Jim Schmitz

Jim Schmitz is the first coach I ever had in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting. He is a three time head coach of the US Olympic weightlifting team and the last person to coach a male athlete from the United States to an Olympic medal. He has vast knowledge and experience and will safely coach you to a long and healthy career in sport or life of fitness. He walks the walk as well as talks the talk, still competing in Olympic weightlifting at the age of 70 and has been for nearly 50 years. He has been doing intermittent fasting for at least 23 years, as long as I have known him, and has been a student and teacher of optimizing human performance for more than half a century. He has been a vehement crusader against doping in sport since the late 80s. Jim is a human being solid with integrity. Most people love him and only fatuous malcontent cretins do not respect him. I am grateful for his coaching and mentorship. I think you will be too.

The Sports Palace, or as is affectionately known by those who go there «the Dungeon» is the living, breathing heart of American Weightlifting. There is literally more history in just the weightlifting platform than in any ten gyms put together. The walls are like a museum, and on any given day you can walk in and see a veritable who’s who of weightlifting. From former National and World Champions, to Olympians to Jim himself, a three time US Olympic team coach.
Anyone remotely interested in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting should make a pilgrimage to the Dungeon, shake Jim’s hand, and thank him for all that he has done for the sport. More so, anyone interested in learning about or training in weightlifting should get coached by Jim. Jim also occasionally teaches coaching courses around the country, generally with James «Butch» Curry, an Olympian and former National Champion and another man to look up for weightlifting instruction. This place is a true gem, a temple to the sport and probably the best kept fitness secret in the entire Bay Area.
Go there. You owe it to yourself, even if it’s only to soak in the atmosphere and understand the giants on whose shoulders you stand on.

I love the hardcore feel of «The Dungeon» that Jim runs in the basement of Physique Magnifique. There aren’t any shiny machines down there; just barbells, bumper plates, and a lifting platform. There are also a few mirrors on the walls, but unlike most globo gyms, you won’t catch anyone admiring the reflections of themselves. We’re there for only one purpose: To get strong! Fortunately though, getting some nice, pretty muscles is a natural byproduct of that process.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that Jim only charges $ 50 a month for training. Not a bad price for someone who was the U.S. Olympic Weightlifting Coach for the 1980, 1988, and 1992 teams. Jim is truly a world-​class legend in the world of weightlifting.

Olympic lifting is amazingly effective at not only increasing your strength but also your explosiveness and range of motion. This is a sport that you will enjoy way past your prime. Unfortunately, it’s also technically difficult that you need a real Olympic lifting coach.
We’re really lucky that we have Jim Schmitz in the Bay Area. Whether you’re a lifter with Olympic aspirations or just want to get stronger there’s no better coach to guide you. I’m one of the newer lifters at his gym and I continue to be surprised at how well he programs workouts for national level lifters as well as people like me who just lift for fitness. Jim’s programs are not only progressive (and tough) but take age and recovery into account, a huge plus for lifters like me who can’t easily recover from mistakes that a 25 year old would shrug off.
That he’s one funny, gentle, and generous guy is an awesome plus. He’s got great stories to share.
Jim runs his dungeon at Physique Magnifique in South San Francisco. Come down and lift with us.