Squat, Weightlifting, and Powerlifting Programs on my website: weightliftingfix.com/

*"The gym is useless if it's closed."* _- Clarence Kennedy, 2022_

Finally, the real face reveal. Clarence was always just spirit energy manifesting as a human man.

I was in a family member's town for a few days once. Google maps'ed "powerlifting." Went to the first result: an oldschool warehouse full of all the powerlifting equipment I could ever want, tons of space, garage doors wide-open to just walk in, open 24hrs. I walked in and there was one guy there who says to me , "yeah the owner only comes by on Tuesdays, you can just train man don't worry. You can play Spotify on the computer over there through the loudspeakers." Eventually he left and I was completely alone in this heaven. I long for that gym

This is why I've grown to hate a lot of performance gyms as well. The payment options are never transparent and I feel like I'm talking to a fucking used car salesman when talking to the owner. Some of them seemed real shady with how they operate. The part about toxicity/drama and opening hours is spot on too.

I went from paying $55/mo to go to a performance gym w/ no air conditioning to $20/mo to go to a community gym. I can do all the same work. It’s also a 10 minute walk instead of a 15 minute drive. People just get caught up in the hype with these performance gyms.

My only complains with commercial gyms are the bars knurling is usually almost nonexistant because of guys doing rack pulls and whatnot over the years

Welcome back to the real world Super Sayan Clarence.

I train at an all-incluse type commercial gym with great performance equipment, platforms and huge space. The membership costs 40usd per month (in Norway this is cheap af) and you get access to 4 different locations in the same city with various equipment and they even have squash halls a boxing bag and cage-football. With eleikobars rogue plates and eleiko bumpers and eleiko powerlifting bench with IPF bars even. Opening hours every day from 05:00-00:00.

Clarence speaking to us through paths

The toxicity aspect entirely relate to. I was part of a powerlifting gym, and the drama was unreal

I just wanted to thank you for being huge motivation for me to start lifting weights. I am not really interested in Olympic weightlifting, more for health and aesthetic purposes, but without you and your insane strength display, none of what I do currently would be possible. Thank you.

Its awesome how humble Clarence is

I've had the same experiences with the more "exclusive" more "selective" performance gyms here in the U.S. It was especially negative when trying to work out at a local "performance gym" out of town or when on vacation. It always seemed like no matter how willing to pay or how nice I was to the staff or owners, they tryed to make it as hard as possible or seemed like they went out of their way to be rude so as to make me go away just because I wasn't a local or because I wanted to buy a one week pass. Terrible way to run a business. Just of note, I'm a clean cut presentable guy who's been seriously training and lifting for over 12 years and I always go out of my way to be friendly and introduce myself to people. Apparently these types of places only want juiced up a holes who have been "initiated" into the club somehow. Clarence totally nailed it!

I actually went to a weightlifting club in my town the other day, opening hours are... from 6-8 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays...safe to say it's actually in a backroom of a commercial gym that opened very recently...basically you have all the really shiny new gym equipment in the front and through a hallway you get into a quiet tiny room with some really rusty old bars, plates, squat stands and some wooden blocks. I actually went there to have someone assess my self-taught form on the snatch and I feel like the advice and cues they gave me really helped me. While there is a certain charm to training in some vintage old backroom it's kind of sad to see how little priority weightlifting seems to have at least where I'm from it's a really really niche sport that 99% of people never heard of

I've been at the same commerical gym since 2006. It's open 4-midnight, a spa/steam room etc/ and the best bit, is nobody ever uses the weight lifting platform, so even though its 10 years old equipment, it looks brand new XD I chat with a huge cross section of people everyday, different ages, races, all sorts. I love it.

I like how he's talking about weightlifting and there's just a picture of The Paths in the background. Week through and through. Keep it up Clarence.

That Omori ost was very unexpected, nice

Perfect timing on this video. I’ve been going to a commercial gym for years and lately it’s been getting a bit crowded. Was just starting to look around for a new gym. Now I know what to consider. Thanks much Clarence!

Clarence, thank you so much. You could not have posted this video at a better time. I was slowly coming to this conclusion on my own, but you’ve just saved me so much trouble!

I can definitely sign this. In my old hometown there are both commercial and performance gyms. Over the past 15 years I've noticed that there's been a shift towards a sort of "hybrid" model. Some gyms still order all of their machines from the same manufacturer/importer and don't really cater to anyone specifically, which is fine, but it's also a lot of wasted money and space for equipment that gets very little use. But many gyms turned into 24/7 gyms during lockdowns and they're staying that way (thankfully). There's at least one "elite" gym/club whose membership costs way more than it's worth. There's also a couple of awesome gyms; one in my old hometown (where I still work) and one in my current hometown. One is focused on bodybuilding with some crossfit and strongman equipment. The one closest to me has a huge focus on strongman with lots of stones and other sport related instruments. They also have platforms for weightlifting and a lot of entry level pieces of equipment e.g. smaller dumbbells and kettlebells. Most importantly, an atmosphere that encourages everyone to move. Despite catering to strongman, the gym is a fun place to show up to and it almost feels like a garage gym at times. TL;DR It doesn't matter if the gym is top notch quality or completely makeshift. If the opening hours, price and/or location don't make sense then don't join. The best gym is the one that allows you to stick to your workouts without making unnecessary sacrifices in your daily life.

Glad to see you’re starting to put together programs bro, great part on your end. Keep it up Clarence, good shit

Clarence’s recommendations for performance gyms to improve? Love it! I have never been able to afford coaching or a performance gym. I’m just self taught and go to a commercial gym and do the best I can. Sometimes I’ll get glanced, but I’ve never gotten in trouble for dropping weights. And even though I’ll never be an elite Olympic weightlifter, I just do it because I love it and want to stay healthy. :)

My local indoor bouldering spot for some reason has a platform, machined plates, bumper plates, legit barbells, power racks...opens early, closes late, only $64 a month for access to everything and it's a 10 minute drive. No brainer place for me to lift.

Yeah, you really hit the nail on the head here. I lift at a performance gym since it's the only "decent" gym in my area, and I can't say I'm fond of the dumb drama that happens, or the poorly maintained equipment and hygiene of the place. But unfortunately I live in bumf*ck nowhere Virginia, USA where all the good gyms are in bigger cities. A gold's gym had freaking eleiko plates and bars and for half the price I'm currently paying. Might invest in a home gym soon

Thank you Clarence definitely buying that squatting program, cheers

1:52 the Bullet for my valentine in the background is great for some heavy lifts

Something about hearing clarence's voice is comforting, good to see you continue to make content brother. Sucks about performance gyms not really being more casual friendly, seems you have to jump through a lot of loops to have access and pay so much more. Granted I use to go to crunch which is decent enough for a commercial gym due to it being affordable and them having bumper plates and you have access to platforms...The main downside is usually always packed no matter the time of day.

Great video. Original content, well put together, simple, honest

I bought clarence kennedy powerlifting program and I went from doing 110 kg atg squat 1 RM to do 180 kg atg squat 1 RM after 7 months, from 96 kg bench to 124 kg bench, its the best program i ever done and i repeated it for 3 times, tomorrow i will start first week of strenght phase for the third time.

Saw you yesterday!!! Was really nice to meet you even if brief and random tysm was so cool :)

Great video, very nice to see the pros and cons for both sides. Just for consideration, I think a large number of performance gyms must operate like a small business and can't provide the same level of service that a commercial gym can, and quality is going to vary significantly among performance gyms.

Glad your back! I used to go to a kinda half and half gym, really rustic but open to the public. Had a platform but for mostly only deadlifts and stuff. No bumpers. Life change sent me to LA fitness, and they have everything I need and are much cheaper and easier to get to. Never going back.

Watching Clarence lifting with calm piano music in the background is the most chilling thing i know

Great points ! The Xcite I train at have collared eiliko plates and platforms and very accessible !

DUDE I PEEP THE ENDER LILIES OST YOU USED FOR THE BACKGROUND MUSIC RESPECT I LOVE THAT GAE

I feel most at home in Crossfit gyms, but I definitely agree with the strengths and weaknesses you mentioned here.

3:15 I'm digging the lighting

I used to love my local "commercial" gym (it wasn't really, but it wasn't performance either). Great owners, equipment worked, friendly goers and very clean. Made all my noob gains there, great times! I have a garage gym now, which I must say being able to train in my underwear with no shoes or socks on at 5am is great.

this is so therapeutic, thanks Clarence

Ever since Crunch added all the crossfit equipment in my town it has become the choice place for me to train my "powerbuilder" style. warm up with a little cardio, get my compound movements done, do whatever accessory i have for my compound, and then general bodybuilding superset to finish the day. So easy and convenient for 20 bucks a month.

My muscateer , great to see you online !!!

100% right … here i was contemplating Switching to a more specific gym. I think I’m good 😂 thanks Clarence, enlightening on all fronts !!

The king is back with more voice over content. Hope to see you more Clarence

I go to a large commercial gym and they have 5 or 6 power racks with attached platforms, 2 Eleiko bars (and other Rogue utility/power bars), and Rogue bumper plates (pound plates, but I am in the US). They're very lax on typical gym rules, allow you to be loud, do Olympic lifts and drop them, etc. Not only that, but they have pretty much all the machines you could want for bodybuilding, etc. A lot of these more exclusive gyms are typically pretty bare bones with machines and non-barbell equipment. The gym is also a national brand, so with my membership I can train at any other branch in the country. I had thought about joining a "serious" gym, but didn't because of all the reasons you stated.

One other thing you didn't mention (only for weightlifters though) is if you need to do block/box work - block snatches/cleans, jerks, snatch balances, etc. Can't really easily do those in any commercial gym I've ever seen. I love my commercial gym though for everything else even for weightlifting.

Great analysis. The characteristic that most turn me down from commercial gym for me is the rules, I've been uncountable times warned for dropping weights (only in deadlifting, i wouldn't dare to drop the bar on the top of a jerk) and lifting barefoot , despite of this, commercial gyms are great for me.

As a mature lifter I found this video one of the best in content and relevance, straight to the heart of the matter and great voice over. Regards to you all.

There's a crossfit gym right across the street from my work. An ideal place to train for me, however 20 open box visits are 80 euros, not to mention that due to opening and group practice hours I cannot come in either in the morning before my work or during my lunch-break. Instead I'm going to a huge commercial gym 5 minutes from my work for 30 euros a month. Only two squat racks and horrible weights, but at least it's 24/7 with unlimited access.

Love your vids and your journey watching you in that kind of grey but very muscle townhall-house some....7-8 years ago. It does look like you bounce of the bar quite far off your body though; which makes it just even more fascinating the weights you're throwing around!

"And I hate this, I just want to be treated like a normal person". Yeah. Since I've gotten strong I've noticed I get treated differently at some gyms. I hate that. I was so weak for so long. If anything beginners need more help but strength gyms brush them off in favor of clout or strong lifters.

yooo Clarence video! best day of Sept.

The place I'm with (Flye Fit in Cork City), has a fantastic setup and swipe in system at the entrance and equipment wise they're very good and even have different levels dedicated to different aspects of fitness; i.e, 1st floor is weights, 2nd floor is studio bikes and halls, 3rd floor is AstroTurf 4th floor treadmills and so on. Only gripe I have with them is that the dumbbells only go up to 10 kg but I make up for it with barbell excersise that do the ae job as isolations and if it comes to it I high rep the 10 kg bells on some of those isolations. Can't knock it for the price though which is 35 and month and jve been training since 07 when I was a scrawny ass teenager and am now 32 and in the process of leaning out again and building up my functional strength. Its a process and I love every step of the journey, especially knowing you have to earn your strength and numbers through hard fucking work! Good to see you posting again bud!🤜🤛

Solid video boss. Go through this frequently when traveling to visit family and what not...usually see myself having to use crossfit facilities. Local gyms are hit or miss but feel like you'll always find one within a 30 min drive that should be able to satisfy the weightlifting requirements...unless you're in carriage County 🤣

The nearest oly gym or open crossfit gym to me is 30 minutes drive to Birmingham, where as my 24h commercial gym is 3 minute drive with full selection of bumper plates and a platform. no brainer

I’m so proud of you Clarence your finally uploading

Commercial gyms are phenomenal. Many weightlifters in the US train at a chain called Crunch Fitness. We're talking 8-10+ combo rack/platform setups. Enough machines to make a bodybuilder's head spin. Enough iron plates for 99.9% of powerlifters. Bumper plates galore.

Squat program is amazing Clarence.

the weightlifting program is AMAZING love you clarence

4:42 I literally used to live right behind where this picture is of

I can agree with this from experience. I had the pleasure of having access to a 24/7 cross fit gym in my hometown in California. You just have to be mindful of the classes that go on during some hours which isn't a big deal since there's plenty of space. To be fair, the gym did have plenty of drama going on as well such as the owners hooking up with members and spouses cheating with others in the classes. It wasn't that big of a deal if you just minded your own business lol. The only place I've had issues with weightlifting was at my university gym where they banned dropping weights from shoulder height, but you were allowed to slam your deadlift like some uncultured brolifter. The only way to weight lift at my uni was by receiving the bar from OH back to front-rack shoulders, then back to the hip, then gently lower it onto the lifting platform. All of that, even with bumper plates.

I've been a puregym proponent for a while now - I can walk there, 24/7 opening is amazing, and the equipment is *good enough* for the vast majority of my training (barbell movements). For other stuff, its not that hard to swap out an accessory for something else available.

clarence, could you do a video talk about how to protect joints such as knee, when lifting over the years ?

Hey Clarence I’m trying to get more into weightlifting. I know you never use knee sleeves and want to know your opinion on them and why you don’t use them. Love the videos. Thank you

Dude, i really missed ur videos. OMG what a great day

i started lifting only cause of him, its been a year now

great vid, when i was trying to find a new gym to train at all the "performance" gyms would never have their membership prices listed which was automatically a red flag to me.. i ended up finding a good commercial gym that has 5 squat racks and 5 platforms its only $30 a month

That's why I have decided to build a home gym in the future with Olympic bar, bumper plates, half rack and a deadlift platform

I do agree on many of the points and things have really changed a lot during the last two decades. Commercial gyms have really been stepping up their game with equipment. I feel like performance gyms that you talk about is kind of in phases. Like I can relate to a bunch of the negative points about Performance Gym's thinking back to a gym in 2014, but I know that a couple of years later they've washed out the "Bad-List" and it's almost only positives. Hopefully many of the "bad" Performance gyms moves toward a better phase :)

For me personally crunch has a decent rate and everything you need to get fit I had my doubts at first but when I got a tour I knew I was set for the rest of my days. Only downside is it gets busy quick but my schedule works perfectly where I can workout during my lunch break or in the early morning

I have trained in commercial gyms as well as "performance" gyms. The advantage of the latter is the equipment and the coaches. But training in commercial gyms, as long as they have the equipment, I have found to be a slightly more favourable environment for me. In the "performance" gyms I have been to, there is a stronger community that forms. While that can be good, I often found myself wasting more time between sets chatting up my bros about something or the other. In commercial gyms, I have my headphones on, I finish my workout without anyone bothering me. I'm usually doing barbell movements so very few people are waiting for the equipment to be free too. Fortunately, I had fewer problems with opening hours of performance gyms than with commercial gyms. Biggest issues I've had with commercial gyms is lack of proper equipment (no squat racks, properly sized plates, or even lacking free weights) and some trainers trying to be too pushy and nosy, insisting you do a movement a specific way. Like I'm sorry you don't know the difference between Romanian and conventional deadlift Mr Trainer, but I am NOT doing a slow eccentric on my way down when I just pulled a 3RM! I loved training in the "performance" gyms I have been to, mostly because they were very cheap and had all the right equipment, but if a commercial gym matches all your required criteria, and you're not looking to be specifically coached for strength and conditioning or a lifting-centered sport, it's honestly not that bad.

Loving the AOT background lel

The gym I currently go to is locally-owned and small compared to many commercial gyms, with ~20 people at a given time on a busy day. It costs USD $60+/month, which seems a bit expensive but not unreasonable; but is better equipped than nearby gyms with multiple squat racks and even "specialty" equipment including chalk and a safety squat bar. This puts it in a sweet spot IMO, especially when combined with the cramped structure of my town (i.e. people probably don't cross in or out just to go to a gym). I tend to see the same people including old classmates, which definitely makes me feel more grounded despite hardly interacting with anyone. There's a sense of community particularly among the more advanced lifters; but it's not an elitist club, the gym is open to everyone and there's many less advanced lifters as well. People are generally serious and there's a lack of the "tropes" that you find in commercial gyms, although there's still misplaced equipment and unracked plates from time to time. However, if this type of gym didn't exist and I had to choose between a run-of-the-mill big commercial gym and a more elite gym, I'd still pick the commercial gym as long as it has decent equipment. The aspect of being in a gym with other people is huge, but I'd rather come across a larger variety of people rather than be a part of a closed elite club, have to abide by highly specific etiquette and get brought into whatever politics might be going on. It's not like you can't get to know people in a commercial gym too. I feel like the amount of bad gym etiquette is exaggerated, but if it's really that bad then I'd rather build a home gym instead and workout according to my own goals.

Wow makes me glad that the performance gym i go to has open gym hours outside of coached sessions. I find the commercial gyms near me will have only 1 or if lucky 2 platforms and generally have fucked barbell where the sleeves don’t spin anymore.

I'm so happy to see u again Clarence. :3

I personally lift in a ymca and I love it because it’s like a mini crowd

There's a chain called 'JD Gyms' 24 hour opening and fitted with multiples lifting platforms, eleiko bars and bumper plates. Can't go wrong tbh.. times most certainly have changed

All depends on your goals and budget. Obviously, the gym itself is the biggest issue, I’ve been travelling and visited a performance gym that had 24 hour lockkey access with tons of powerlifting and strongman gear for 55 a month. A great space and well worth it imo. While there is drama at some spaces, as I’ve gotten older I don’t mind talking to like minded lifters. Unless you’re very busy with work and family, having conversations with new people becomes more valuable as you age and something you appreciate more. TV shows, video games and whatnot can wait.

Welcome back Bradda 🤙🏾

Glad to get some Calrence today.

I feel like performance gyms are a thing of past. 15, even 7 years ago was extremely difficult to find a gym where you could do weightlifting/powerlifting in peace, so you had to take the inconveniences of find and go to a performance gym. CrossFit boxes were like a little of sun in the dark, but they had all the hours problems, classes predominance, price, and still pretty far away. In this days comercial gyms has evolved to much to considerate the others

This video is such an important message! More gyms need to accommodate everyday beginner weightlifters

Damn a new Clarence vid awesome!!

I just found a cheap 24 hour gym that has a sick underground section for free weights but they only have one deadlift platform and squat rack idk if it'll be a good idea to train there

Funny, commercial gyms in my area cost quite a lot (600€ for students for a year) while the powerlifting gym i go to is just 100€ yearly, with all the same equipment.

That’s the most sensible and objective video I have watched about gyms!

I like how he explain everything with perfect detail

Damn, Clarence wearing a t-shirt with the name of my country... feeling proud

The biggest issue with performance gyms is that they don’t have a sauna. Everyone knows the sauna is what will give you huge lifts.

I LOVE my university gym in London. It's in the basement of my lecture building, has 8 squat/bench racks with bumper plates and rubber floors. It has probably 300kg per rack worth of weights and only costs 12 quid a month. It's open 10am-10pm on weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends. I thought this was the standard for gyms since i've never been anywhere else, but I went to my Dad's gym and it was a tragedy in comparison

Ender Lilies soundtrack is dope as hell. Edit: And an Omori remix too, nice to know Clarence plays the same indie games as I do.

So freaking true. I use a commercial gym and they have Eleiko bumpers and platforms. Sure they use marginal barbells and marginal racks but still that's pretty sick for a $20/mo. The hours are great, the staff stays out of your way, and if you are a total beginner they offer basic coaching. Most of the trainers have no idea how to perform good Olympic lift or even powerlifts but they can teach someone how to use a machine. Honestly though, commerical gyms became so competitive that they started offering incredible deals for anyone who wants to train - bodybuilding, powerlifting, or dancing on treadmills. I mean it's kinda nice to see all types. There are plenty of people who do annoying shit (like curl in a squat rack) but far less than when I went to a $10/month gym.

Plx man make a podcast or more videos. You is the only one who speaks the truth. Saludos from Brazil.

Depends on the gym. Commercial gyms in my area forbid chalk use.

Hi Clarence, I'm glad you are doing well

Bit of a tangent, but you were training in a gym that looked a little dark. Greens/blues and mirrors with backlighting. To me, it seemed calming and might even help me focus. But did you noticed yourself being unable to see stuff / was it dangerous? I can see low light in a gym with people leaving shit on the ground or throwing weights around be kind of iffy.

Clarence can you make videos on how to increase strength in all these lifts?

Found a regular looking commercial gym near me that has Eleiko bars/ plates/ racks.

The AoT background in the beginning really is something

I've never used a performance gym (except when my younger brother used to go to a sport school with weightlifting, so they let me exercise sometimes). When I go to sign up to a comercial gym, I always explain them first that I practice olympic weightlifting movements and ask if it's fine to do it there. I can't use very heavy weights, my personal bests are 90/110, and I can't even do those now (I'm 38, never been a competitive weightlifter, taught myself). I've seen a weightlifting platform only once in a cemmercial gym and most times the people walking around are quite a problem. Not to mention that some of them aren't even on the ground floor so they'd never allow me to do it there and it probably wouldn't be safe... I used to do it at fit4less and anytime fitness in London, it was mostly fine (except for the business). Didn,' drop the weights at all though, even on max attempts, which has probably held me back significantly...