San Jose Barbell

SJBB has helped me achieve a level of fitness I never thought possible. I could not do a single chin-​up, push-​up or even sit-​up when I walked through their doors, four weeks after having my third baby. I could not run without feeling winded and causing my knees to swell.
The owners and coaches are knowledgeable and encouraging. They tailored movements to my specific needs and capabilities as a new mother. Not once was I made to feel embarrassed or ashamed of my limitations. Under their watchful guidance, I slowly made progress and they celebrated with me every step of the way. These days, I can sprint, do pull-​ups & push-​ups, and safely lift more weight than I ever thought possible. My resting heart rate has dropped from 92 to 68, and my body fat has dropped from 35% to 20%, I lost all the baby weight and then some.
Some might argue that could happen anywhere, but SJBB provides so much more than classes and weights. They create a community. When you walk in their doors, you are genuinely cared for. The owners’ positivity is contagious and fosters a great sense of camaraderie among the members. They create an environment where people are excited to get healthier and stronger, and cheer each other on along the way. They even welcome kids; mine have been known to tag along and do burpees and squats from the sidelines.
If you want to get stronger, improve your cardiovascular health, learn a practical approach to nutrition and fitness, achieve your goals, have fun and meet some great people while you’re doing it, give this place a shot.

I love going to the group fitness classes. Every class has always something different to offer each day. It’s also very informative. You get nutritional information as well as inspiring stories or messages each day in class. The coaches are always helpful and very encouraging. There is definitely a family vibe within this gym which sets it aside from any other gym. If you’re looking for a unique kind of gym then this is it.

Easily the best gym I have been a part of since I started lifting in high school. Whether you are a beginner or experienced, the coaches at SJBB have something to offer you. I joined this gym once I saw that the culture was one where everyone was helping each other out and cheering each other on. Nobody cares how heavy or light you are lifting or how out of shape you are and newcomers are quickly welcomed by the regulars and encouraged. Can’t say enough good things about this place. Well worth every penny!

I absolutely love San Jose Barbell! When I moved to San Jose, SJBB was the first community I found and I am so thankful for that. The coaches are fantastic and I fully believe in their values and mission. If you are interested in getting healthy, fit, and happy, check out SJBB!

I’ve been going to various facilities in the past and was never able to find what I was looking for. After checking out San Jose Barbell, immediately I was drawn into the overall vibe of smiles from the staff and members during a workout.
Unlike other commercial gyms, you will meet others who are from the area and who probably share the same goal or determination to make a change in their lives. San Jose Barbell has allowed me to understand what my overall goals are as well as planning of what is to be done in order to obtain them. After about a year, San Jose Barbell has become my 2^nd home where I’d walk through the doors just to hang out and chat with the staff and members.

I feel that this gym and the owners have done so much for me over the years that I need to write a second review, so here goes…
Never have I been apart of a gym where the owners bring such heart and dedication into making their members the best… until I came to San Jose Barbell. I’ve certainly had my moments when «life happens» and I wasn’t able to stay consistent with working out, but when I was ready to get back into it, Ranbir and Aljay (the owners) were there to help guide and motivate me.
They truly care about their members and commit so much time to helping us reach our goals; whether our goals are in the gym or out in the real world. They prepare us mentally, physically and emotionally… and not many gyms nowadays can do that.
Coming to this gym has done so many things for me over the years– helped me surpass many fitness goals, build strength and hit PR’s, given me new friends, been a stress-reliever…the list could go on.
This is definitely a gym that uses a holistic approach towards health and fitness. They help make it a lifestyle, not just a phase.

After years of taking barre, body sculpting, dance, yoga, kickboxing, etc. classes, I’ve finally found my fitness «home.» I joined their Strong and Sporty program in February 2015 and after only 2 months I’ve noticed significant changes in strength, weight and overall health. The coaches are equipped with the right tools to get you in line with your goals (yep, no canned BS here) and the facility is devoid of any air of pretension — seriously, this facility houses a community of the most amazing and driven individuals.
Surprisingly, when I started their Strong and Sporty program my primary goal was to simply get in shape. However, as I progressed I uncovered a major achievement: the growing motivation to progress on my journey with maintaining physical, mental and emotional health. Reinstating that path has always been difficult as I was always distracted by my own self-​sabotage whether it would be indulging in laziness or tending to seemingly more important matters. This program has taught me to thwart myself from my own toxic ways of stagnation — to take note of my fears of failure and every other minute fear associated with self-​progression — and halting my negative reactions (catalyzed by fear) by responding differently. Since the program, I’ve been actively working to feed progress in every area of my life — I’m living more consciously and inevitably, shifting closer to my healthier and happier self. Sure, this might be my own personal experience, but damn, to go through an absolutely positive transformation is pretty telling in the quality of the program.
In a nutshell, do yourself a service and head over to SJBB!

First time entering this Dojo, I knew it was SPECIAL! I’ve been coming here since May of 2014 and I have increased a lot with my strength and endurance. The classes are awesome because you learn so much. Coaches give you the best advices. They inspire, encourage and understand everyone’s level.
The environment here is definitely a big motivation because everyone works together. Everyone I have met through this gym are very positive individual. I have a five year old son who always comes with me and I’ve witnessed how friendly everyone is to him. That’s a big plus for me because he is being exposed to a positive environment.
This Dojo is all about progress and results. It will bring you to greater heights and next thing you know you’re getting involved with obstacle races! I could have never prepared myself on my own for completing my first Spartan Trifecta in less than one year of being active in the gym.
This is a great gym and I love representing #SJBB everywhere!

The guys and gals here are the cat’s pajamas. I’ve been coming since about April of this year and have seen decent gains in body mass as well as strength. They have classes, private and semi-​private sessions, calisthenics and open gym. You can’t really go wrong having all these options plus of a group of individuals who really do care about your health, well being and fitness goals.

I absolutely love this place! It’s is not your typical gym. It is a community. Everyone is so friendly, encouraging and helpful. The moment I entered San Jose Barbell I felt welcomed and all of my fears were put at ease. The workouts are challenging and fun. You will see results! The coaches are professional and care about you. They take the time to work with you individually and also with the group. They push you, encourage you and cheer you on. San Jose Barbell also does a lot of charity events and is involved in the community. They are dedicated to making a difference in their members lives and also those in the community. I can’t say enough great things about San Jose Barbell.

I’ve been coming consistently (at least 4 times/​week) to this gym for a little over three months now and I can firmly say that I have been feeling a lot healthier and in better shape since I’ve joined! I started off doing their standard group classes, but a few weeks ago I began doing semi-​privates, so I’ve been getting personalized programming and more one on one classes with the coaches. Speaking of the coaches, they are very, very helpful and are there to guide you towards whatever goal you have, whether it is losing weight, putting on some mass, or just being strong. The coaches give you the attention you want and they truly care about bringing the best out of you; they will coach and train you to where you want to be, and if you put in the effort to follow their instruction, I promise you that you will see and get results!
If you’re looking around for a gym to join that has a community atmosphere, I recommend checking this place out. You will find people of all ages and fitness levels. Everyone here is friendly and super supportive and will help motivate you along your way to your last rep. Also, this is a great place to join if you’ve never done any lifting and want to learn; the coaches will undoubtedly help improve your form and technique, and in a matter of weeks you’ll see great progress and gainz! They know what they’re doing and talking about. I can personally say from my experience that I’ve gotten a lot better at my squats and have learned different lifts and am continuously getting better at them with each class, almost PRing everytime. And if you’re reading this and wondering what kind of work outs they do here, it’s strength and conditioning (olympic weight lifting stuff and some circuit training… but there’s more to it than just that)! They change it up every week though, so it’s not the same thing all the time, which makes it for a fun class because you won’t know what to expect. And no, it’s not crossfit, it’s a program called «Training for Warriors» or TFW. (
). These work outs are planned, from my understanding, a year in advanced.
So, in a nutshell: great coaches, challenging but rewarding workouts, great community, fun. I highly recommend to check this place out if you’re serious about about improving your health and lifestyle; you won’t be disappointed with what SJBB has to offer you!

There’s a reason this place has so many good reviews. Once you starting coming to this gym, you won’t want to go anywhere else.
I consider myself an average person with some athleticism but I hate going to the gym. It’s always been more of a chore for me than a fun activity. Not to mention, I’m too busy to put the time into the gym that a lot of other people do. What’s great about this place is I come in here for 1 hour– 3 or 4 times a week and I get a better workout than I would ever get anywhere else. These coaches know what they’re doing, they don’t waste even 1 minute of my hour, and they push me harder than i would ever push myself in your everyday gym. On top of that, the atmosphere is great and it makes going to the gym more fun. I often find myself in friendly competition against others in the gym and it pushes me to give everything I have.
If you want to see results and enjoy going to the gym instead of dreading it, this is definitely a place to check out.

Awesome staff and coaches here. The coaches are knowledgeable across multiple facets of fitness, including mobility, biofeedback, calisthenics, and weightlifting. Really awesome community to be a part of. You won’t go wrong here!

I’ve been to many gyms but none like this one! San Jose Barbell has one of the best people you will ever meet and a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere! They are very encouraging and pushes you beyond your limits. The coaches personally guided me through the workouts and help me get over some of my prior injuries. This gym is a great stepping stone to improve one’s health and fitness. I just brought in my younger brother that has zero workout experience, and San Jose Barbell has done a fantastic job in getting him started and loving it! Before SJBB, I’ve plateaued and this gym has helped me go beyond and I’m seeing better and quicker results than ever before!

Love the family vibe here and in class competitions that push the members to their fullest! It’s an awesome gym in San Jose that supports Bay Area charities. Helping out the community and looking good while doing it. definitely all ages friendly, it’s never too late to start working. Also love the variety of classes given here. Zumba, yoga, calisthenics, etc

This gym is amazing! There are 3 things that stand out to me the most:
1. The classes. There are one hour group classes that cater to all types of work schedules! You get in, get things done, get out. Instead of spending 3 hours at a regular gym trying to figure out what to do, you can fit in an effective workout in just a fraction of that time and move on with your day. I saw more results doing these classes 3x a week for 2 months than doing active sports for over 4 years.
2. The community. Coming here, I was intimidated and uneasy since I was a total noob when I first walked through the door. Then I quickly realized that there was nothing to be intimidated of. It’s an awesome community where every member pushes one another to be their best. There’s no competition, just friendly encouragement, which is really hard to find in a gym with group classes these days.
3. THE COACHES! Coach Ranbir & Coach Aljay really know what they’re talking about. Ask them anything and they will deliver! They really make classes enjoyable and really help you achieve your fitness goals, no matter how farfetched they may seem to you. I was always uneasy about weight lifting because I didn’t know the proper form, but after picking up the form with practice and help from Aljay & Ranbir, I get personal records almost every time I retest! It’s such an amazing feeling! They know a lot about all types of fitness so be sure to pick their brains if you never need anything! :)
They also offer yoga, zumba, personal programming, and nutritional guidance. I’m always so grateful that I came across this gym, it has definitely changed my outlook on fitness and life!

San Jose Barbell is awesome! I started coming here about 2 months ago and I am amazed and SO excited about the results I’ve seen so far. Every week I feel stronger, I have more energy and I am making real progress in my goals.
The coaches and staff here are super supportive and friendly. One of my main hesitations in finding a gym was feeling intimidated as I had not come to a gym like this before — I was nervous that I would get lost in a sea of members who all knew what they were doing, and I would have to fumble my way through (and potentially injure myself!) That’s definitely not the case — all the staff are so welcoming! And the coaches encourage questions — you can easily get 1:1 attention (just ask!). They prioritize correct form, so I feel confident that I am in good hands here. As for the members, everyone is so positive and we motivate each other to do our best.
They workouts are so killer (but in a good way!). The programming provides a great mix of strength and conditioning. And I’ve found that what has made all the difference for me is being in the right mindset. The changes I want to make are for life — long-​lasting changes that require changes in my daily habits (not to do some fad diet or get-​toned-​quick workout that I’ll probably drop out of within a week or two). SJBB has been the perfect place to kick start this journey as they are all about making sustainable changes to achieve one’s (individualized) goals, they foster a great sense of community full of positive people, and they have an awesome team of coaches.
No matter what your starting point, if you’re ready to make some lifelong changes to get healthier, this is a great place to start!

Started in January and joined in on a transformation challenge. I was able to shed 20 lbs and close to 10% body fat thanks to the awesome encouragement and direction from the coaches at this gym.

I started here as a total newbie, and I have to admit that I was a little intimidated going to a small gym where you can’t get lost in a crowd of people. However, the staff and patrons of this place are extremely helpful and welcoming to new people.
The gym has a daily group classes that have workouts that focus on different abilities and parts of the body. The classes are about 1.25 hours long, and have a coach that teaches everyone do do the correct movements, and to help you correct any problems with your form. They also push you to take on more if they feel you can do it. You get so much personal attention, that it’s almost like having a personal trainer helping you. In some ways, it’s even better than being 1:1 with a trainer, because you have a class of 1 – 7 other people encouraging you along.
It’s such a positive place with a great community. If you are a newbie like me or more experienced, I highly recommend this place. It has something for everybody. You will absolutely be more successful here than paying for a gym chain. It is worth every penny.

If you want to start seeing serious results in your workouts, head over to San Jose Barbell and get strong, fit, healthy, and aesthetic. While working out here I made tremendous gains.
The owners/​coaches are dedicated to building not only a gym, but a community that supports and inspires you to keep pushing. No matter if you’re a beginner or a competitive lifter, you will feel at home at San Jose Barbell. The coaches and members are there to keep you motivated, and to help you out at all times. You’re not just paying to workout at a gym, you’re part of a team.
You’ll find equipment that you won’t see at most corporate gyms such as yokes, bumper plates, sleds, kettlebells, and chalk. YES THERE IS CHALK AT THIS GYM (hopefully some others may be as excited as I was about that last part).
On top of that, Ranbir and Aljay see San Jose Barbell as part of the neighborhood and not just a business, which is exactly what the community needs.