Learn to lift properly, with a coach on every rep.Lift it properly
Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting with British Weightlifting qualified coaches. Squat, press and deadlift, taught from the ground up.
This is for you if
- You want to get strong, safely, and have never been shown how
- You lift already and want technique coaching, not a room of equipment
- You're curious about weightlifting or powerlifting and don't know where to start
What you get
- Level 2 British Weightlifting and powerlifting coaches
- Eight Olympic platforms, racks and competition bars
- The free 12-week strength programme, written by Tony, included for every member
An hour, start to finish
Mobility
Hips, ankles and shoulders. Five minutes that make the lifts easier.
Technique
One lift, broken into pieces, with an empty bar or a PVC pipe first.
Working sets
Your weight, your reps. The coach adjusts them for you.
Accessory work
The small stuff that fixes the big lifts. Then log it.
When: Monday weightlifting technique, Friday powerlifting and Strength Lab. Open gym every weekday morning, 4 to 5pm and Sunday 9 to 11am for your own programme. Saturday Comp Club for members who want to compete. Full timetable
Tony
Tony runs TF Powerlifting and writes the 12-week programme. Patient with first-timers, precise with lifters.
What the words mean
- Snatch and clean and jerk
- The two Olympic lifts. Taught from the floor up over weeks, not in one session.
- Squat, bench, deadlift
- The three powerlifts. Most people start here.
- PB
- Personal best. The app keeps them for you.
What people ask us
Where can I learn to powerlift in Gateshead?
At the.fitness.project on Team Valley. Tony Fairley, a certified Level 2 powerlifting coach, runs the Friday powerlifting and Strength Lab sessions and writes the free 12-week powerlifting programme for members. You learn the squat, bench press and deadlift from an empty bar, with a coach watching every rep.
Do you coach Olympic weightlifting?
Yes. The gym is an affiliated British Weightlifting club, and the snatch and the clean and jerk are taught in the Monday weightlifting sessions. Members have gone on to compete, including a gold medal at the British Weightlifting Championships.
I’ve never lifted. Is it safe for a beginner?
Yes, when it is coached. You start with an empty bar or no bar at all, and the weight only goes up once the movement is right. Coaches watch every set in class, and they plan around any injury you tell them about.
Do I need my own belt or lifting shoes?
No. The gym has the barbells, plates, racks and platforms you need, and flat trainers are fine to start in. If you get into lifting, the coaches will tell you when a belt or lifting shoes are worth buying, and not before.
Do members compete in powerlifting?
Some do, and nobody has to. Members have competed for Team GB at the ABPU European Championships, won medals at the same meet, and set a 270kg deadlift gym record. If you want a goal, the coaches will help you pick a first competition.
Try it free for a month
Register in a minute. One membership covers every way to train.