Grizzly Weightlifting is a coaching-first gym in downtown Portsmouth for Olympic weightlifting, strength training, and personal coaching. Small groups, real barbells, and a coach who actually watches every rep — whatever your starting point.
Why Grizzly
Portsmouth has plenty of places to break a sweat. Grizzly is different: a dedicated strength and weightlifting gym where coaching comes first, the community is tight, and you leave stronger than you arrived — not just more tired.
Every session is guided by a certified coach. You learn to lift well, safely, and for the long haul — no guessing, no bad habits.
Full Olympic platforms, bumper plates, and proper barbells. The only gym on the Seacoast built around the snatch and clean & jerk.
From complete beginners to competitive lifters, from teens to lifters in their 60s — we meet you where you are and build from there.
Programs
Learn the snatch and clean & jerk from a USAW Level 2 coach. The only dedicated weightlifting program in Portsmouth.
Learn more →One-on-one strength coaching built around your goals, your body, and your schedule — real coaching, not a directory listing.
Learn more →Train on your own on real equipment, with a coach nearby when you need a set of eyes. A true barbell gym in Portsmouth.
Learn more →New to lifting or coming from CrossFit / F45? See how we compare →
The Community
The best part of Grizzly isn't the equipment — it's who you'll train alongside. Lifters of every age and background, cheering each other's PRs in a gym that feels like home.
Grizzly's owner and head coach, Stanislav "Stan" Babenko, learned weightlifting from Olympians and Olympic champions and now coaches lifters of every level in Portsmouth. Certified in both the barbell and functional-fitness worlds, he brings a rare mix of technical depth and welcoming coaching.
Common Questions
We're at 33 Emery St #001 in Portsmouth, NH 03801, on the Seacoast — easy to reach from Kittery, Dover, and Newington. Call us at (603) 501-9572 or book a free intro to visit.
Not at all. Most of our members started as complete beginners. Every new member begins with a free intro so we can meet you where you are and build a plan that fits.
We're a coaching-first strength and weightlifting gym, not a treadmill-and-machines facility. You get real barbells, small groups, and a certified coach watching every rep.
Book a free intro session. We'll talk through your goals, watch how you move, and map out a plan — no pressure and no obligation.
Your first session is on us. Meet the coach, meet the crew, and find out what real strength training feels like.
Book Your Free Intro
