Coach Blanco
It took Blanco 2 years to lose 120 pounds—and though the outcome felt great, it was the process that changed his life. Since then, Blanco devoted himself to developing strong humans of all ages, shapes and sizes, including top performing Olympic Weightlifters on National and World level platforms.
As Head Coach of Brooklyn Barbell Club for the past 7 years, Blanco built one of the highest performing, most sought after USA Weightlifting destinations. For Blanco, weightlifting is not just a competitive sport—it provides a foundational practice for anyone who wants to be stronger in body and mind.
︎ @coachblanco
Coach Rob
Coach Rob grew up punk. He’s always been an outsider on purpose—a youth athlete that never went “jock.” Making people strong was another way to push back on a culture that dishes out bullshit about food and bodies and strength. Training is a way to be different, and make a difference.
A forever-student of human movement, Rob honed his holistic view of strength over 10 years training in multiple disciplines. For Rob, training at the gym is training for how we live our life. He’s all about the path to mastery as coach, student, partner, friend and father. All with just the right amount of attitude.
︎ @pmamovement
Coach Dai
Born and raised in Argentina, I'm a proud cat mom and a dedicated personal trainer. My athletic journey has been defined by my passion for roller derby, a sport that has allowed me to challenge boundaries and embrace fearlessness. From the derby track to the training floor, I've honed my skills and knowledge over a decade of diverse training experiences.
In my philosophy, surrounding oneself with individuals who genuinely want to see you succeed is paramount. I believe in a judgment-free environment, where every individual is empowered to create a lifestyle that nurtures their well-being. Through my coaching, I aim to instill this mindset and help others forge their path to a stronger, more empowered self. Together, let's embark on a journey of growth, strength, and transformation.
︎ @daisismael
Coach Joe S
Joe Schwalb is a weightlifter, personal trainer, and strength coach based in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Joe fell in love with the Barbell Back Squat 10 years ago and never looked back.
He has been competing in Weightlifting for Brooklyn Training Hall for two years. Since 2019, Joe has trained clients of all sorts— from youth athletes to octogenarians training to keep up with their grandkids. He believes everyone ought to discover that strength training is fun.
︎ @joeschwalb
Coach Julia
Julia is a lifelong athlete with over 15 years of coaching experience. A childhood gymnast and dancer turner OCR racer turned bodybuilder, turned nationally competitive weightlifter, she's trained for it all and bounced back from countless injuries, setbacks, and disappointments.
She's worked with athletes of all ages (from youth to masters) to help them reach peak performance through Olympic weightlifting and sport-specific strength & conditioning. She takes a holistic approach to athlete development and prioritizes education and mental skills development so that every athlete moves easier, gets stronger, feels better and becomes more confident.
︎ @jfalamas