About Us
MEET OUR
Fully Qualified Coaches
SBWC offers a fun and inclusive zen-like training environment. Classes and training sessions are always monitored by an experienced coach. Lifters train in a supportive, team-like atmosphere where everyone shares the same goal. People go to SBWC to get stronger physically and mentally. Your strength when you start at SBWC is irrelevant as you will very quickly improve your skill and your physical condition. All you have to do is show up and we’ll put you on the correct path!
Paulie Steinman
ABOUT PAULIE
Paulie Steinman started the South Brooklyn Weightlifting Club (SBWC) as a side gig in 2010. At the time there were no other dedicated Powerlifting and Weightlifting Gyms in Brooklyn or any of the other Boroughs of New York and Paulie needed a place for himself and his friends to train. Since its humble beginnings in a warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn, SBWC has grown in size (10,000 square feet) and reputation as the premier barbell sports, strength, and performance training facility in Brooklyn and New York City.
Paulie has committed thousands of hours to honing his craft and he is adept at coaching people of any age or skill level. He is equally comfortable coaching an absolute novice in his gym as he is coaching an athlete at a world championship. His patience, his critical eye for details, and his extensive knowledge make Paulie one of the most sought-after powerlifting coaches in the country.
Credentials and Accomplishments:
- USA Powerlifting Senior International Coach
- USA Powerlifting Masters Classic Powerlifting National Team Head Coach, 2015-present
- USA Powerlifting Executive Committee Member
- USA Powerlifting Coaching Course Instructor
- USA Powerlifting Co-State Chair of New York
- USA Powerlifting Regional Meet Chair
- USA Powerlifting Meet Director
- IPF Category II Referee International Referee
- FRCms
- Kinstretch Level I Instructor
- USA Weightlifting Level II Advanced Sports Performance Coach
- USA Weightlifting State Referee
- Reactive Training Systems Staff Coach
- Co-founder, Beat the Weight
Rebecca Steinman
ABOUT REBECCA
Becca’s work as a strength coach is the culmination of a lifelong dedication to peer tutoring, physicality, and interest in therapy and social work. She has been a part of South Brooklyn Weightlifting Club (SBWC) since its beginning as a private gym with a single rack. Becca sees SBWC as a microcosm of Brooklyn itself, and loves to guide its lifters through the challenging but rewarding process of strength training. She uses her visual arts background to assess and improve others’ movement quality with a critical eye.
Credentials and Accomplishments:
- CSCS (NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)
- USA Powerlifting Senior International Coach
- USA Powerlifting Assistant Coach – Masters Classic Team 2015-present
- IPF Category II International Referee
- USA Weightlifting Level II Advanced Sports Performance Coach
- USA Weightlifting State Referee
- Co-Founder, Beat the Weight
Sam Akinrinade
ABOUT SAM
Sam Akinrinade is a strength, conditioning, and performance coach from NYC. From 2002 to 2012, Sam worked as a certified personal trainer with general population clients at Ballys, and Equinox Sports Club. In 2012, he began working as a private coach at of NYC’s pioneer independent training studios, Titan Fitness Studios where he was quickly hired as a General Manager while maintaining a private training clientele of as many as 20.
Sam was a talented High School, Collegiate, and Semi-Pro football player and has has a martial arts background in Kung-Fu and Muay Thai. Sam graduated with a Bachelors in Business Management from Baruch College.
Credentials and Accomplishments:
- CSCS (NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist)
- USA Weightlifting Level I Club Coach
- National Academy of Sports Medicine – CPT
Jonathan Lespinas
ABOUT JONATHAN
Jonathan Lespinas is a strength, conditioning, and performance Coach from Queens, NY. He has been working with clients from all walks of life and of all fitness levels as a personal trainer for over 10 years in the NYC area. He earned an Exercise Science degree from the Personal Training Institute in New York City. Jonathan is currently part owner of SBWC and continues to work autonomously as a personal trainer with a roster of 15+ clients. Additionally, he was the Head Coach of the Track and Field team at his alma mater, St. John’s Prep High School located in Queens, NY, from 2015-2020.
Jonathan was a talented High School and Collegiate 200m and 400m sprinter and enrolled at Temple University under a Track scholarship.
Credentials and Accomplishments:
- USA Track and Field Level 1 Coach
- USA Weightlifting Level 1 Club Coach
- National Academy of Sports Medicine – CPT