a look. read more

Just completed my 3 month membership at So Cal Powerlifting. PROS: - Equipment is taken care of and there's never a shortage of bars or weights. They did upgrade their bikes and added a bunch of new items in their bodybuilding area. - People are friendly - they have a check in system which keeps the number of people in the building at a limited capacity CONS: -coaching didn't really seem personalized, it felt more like cookie cutter templates were applied and there wasn't really much of a check in besides the scheduled classes. The basic plan gives you 1 30 minute session with a coach once a month. I would have liked more engagement from the coach i was assigned, especially for the hefty monthly rate they charge. - No one really wears a mask & Covid protocols aren't enforced besides the signs that mention to wipe down your equipment. read more

Been going to SoCal Powerlifting for about 2 months now. And everything is awesome about this place! I absolutely love the energy and training from this place! My coach, Sebastian is a beast and very smart person when it comes to training and weight lifting. read more

10/10 recommend SoCal Powerlifting if you want to get WAY stronger. I started my powerlifting journey with SoCal Powerlifting in early July of 2024 as a 60kg lifter working with Coach Mike. I competed in Olympic Weightlifting for 6-years & wanted to switch to powerlifting to just focus on getting stronger. Coach Mike has been amazing at helping me get WAY stronger, I'm honestly surprising myself. He's also been so patient and helpful in working with me to adjust my technique from Oly lifting to Powerlifting. All my 1:1 sessions with him have been so thorough and helped immensely with technique getting dialed in & things clicking in my brain. Beyond that, Coach Mike really goes above & beyond. If I'm ever there in the gym when he is he always comes by to say hi, is available for a spot, and will provide some extra helpful feedback. He also has gone out of his way to connect with me on a personal level which I appreciate & always feel like that makes for a great coaching / athlete relationship. He reminds me to take care of myself & be kind to myself which I need to hear sometimes. He also hosts office hours (once a month I think) for 2 hours late Saturday mornings. Which is a great opportunity to get more direct support from him & make friend with his other athletes. Lastly, I'm able to submit videos of all my lifts through their training app & he always provides prompt feedback. I'm writing this mid September & am already surpassing some of my 6-month goals after just a couple months with them. One goal I already surpassed is I really wanted to hit a 200lb back squat, last week I hit 92.5kg/203.5lbs for 2 reps! It was easier than I thought it would be too. I'm very excited to see what my one rep max will be. Last week I also hit 110kg/242lbs for 2 reps on deadlift, this was another BIG PR for me & moved much easier than I thought it would. I set a 6-month goal of a 250lb deadlift and I have a feeling I'm going to hit that soon. I haven't attempted any PR's in bench yet, but my technique has been getting dialed in & I've been feeling much stronger. Overall I'm super proud of myself & impressed with SoCal Powerlifting for helping me get so strong. In weightlifting I was hitting a plateau where I was barely getting stronger, so to get this much stronger so fast is an incredible feeling & a testament to how good their coaching is. Besides the coaching with Mike being amazing, I also really love the gym. They have great equipment & they keep it clean. Additionally it's a fun environment to be around a bunch of other people lifting heavy, very inspiring! I've also had many positive interactions with the rest of the team at SoCal Powerlifting. They had a social hangout just this past weekend where we all got to lift, eat tacos and hang. It was fun getting to meet more people & they definitely have a good community and vibe going on. The owner, Zack, is so friendly & helpful. Coach Tim has also been very kind & helpful. I went to college with Coach Kyle at CSUF & it made me so happy to see a familiar face in the gym. He's always so nice & a pleasure to talk to. I appreciate Coach John sending check in messages to see how I'm liking everything. You can tell they truly care about you as an athlete. Lastly, unfortunately, I have to end my 6-month contract with them early as I got an exciting new job opportunity & am moving out of the country. Coach Alex has been super helpful during this process. I appreciate that they follow their policies stated in their contract & they've made this transition very smooth and easy for me. I will definitely miss lifting here & know if I ever come back I'll always have a gym home in SoCal. I will definitely make sure to update this review with my final PR's with them before I leave. So if you're thinking about joining SoCal Powerlifting whether you want to compete or you just want to get stronger, take this as your sign to go for it! Getting stronger is one of the most empowering things you can do for yourself, your confidence, and quality of life. You'll be in excellent hands here. read more

I've only been training at SoCal Powerlifting for a month now and I've enjoyed aspect of it. The staffs and members are always friendly and helpful. I was very intimidated to sign up for a membership at first because I took 6 months off from working out due to the lockdown restrictions. I first talked to Tim who was extremely nice and helpful. He answered all of my questions over the phone and we eventually met in person for a tour of the gym. When I was first onsite, I immediately noticed how nice the equipment and clean the place was I have been working with coach Kimmy Johnson. She's an experienced powerlifter with many awards to her name and a super sweet person to be around. Coach Kimmy was understanding of my busy schedule and we talked through how I would be able to incorporate this life style into my work schedule, which is awesome. After working 60-70 hours a week, I don't really want to think about what I have to do at the gym to accomplish my fitness goals. I know I can always count on my coach and the program she customized for me to help me achieve my goals. I recommend SoCal powerlifting for both beginners and experienced lifters if you want to get stronger and being surrounded by a supportive community. This gym is full of experienced lifters but do not let that stop you for from signing up. Being around experienced lifters is actually an amazing thing. There were situations when I didn't know how to use an equipment or needed help with a lift, I always felt comfortable asking for help from other members because of how friendly everyone is. I tried 24 hour fitness and LA fitness in the past and I can assure you the experience at SoCal Powerlifting would be much better. read more

As someone who has been lifting for a while, it was time for me to try and start powerlifting. I thought I already knew how to squat, bench, and deadlift correctly, but after 3 1-hour sessions with Sebastian, I learned so many new techniques I can implement to increase my lifts and make them more efficient! The coaching isn't the only great thing about this gym but also the equipment. They don't use the standard equipment that you would find at your local commercial gym but they have top-of-the-line equipment that makes a huge difference in your training. After 3 short training sessions, I was already hooked on this gym and signed up right on the spot. Experienced lifter or not, I would recommend this gym to anyone. read more