Grinder Gym floor

Welcome to San Diego’s Strongest Gym

Real implements. Real members. Real coaches.

Why People Train Here

Real coaches. Real implements. Members who actually show up for each other.

The Implements

Atlas stones. Yokes. Log press. Axle deadlifts. Sandbags. Macebells. Everything you need for real strength work — plus full barbell platforms.

The Coaching

Not optional. Not motivational. Structured performance development across powerlifting, strongman, weightlifting, and armwrestling.

The Community

Members who show up. Members who compete. A gym floor culture built around effort, not aesthetics. In the gym and at competition, you’re never alone.

Coaching

Train With Purpose

Every training modality. Real coaches. Real results.

One-on-One Personal Training

Dedicated programming and direct coaching. Built around your goals, your schedule, and your competition calendar.

Semi-Private Training

Small groups. Individual attention. Train alongside athletes at your level with coaching that doesn’t get watered down.

Competition Coaching

Powerlifting, strongman, armwrestling. Competition prep that’s built on experience from the platform — not theory.

Events

Compete. Not Just Train.

Grinder Gym hosts and supports armwrestling, strongman, and strength events throughout the year. Train with people who step on the platform.

PARTNERS

Reign Body Fuel

WHY GRINDER GYM IS BUILT DIFFERENT

We don’t chase trends — we build muscle that performs in life, sport, and competition.

ABOUT US

The Coaches

Dave DePew

Dave DePew

Owner · Head Coach · 34+ Years

Competitive powerlifter, strongman, and coach. Built Grinder Gym to be the facility he always wanted — where the equipment is real and the standards aren’t decorative.

Kyle DePew

Kyle DePew

Coach · Professional Armwrestler

Competitive strongman and full-time coach at Grinder Gym. Works with athletes across disciplines with a focus on real-world strength and competition preparation.

Strength Knowledge. No Fluff.

  • What I Learned From Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell—And How I Used It to Build Muscle

    What I Learned From Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell—And How I Used It to Build Muscle

    When I first started hearing about Westside Barbell, I wasn’t interested in secondhand information. That’s never been how I’ve operated. If I want to understand something, I go to the source. At the time, I had a unique opportunity. I was hosting a radio show, before podcasting was really even a thing, and that gave…

  • Getting Started with Strongman Competitions in San Diego

    Getting Started with Strongman Competitions in San Diego

    Entering a strongman competition starts long before you ever step on the platform. Most people begin by learning the events, building a base of foundational strength, and training in an environment that actually prepares them for the structure and demands of a contest. From there, you move into novice competitions and keep developing inside the…

  • Protein for Powerlifters: How Much You Need and Where to Get It

    In thirty-plus years of coaching strength, I have watched protein quietly decide who keeps adding weight to the bar and who stalls out. It is not the flashy part of a powerlifting diet. It is the part that turns hard training into actual muscle and strength instead of just soreness. Here is the honest truth.…

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San Diego’s Training Ground

1013 Morena Blvd, San Diego. The implements are real and so are the coaches.