Validus Elite Training Center

My new home gym!

Rob and Nez are husband-wife duo that finally made their dreams come true by opening up their own facility.

Though it's still under construction, they have spankin' new equipments and boasts their recovery room (NormaTec), which easily distinguishes them amongst commercial gyms and other private (powerlifting) gyms (my previous gym being one of them). Their recovery room is definitely something to goo-goo-ga-ga about since "non-elite" (i'm talkin' 'bout athletes outside of the Olympics, which is basically everyone, lol), ignore recovery (like me). So it's awesome to see Rob and Nez articulate recovery and inform everyone how it can make-or-break your performance and overall health.

Additionally, their facility is one of the biggest (length AND width-wise) I've been to, and it has 2 stories!

They also have an in-house massage therapist and is currently renovating the bathroom so the shower will be fully working! Yay!

As personal trainers and coaches, Rob and Nez are awesome and beyond capable of helping you reach your goals.

I switched from powerlifting to olympic weightlifting a little over 3 months ago and asked Rob to be my coach. I haven't looked back ever since I made the switch! I am the strongest and the healthiest I've been. My goals for the next 3 months is to snatch over 60kg, clean & jerk over 80kg, and front squat 140kg. I'm so close to my goals and it's all thanks to Rob's guidance and patience. He might disagree and tell me, "that's all you." However, having him as a coach made me realize I can do anything I put my mind to, and that is the most important thing a coach can do for you.

With that said, if you are looking for something new and exciting, THIS IS THE PLACE. San Diego is a hotspot for fitness - with powerlifting continuing to rise, weightlifting following closely behind, and with crossfit and bodybuilding still on the horizon. It is clear that Validus will lean towards weightlifting, but fear-not powerlifters! You can still squat, bench, and deadlift here especially with a competition rack coming to Validus soon!

I can't wait to see what Validus will look like in the next couple of months, and I am so excited to see how much stronger I will be! :)

Nez, the co-owner, does a great job breaking down movements, explaining muscle group exercises, and tailoring programming to all levels of skill. She finds a way to continue to push and improve your technique to develop better efficiency. One of my major concerns was injury prevention and she did exactly that by teaching me how to squat, deadlift, and bench press safely. Nez is very meticulous, but can explain and help you correct your form in a very supportive and positive way. I was never scolded (lol), and it's always a good time with her! Scheduling is also very flexible, so I love that.


Been going for a little over a month now and I can honestly say that going to this gym was the best move for me. This gym feels home-y and you can definitely feel a sense of community here. I recommend training with Nez because she is well educated, friendly, and has professional energy that makes working out fun. Robert, the other co-owner, is cool too! Chatting up with these two at the end of a workout session seals the deal. They're awesome.

Thanks again coach Nez!

Nez and Robert were extremely kind and accommodating, and they operate a fantastic space. The gym is clean and super well equipped. Looking forward to training at Validus in the future!

Facility: This place was nice, clean and cool! All their equipment were up kept, the barbells had nice spin and their plates were in a good condition. They had plenty of equipment for you to get your lifts in and also do your accessory work!

Ownership/Trainer/Coach: I got to meet the owner and he was super nice to us. I was down their with my team (Academy of Weightlifting) for competition and he welcomed us in and made us feel at home! We appreciate it so much!

Overall: if for what ever reason I move down to SD that is where I'll be lifting at! If you are looking for a place dedicated to just olympic or powerlifting...definitely give this place a shot!

Note to the owner: We will be back!!! thank you so much for the hospitality!

I use the gym for personal training with Nez the co- owner. Her training is superb. She is truly interested in her clients learning and improving and making her clients a priority.
I've had many trainers, gone to many gyms where the trainers are not paying attention to detail, not really interested in training you which leads to injury or complete boredom.
This gym is a gem. They are USAPL certified which is also very helpful if you are interested in competing.
I highly recommend the gym and Nez and Robert, co-owners.

Saving review #1000 for Validus! I found Validus via Classpass, and it is the gym that has been the most welcoming, most personalized, and where I have been able to see the most improvements.

I had been looking for more strength-building classes via Classpass. I first went to Validus right after trying my first CrossFit class. CrossFit was pretty good, but Validus was better with focus on both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. I signed up for the powerlifting class and ended up being the only one in that class, so got complete attention from Nez. Even during other times when there were other people in the class, it still felt as if I was the only one there. Nez asked me if there was anything I wanted to work on, and I told her that I wanted to work on powerlifting form. She walked through all three (squat, deadlift, and bench press) with me and helped me to lift more by giving me tips specific for my body type. For squats, she was able to help me squat more by telling me it was okay to widen my stance and turn my legs out. She even noticed that my femurs were longer for my body (something I didn't even know!), and encouraged me to widen my stance even more. I thought that I had to keep my legs in a narrow stance, so this correction helped me to squat not only more, but more comfortably as well!

I also mentioned that I had no idea what my one-rep max was since I usually worked out without a spotter, and she immediately helped me to figure it out. She also recorded me, so that I could see exactly what was the thing that was holding me back. With a focus on safety as well as form, Nez made sure that I learned how to do all exercises safely with or without a spotter.

I love their new location in Clairemont Mesa, next door to Daiso. Parking isn't bad at all, and the space is more intimate while still spacious enough for everybody to be able to use the equipment. It looks like weightlifters work out in the back of the room with Robert, while powerlifters work out in the front with Nez.

The other thing I love about Validus is the strong female presence. With Nez being so approachable, it wasn't intimidating to come here to work out. She is such an inspiration for all the women looking to get strong, and it shows because so many of the ladies who come here are awesome and compete! If I were local, this would be the gym that I quit Classpass for.

This is the gym for people who want to train with:

*Intelligent programming
*A welcoming atmosphere
*Comradery
*Coaches who genuinely want you to meet your goals
*Strong, badass men AND women (GWPL "Girls Who Powerlift" friendly gym!)

It is also the gym for people who want to train WITHOUT:

*Meathead mentality
*Elitist attitudes around ability, sport, etc.

I have been to a ton of different gyms around San Diego.  From the corporate to the chalk-and-platform gyms, this is more than a gym.  It really is a training center.  Workouts and programs are tailored to each person and each goal.  I chose Validus to prepare me for my first full power meet.  I am no stranger to training but I have never had the support or knowledge to head to the platform.  Being around several PL gyms, that seems a bit absurd right?  

Validus is the only gym that has provided that support, experience, and programming that I was missing.  From building a program to get me to my first meet, to answering just about a million questions about meet rules, to practically registering me for my meet, to assessing technique, to providing on location recovery equipment like Normatec, to just about everything I could think of - Nez and Robert have it covered.  These coaches provide an invaluable knowledge and experience bank for powerlifting, weightlifting, bodybuilding, crossfit, general strength training, conditioning, and more.  Not to mention, they are about the two friendliest people you could come across.

TLDR:  Experienced, personable coaches who provide knowledge, programming, and support in a welcoming and well-equipped atmosphere.  If you have a fitness goal, you'll meet it here!

What can I say about Validus and the owners; first, they have an excellent reputation within the lifting community, and secondly, I've had the chance to see Nez work with her athletes at competitions around San Diego and I can tell she takes the time to work with them and prepare them for the platform. I finally had the chance to drop-in and workout with Nez and her team, and I loved it! Just by walking in I felt an immediate sense of welcomeness and friendly atmosphere. Working out with Nez was an experience in its own, she's very detailed in her approach with athletes. She fixed a lot of issues I felt I was having (squat depth, and muscle activation,) but no prior trainer brought to my attention. Needless to say, before I left for the day, I felt a lot more confident in my squat depth and understood what muscles needed to be active during my squat and deadlift.

I'll be coming back to train with her and Valdius very soon!

I absolutely love this place! Nez and Rob run the training center and I honestly think their quality coaching is what makes the place amazing. Prior to coming here, I had only gone to one CrossFit/ Weightlifting gym to pickup weightlifting. I left shortly since I felt that I wasn't getting the time or quality training sessions I paid for. Glad I came here! Also, the gym is conveniently located off the 15.

I really enjoy Validus Elite Training Center and really like that it's a facility that's dedicated to power-lifting and Olympic weightlifting. If you want to get stronger and develop better technique for lifting, Validus ETC is the place for you.

The gym is clean, the equipment is excellent, the culture is friendly and supportive with a healthy level of competitiveness. There's a mix of both men and women who train here and everyone talks to everyone. Need a spot or need to share a rack or piece of equipment? There's nothing uncomfortable about asking.

The training programs are fantastic and Nez and Robert are great coaches who are extremely knowledgeable and willing to share anytime you ask. It's also worth mentioning that warming up and stretching before and afterwards are a cornerstone of their programs. Additionally, unlike some of the other gyms around San Diego, there's an emphasis on making sure you do things right so you don't get hurt.

I've also been taking advantage of the meal prep program they offer for their clients. It's great to have the convenience of healthy meals available at a great price.

Not that there's anything wrong with these, but this gym is probably NOT for you if you:
- only want to run on a treadmill for an hour and a half
- don't like being around people lifting heavy weights
- can't handle being around anyone who's not as strong or as fit as you
- spend as much time getting ready for the gym as you do to go out on Friday night
- don't like putting weights away when you're done with them

Otherwise, go and check Validus ETC out and get started with a program that will give you real results!