Group photo of Venus Weightlifting members posing together, smiling, and holding training-related items at a weightlifting gym

Coaching Olympic Weightlifting in a Kyoto Bathhouse

March 08, 2025•2 min read

It's been China's Golden Week recently, and with a free week, a friend invited me to visit Japan. Since I was already planning a trip to Kyoto, I arranged with my friends at CrossFit Kyoto to hold a clean seminar.

Smiling woman in a green Venus Weightlifting shirt posing playfully in front of a decorative tiled wall with a small fountain

The bathing Venus and I

CrossFit Kyoto is run by the awesome couple, Russell (British) and Ella (Swiss). Ella, who loves raising chickens as pets (not for food!), is an absolute gem. They've been running the CrossFit box in Kyoto for over 10 years now, making it the third in Japan and the first in the Kansai region.

The venue has moved once, and this time, I discovered it's actually located in a renovated Japanese-style bathhouse. The training area used to be the changing rooms, and the lounge and changing rooms are now where the baths used to be, creating a unique atmosphere. The place is incredibly clean, with not a speck of dust in sight – a truly Japanese characteristic.

Spacious gym with a skylight ceiling, weightlifting equipment, storage lockers, and training gear at Venus Weightlifting.

The self-training hall and the lounge are at the back, while the training hall is at the front.

pair of custom-designed lifting straps with 'CrossFit Kyoto' branding, placed on a white surface.

The wrist wraps are handmade from old kimono fabric, which is very unique. I strongly recommend visiting there to train and get a pair; it’s worth it.

miling woman sitting on a vintage exercise machine in a gym setting.

They even have a unique coin-operated massage chair from 1964! For just 10 yen (about 5 cents), you can get a 3-minute massage. My girlfriend said it was surprisingly intense.

The Japanese participants in the class were all very 真面目 (majime, meaning serious in Japanese). They were incredibly dedicated and made impressive progress. It was quite surprising to see everyone achieve a personal record (PR) during the 2-hour clean and jerk session, with only a few exceptions due to injuries.

Coach giving a presentation to a group of athletes at Venus Weightlifting, using a laptop and screen for demonstration

There was a young woman who attended my class in 2019 and has participated in all three of my sessions in Kyoto. I'm incredibly grateful for her continued support. Thanks as well to everyone who came all the way from Osaka!

Group of athletes performing deep squat mobility exercises using support poles at Venus Weightlifting

I hope you all enjoyed the experience! Unfortunately, I have to fly to Europe the day after tomorrow, so I'll need to cut my Golden Week short a bit. But to the wonderful people of Kyoto, I'll be back!

Gaby Q

Greetings! I'm Gaby, Head Coach of Venus Weightlifting club, the first of its kind in China. Curious how weightlifting can advance without exhaustive efforts and stiff bodies? I've unraveled this secret by integrating Chinese medical training and my innovative BAT (Body Alignment Training), catapulting thousands to their personal bests. Ready to get your new PRs without pain? Let's embark on this journey of transformation together!

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