Founded by Bart and Geo Kwan, Barbell Brigade has grown immensely in the last few years and has even been featured on Bodybuilding.com. Solely focused on lifting, Barbell Brigade is a unique gym that has no machines, no cardio machines, but has all the barbells and 45lb plates in the world for your needs. With their tagline, “Dominate Humbly,” Barbell Brigade has grown to be one of the most popular gyms in Los Angeles and around the world. The gym was insanely busy during the weekend of the LA Fit Expo and they drew one hell of a crowd with their head-to-head deadlift competition and meet-and-greet with Bart Kwan, Geo Kwan, and Lu Galvez.
Barbell Brigade drawing a crowd
Lu Galvez of Barbell Brigade, known for his antics on Barbell Brigade‘s YouTube, was gracious enough to give us an exclusive interview despite how busy they were all day during the LA Fit Expo. Lu talks a little about how he got started with Barbell Brigade, with lifting, his upcoming competitions, and one of his favorite Korean barbeque spots in Los Angeles.
Tells us about yourself and how you got started with Barbell Brigade.
My name is Lu Galvez and my position is general staff at Barbell Brigade, but I also do a lot of the production. I started with Barbell Brigade really randomly with an IG post. I didn’t know anything about them. I actually saw them at the LA Fit Expo one time and ever since then I was kind of really pulled into “Dominate Humbly.” I applied for the job, I got an interview, and I had no idea who Bart and Geo were. People were all excited for me, but I had no idea what I was getting into and ever since then the gym has been growing. I think the gym has been growing because of the family and encouraging dynamic that we have at the gym. I feel like everybody kind of feeds off of that. It’s not about how much weight you can put up, it’s more about how hard you’re training and the employees feed off of that. The people who stop by really feed off of that too.
What did Barbell Brigade bring to the LA Fit Expo?
At the Fit Expo we are featuring a deadlift contest, head to head.
Renn Agustin, Barbell Brigade Staff: Sorry, really quick. Do you know a really good Korean barbeque spot?
Manna Korean Barbeque on Alameda!
Renn: Thanks!
As I was saying, right now we’re having a head to head contest. What we want to do is have people experience kind of what we do at the gym, that same environment, that intensity, and that encouragement that we get at the gym. It is very competitive, but people are helping each other out by screaming and amping them up and what not. We’re also selling apparel too.
How dd you go from bodybuilding to powerlifting?
You know what bro? I started powerlifting through a friend. He invited me to Metroflex and I’ve been hooked ever since. I’ve been weight lifting for ten years, but powerlifting for maybe like four.
Any competitions coming up?
I have a competition in April, my first USAPL meet. I’m very excited. I’m going to be doing the 205 weight class and it’s a drug tested competition so that makes me more excited cause I feel like I’ll have a better chance.
via IG: @barbellbrigade
If you missed out on the Barbell Brigade booth and was not able to meet Lu, you can always drop by Barbell Brigade.
Don’t forget to follow Lu on YouTube and on IG (@ludavez). Let’s go! Or nah?
Barbell Brigade Address:
646 Gibbons Street
Los Angeles, CA 90031
Phone Number:
1-323-225-2251
Hours:
Mon-Fri 6am to 11pm
Sat-Sun 7am to 10pm
