Tom C Strength Training

I have traveled from Santa Cruz to Oakland multiple times to train with Tom, and every time the distance, traffic, and time are all worth it. As a strength coach, Tom has a fantastic coaching eye, is very patient, and consistently helps me get out of my own head so I can focus on the training task at hand. So when I’m lifting, he is cuing and coaching with clear focus on that movement and the need at that moment. When I am not lifting, he provides all kinds of detailed instruction, information, and feedback.
He’s supportive, highly informed, a great communicator, funny, and just really cares about the well-​being of all of his lifters.

I met Tom less than a year ago at a Starting Strength seminar and it was at that seminar that Tom taught me to squat.
After having visited a handful of trainers to try to help me squat with full range of motion, Tom was the only one who could actually do the job.
He did it so well, I was able to take a movement (the squat) I had never successfully done before to a national powerlifting competition in less than one year. Not to mention he added about 100lbs to my deadlift and 25lbs to my bench.
This was no big deal for Tom — he travels all over the country and the world coaching barbell lifts. I was one of 3 athletes he handled at the competition. But, for me, it has been life and body changing.
Tom is an absolutely phenomenal coach and mentor. If you are looking for the finest quality barbell instruction in the nation, you are lucky to have Tom Campitelli as an option close by. Give him a call, he will most certainly exceed your expectations.

I started training with Tom about 1 ½ years ago and am thrilled with his coaching and my related personal progress. I have worked with a handful of personal trainers before on a very short-​term basis but never stuck with it due to lack of interpersonal connection and/​or my confidence in their true effectiveness, knowledge base, and a disturbing sense that they were just repeating exercise routines from a hokey health magazine. Tom undoubtedly breaks the mold.
I am stronger and more comfortable in my body than ever in my 30 years on this planet (and that means a hell of a lot given my tumultuous history with severe body image issues). He encourages a healthy lifestyle in general and his own success and competence inspire me to live out that manifesto on a daily basis.
I’ve worked out with several of his other trainees on a regular basis and they all appear to be as happy with his work and, by the way, they’re also super strong people!
His approach is just firm enough to keep you going when the going gets rough and he seems to know exactly when you need a gentler approach to stay motivated. I highly recommend Tom for effectively training both men and women and strongly encourage you to give him a shot! Oh and another important detail: his rates are reasonable and he is a very generous person in general. He wouldn’t hurt a fly and he is a kind, intelligent, and just plain fun person to be around.

I highly recommend Tom Campitelli as a strength and conditioning coach. He is a certified Starting Strength Coach (
), and I first interacted with him via the Starting Strength forum (
). He immediately impressed me with his knowledge and his ability to interact with all level of trainees — from advanced to rank beginners, which I was at that time.
I was happy to find out that I lived within a driving distance to Tom’s training facility and scheduled an in-​person consultation to review my form to make sure it adhered to the Starting Strength model. I’ve since been going to Tom’s group strength class and I can say with confidence that I would not have stuck with strength training if it weren’t for Tom’s coaching.
Tom continues to impress me with his ability to coach a wide variety of people — from young to masters, men and women, and also people with a variety of age– or health-​related limitations. Tom always knows when to push his trainees and when to say good-​naturedly: «Well, not today.» He’s positive, highly professional and does not hesitate to share his knowledge, whether online or in person.
I also recommend the Strength Meets that Tom puts on in Oakland twice a year. If you are an aspiring powerlifter or just want to test your strength in a controlled environment, these are fun and well run. Details are usually posted here: