Speed Power Strength Gym

Tl;dr - SPS gym is THE best gym in the country with the best equipment, coaching staff, atmosphere, and most importantly, the most welcoming for anyone at any level to train.

Long Story
I have been doing Weight training for a couple of years now, and I got to know about SPS with my daughter, who is doing Olympic weightlifting and got introduced to the gym. Since then, I have had all the good things about this gym.

Atmosphere
You can see veteran Weightlifters to just started to learn about weightlifting newcomers, youth weightlifters, powerlifters, cross-training members, national record holders, Olympic medallions, and best-in-the-class coaches in this facility. I have been to many gyms in my life, and I have never gone to a more welcoming gym, both in terms of the coaching staff and the members, than SPS. This gym will make you comfortable anywhere you are on the journey, and you can be yourself.

Coaching Staff
The head coach Mike Jenkins (a.k.a. Big Mike) is one of the most humble and caring individuals I’ve ever met. He will go to amazing lengths to make sure you get what you want and even more.
Coach Sean, Coach Bianca, Coach Jay, Coach Ray and Coach Brandon are also one of the best you can find. They will make sure to help you with anything you want and make you comfortable. Coach Brandon taught me the fundamentals of Weightlifting and to this date those concepts have been really helpful for me.

Equipment
SPS is an Eleiko certified training facility. Everything you see there across 12(?) platforms are all world-class barbells, plates, platforms, squat stands, jerk blocks, etc. SPS also has one of the best competition Weightlifting platforms in the country. For cross training, SPS has all Rogue and top of the line equipment.

Lift Us
Big Mike also started the movement to help youth get into Olympic weightlifting through the Lift Us program and had created many national champions in both girls and boys groups between the ages of 10 and 17. This program has enabled so many young kids to channel their energy and build a long-lasting life passion. My daughter has been training with Lift Us for a couple of years now, and this was a fantastic experience. Coach Bianca is amazing with the youth athletes and has helped these young kids, both girls, and boys, to qualify for the nationals and create champions. All the coaches, coach Jay, coach Sean, and coach Brandon are amazing at coaching the kids.

Competitions
No one, I mean no one, will do local meets better than SPS. SPS started “Right of Passage” to help first-time weightlifters showcase their skills. Right of passage introduced and built confidence for many weightlifters over the years. SPS also organizes other local meets (like the PWA championships); no one is so organized, well equipped, or well-run as how SPS does it.

Overall, SPS is a fantastic facility also located in an amazing place. But, most importantly, what matters is the people and the community I interact with. And, SPS made me and my kids feel welcomed. If you are considering doing weight-training, cross-training, or even have young kids wanting to get into Weightlifting, try out SPS. Big Mike and the coaching staff will be there to help you.

Awesome gym for all things weightlifting related. I’ve been a member for a few years now ever since discovering their Olympic Weightlifting 101 class as a beginner, and I always have a great time when I’m here. This gym has the best equipment hands down (Eleiko all day everyday) - no expense has been spared and everything is always clean and well kept. Whether you are an Olympic style weightlifter, powerlifter, or Crossfitter, or a beginner to strength training, this place has something for you. Most importantly, the coaches all clearly have a wealth of real experience and deep knowledge - Brandon, Sean, Bianca, and Mike are all great people, passionate, and know what they are talking about. You can’t go wrong by training here. My muscles are too big now

I love this gym!! Huge facility with top quality equipment. 16 Weightlifting platforms and 6 squat/bench stands for powerlifting. Large turf area with a big rig. Massage room in the back too. They always bump the best jams. Everyone is so cool there. I do the strength metcon clauses with Sean (metSean) 🤪🤪

they have water all the time. It’s actually so delicious. Two showers and one mega shower. And a massage room. Clean towels. They have rowers and assault bikes and sleds and boxes and weights and med balls and eleiko everything.

Highly recommend this gym if you are in the area and need to drop in or if you are looking for a new home gym in the area. They also have amazing youth programs.

Do you want to get stronger, faster, and more powerful? Train using premium equipment? Coached by experienced and certified staff? Learn the basics of fitness and movement? Interested in powerlifting? Interested in Olympic weightlifting? Push sleds? Row? Bike? Do all the things to get jacked and tan? SPS got your back.

After a handful of drop in sessions, I became a full fledged member in 2019. As a competitive powerlifter, I had three competitions to focus on that year. First, The A7 Raw Challenge at the Arnold in Columbus, Ohio. Next, The World Classic Championship at the IPF in Helsingborg, Sweden. Finally, Raw Nationals at USAPL in Lombard, IL. I knew I needed to train many days and long hours throughout the year. SPS exceeded my expectations. They provided everything I needed to prepare and excel at my sport. I stood on the podium at every single meet that year. My very last meet, I finished in first place, standing at the top of the podium, winning my division at Raw Nationals and qualifying for the 2020 IPF World Classic Championship in Sun City, South Africa.

Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, IPF cancelled the Championship. I was devastated. The gym also had to temporarily close following mandatory COVID restrictions. Missing the competition was a loss. But what I missed even more was SPS. I missed training. I missed walking in and people calling out your name. I missed the camaraderie. The witty banter. People cheering for each other. Friendly competition. The diverse music choices. The BBQs, potlucks, food truck, and parties. The days where you open the huge roll up door, let the sun in, get your work out AND your tan on. You don’t know what you had until it’s gone.

Lucky the gym has since reopened and SPS is still the best place to be. And guess what? You CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Go to SPS and find out. I’m living proof! After 6 Nationals, 3 Arnolds, 4 IPF World Championships, and countless local meets…I decided to retire from competitive powerlifting and learn Olympic Weightlifting. Guess what? SPS got you!

I’ve been attending the Adult Weightlifting Class with Brandon Chien since the gym reopened. Coach Brandon has been instrumental in helping me transition from years of powerlifting (muscle memory! ) to Olympic weightlifting barbell basics. I was finally able to meet my first goal of snatching 46 kg (101 lbs) with good form and technique. I know that may not seem like much weight for some, but for me, it was an important milestone. Baby steps…it’s just the beginning. Next goal…snatch body weight!

So if you’re curious, come give SPS a visit. Stop by and meet the people. Take a tour. Do a drop in. Come check out the upcoming Rite of Passage Weightlifting competition on March 25th; the only competition designed for first time lifters! You can see for yourself, SPS got your back!

If you're looking for a place that will help you feel a part of a community whether you're a beginner or an expert competitor, this is the place. The staff have impeccable credentials and personalities to match. This is one of the most caring fitness communities I have known because the caring starts with the mission of the gym. It's fantastic seeing people of all ages and all levels getting the same attention. Kudos to everyone that makes this THE place to focus your fitness journey

This is the best gym I've ever been to! Hence probably why I've been coming here for years. They got the best equipment. The community is pretty great! The staff are quite handsome! They got it ALL!

Best gym in the East Bay. All the trainers are great and emphasize a personalized approach. Before working with my trainer Sean, I was a bit intimated by the weight room. With proper technique and more control of my body, lifting at the gym is now one of my favorite hobbies.

I like this gym, there is different types of equipment that you don't see in usual commercial gyms (24 hr, city sports, planet fitness) that I believe we need more of in other gyms. The employees there are welcoming, you can feel the passion for fitness by seeing how hard they workout, and their enthusiasm as they coach other members.

DON'T THINK - SIGN UP & SHOW UP!! Best free weight gym in the Bay Area

SPS offers the best Bay Area gym experience for olympic & powerlifting & mobility training, plus phenomenal coaching and an ego-free and welcoming environment fit for seasoned lifters and total newbies!

And the space has every possible setup & accessory you could need for your free or bodyweight endeavors, without the crowds that you'd see at another gym like the Y.

Big Mike - the owner and founder - is a wonderful human who makes everything run smoothly & has a wealth of lifting knowledge. Sean - MetCon class leader & lifting guru - is hilarious and will kick your butt with a smile on your face. Brandon - oly class leader & mobility guru - runs awesome twice-weekly oly sessions that work for folks who have never touched a barbell all the way up to competitive lifters. Every other coach I've interacted with has been similarly wise, generous with their time, and kind af.

$250/mth is nothing for the incredible value I get out of my membership and sessions at SPS, and I hope the organization lives on forever!! None of the ego & attitude you'd see at places like Cal Strength, with all of the same resources.

I brought my children to this gym to take the youth weight lifting class. Amazing coaches, amazing facility. As a parent I appreciate having a safe place for my children to learn. My daughter did her first ever Olympic weightlifting meet at the Rite of Passage when she was 13 years old. The biggest take away is giving daughter confidence that helps her outside of them gym. Thank you SPS coaches!

You cannot find a better gym with better people than SPS. Owner Mike Jenkins is not only a former weightlifter but an amazing student that focuses on care for his athletes, ethical and superior standards and is just simply put, good people. The gym is state of the art and meticulously cared for… but make sure to clean up after yourself or you will never live it down. Go to this gym and tell Mike that Sandra sent you.

I'm not one to usually leave a review but for SPS, I had to. Every coach I've worked with is fantastic and they truly care about your individual workout goals and progress.

And while I'm not a regular/monthly member, every time I drop in for a workout, I feel welcomed into their community.

This also has to be one of the nicest gyms I've ever been to. Equipment is competition level throughout.

I have been training with Bianca for the last several years (including through 2 pregnancies) and cannot recommend her and the SPS gym highly enough! One of my pregnancies resulted in a major surgery and Bianca helped me regain strength and overcome pain to the point where I feel stronger than I ever have before. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in women’s health and pre/postpartum training and is extremely focused on form and targeted strategies customized to your needs. Not only that, she is a wonderful person and so much fun to spend time with — I always look forward to our sessions. As a former athlete, I’ve worked with a number of trainers over many years and hands down Bianca is the best there is.

Work with Bianca! She’s smart, strong, intuitive, and passionate about helping pre and postpartum bodies be their strongest. I started training with her during my first trimester when I realized my normal weightlifting workouts would need adjustments. She’s helped me through my pregnancy and for the past 1.5 years since giving birth.

I’ve worked with many trainers and Bianca is exceptional - she will hone in on the tiniest changes in body position that can completely change the movement and muscle engagement. She debugs my pain, explains why we do any exercise we do, and can adapt our workouts seemingly endlessly if I feel any discomfort. She always asks about the whole of me- how I sleep and eat and feel, in addition to how my body is doing. I feel healthier, stronger, and more confident through working with her.

My experience at Speed Power & Strength has been amazing for 6+ years. All the coaches spend a lot of time with their athletes and the community is like no other. I love attending this gym and I highly recommend especially for youth athletes interested in Strength Training.

A great gym to get started, be consistent and keep making high level improvements.
They have put together programs for youth and beginning students all the way up to Olympic level athletes. Expect a welcoming and supportive environment that begins with the coaching staff. The staff are all a disciplined and knowledgable group that will help you, and push you to achieve your goals if that's what you need.
I'm grateful for all of their assistance with a special thank you to Juliet and her programing for keeping me engaged at 7am every week for the last year. It's helped me be consistent and continue to improve.
SPS is a great gym that reflects the best parts of our community.

Bianca is AMAZING! I’ve been training with her for several years because of her kindness and expertise. I initially started working with her because she’s a pre/postnatal specialist, but continued seeing her because of her mobility and general fitness knowledge. Not only is Bianca the best, but everyone at the gym has been kind and welcoming.

I started seeing Bianca 4 months after giving birth via C-section. I had excruciating back pain and hip pain throughout my pregnancy that continued postpartum. I sought help from pelvic floor physical therapists, bodywork professionals, acupuncturists, chiropractors, spine doctors, and pain medicine and was never able to get any relief from the pain. It wasn't until I started working with Bianca that my pain lessened. With Bianca’s guidance and knowledge, I was able to regain strength in a safe environment. Bianca knew exactly which methods to implement to target and relieve my pain while building strength and teaching me the proper ways to use my body. I’ve continued to see Bianca weekly for the past 10 months and my body feels great. She always knows the best strategy to alleviate my current ailment and guide me through workouts that are tailored to my body. I always leave our sessions feeling so much better!

Been here for a year and a half and everything great! Everybody is nice and lots of positive vibes. Gotten a lot stronger in just the first 2 months, now even stronger than I’ve ever been.

I recently competed at SPS Rite of Passage this past weekend. The meet was run smoothly, the environment was energetic, and the staff was very welcoming and professional. This is a top-notch and clean weightlifting facility full of the best and well-maintained Eleiko equipment—platforms, barbells, plates. I’ll definitely come back here again. Thank you, SPS!