-- Powerlifting & Olympic Weightlifting Coach
Ready Fitness Training · St. Louis, MO
Personal Trainer — Ready Fitness Training · St. Louis, MO
FENNER LAMM
LIFT HEAVY. LIFT RIGHT. LIFT MORE.
Fenner is Ready Fitness Training’s powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting specialist — one of the rare coaches who deeply understands both disciplines. Whether you’re preparing for your first powerlifting meet, learning the snatch for the first time, or simply want to finally nail your squat form and push your numbers up, Fenner builds the program and coaches every rep.
Powerlifting
Olympic Weightlifting
Form Coaching
Competition Prep
Beginners Welcome
Powerlifting
Olympic Weightlifting
Squat
Bench Press
Deadlift
Snatch
Clean & Jerk
Form Coaching
Competition Prep
Beginners Welcome
Powerlifting
Olympic Weightlifting
Squat
Bench Press
Deadlift
Snatch
Clean & Jerk
Form Coaching
Competition Prep
Beginners Welcome
-- Training Philosophy
FORM FIRST. THEN ADD WEIGHT.
Fenner’s coaching philosophy is built on one foundational principle: technique drives everything. Weight on the bar means nothing if your movement is compromised. Get the form right first – and the weight will follow, more safely and more sustainably than if you rushed to load the bar.
This applies whether Fenner is coaching a complete beginner who has never touched a barbell, or a competitive powerlifter trying to add 20 lbs to their deadlift total. The process is the same: assess the movement, identify what’s limiting it, correct it precisely, and then build load progressively on a clean foundation. Fenner coaches both powerlifting (squat, bench press, deadlift) and Olympic weightlifting (snatch, clean & jerk) — making her one of the most versatile strength coaches in St. Louis. Whether you want to compete or just get stronger and more capable, she has a program for you.
-- Coaching Approach
What every client can expect
01
A movement assessment on your specific lifts before any loading is added — Fenner identifies what needs correction before training on top of bad patterns.
02
Precise technical cues for every lift — position, bar path, bracing, foot placement, grip. The details that separate safe lifting from dangerous lifting.
03
Periodized loading progression that builds strength systematically — not random weight increases that stall or lead to injury.
04
Competition programming for those with meet goals — proper peaking cycles so you arrive at peak strength on competition day.
05
A genuinely welcoming environment for beginners — Fenner believes the barbell should be accessible to everyone, not just experienced lifters.
-- Two Disciplines
POWERLIFTING &
OLYMPIC LIFTING.
BOTH.
Most strength coaches specialize in one. Fenner coaches both — and understands the key differences in demands, technique, and programming between powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting.
Powerlifting
MAX STRENGTH
Powerlifting tests absolute maximal strength across three movements. The goal is simple: lift as much weight as possible for one repetition in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Slower, more controlled movements with extremely heavy loads. Competitive scores are the sum of best lifts across all three.
Squat
Lower body maximal strength — quads, glutes, hamstrings, core bracing
Bench Press
Upper body pressing strength — chest, shoulders, triceps, stability
Deadlift
Posterior chain strength — hamstrings, glutes, back, grip
Olympic Weightlifting
EXPLOSIVE POWER
Olympic lifting focuses on two highly technical, explosive lifts that move the barbell from the floor to overhead. These are among the most technically demanding movements in all of sport – requiring speed, power, mobility, and precise coordination. Fenner coaches the full technique from the very first session.
Snatch
Single explosive motion — floor to locked-out overhead in one movement
Clean & Jerk
Two-phase lift — floor to shoulders (clean), then overhead (jerk)
Accessory Work
Front squats, overhead squats, pulls, and mobility for Olympic lifting
-- The Lifts
EVERY LIFT. EXPLAINED.
Fenner teaches and coaches all five competition lifts across both disciplines, plus the accessory work that builds them. Here’s what each lift demands and what Fenner focuses on in coaching.
Powerlifting — Lift 1
The Squat
The king of lower body strength. Primarily develops the quads, glutes, and hamstrings while demanding significant core bracing and thoracic stability. Both raw and equipped squats are coached. Depth, bar position, and bracing are the three areas Fenner focuses on most.
- Proper depth — hip crease below parallel
- Bar position: high bar vs low bar mechanics
- Brace and breath — intra-abdominal pressure
- Stance width and foot angle for your anatomy
Powerlifting — Lift 2
The Bench Press
Upper body maximal pressing strength across the chest, shoulders, and triceps. The bench press has more technical subtlety than most people realize — setup, arch, leg drive, and bar path all significantly affect how much you can lift safely. Fenner coaches competition-legal technique and general strength bench.
- Setup: scapular retraction and arch
- Grip width and wrist position
- Bar path: slight diagonal, not straight down
- Leg drive for full-body stability
Powerlifting — Lift 3
The Deadlift
The total posterior chain test. Hamstrings, glutes, erectors, lats, and grip all work together to move maximum weight from the floor. Conventional and sumo deadlift both coached. Lower back rounding, bar drift, and starting position are the three most common form errors Fenner addresses.
- Starting position: hip hinge, lat engagement
- Bar over mid-foot — bar stays close throughout
- Conventional vs sumo: anatomy-based selection
- Lockout mechanics and glute engagement
Olympic Lifting — Lift 1
The Snatch
The most technically demanding lift in all of strength sport. The barbell moves from the floor to fully locked out overhead in one continuous explosive movement using a wide grip. It demands full-body coordination, explosive hip extension, elite shoulder mobility, and rapid movement under the bar. Fenner builds this progressively from the ground up.
- Wide grip position and overhead stability
- First pull: controlled off the floor
- Second pull: explosive hip extension
- Catch position: receiving the bar overhead
Olympic Lifting — Lift 2
The Clean & Jerk
A two-phase lift that produces the heaviest overhead result in competition. Phase one (the clean) moves the bar from the floor to the front rack position on the shoulders. Phase two (the jerk) drives the bar overhead to full lockout. The clean & jerk requires different technique and timing in each phase — Fenner coaches both as integrated and separate skills.
- Clean: front rack position and elbow height
- Front squat receiving position
- Jerk: dip, drive, and split mechanics
- Overhead lockout and recovery
Olympic Lifting Support
Accessory & Mobility
Olympic weightlifting requires more mobility than almost any other strength sport — particularly in the hips, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. Fenner programs the essential accessory lifts (front squat, overhead squat, clean pulls, snatch pulls) and the specific mobility work that makes the competition lifts possible and safe.
- Overhead squat for snatch stability
- Front squat for clean receiving position
- Hip and ankle mobility for deep squat catch
- Shoulder mobility for overhead stability
-- Form & Technique Coaching
GET YOUR FORM RIGHT.
WATCH YOUR WEIGHTS GO UP.
Bad form on barbell lifts limits your numbers, creates injury risk, and builds motor patterns that get harder to correct over time. Good form does the opposite — it maximizes how much force you can safely produce and keeps you lifting for years.
Fenner’s form coaching applies to all five competition lifts. You don’t need competition goals to benefit from technical coaching — every serious gym-goer who squats, benches, or deadlifts benefits from having an expert set of eyes on their technique.
Squat
Depth, stance, brace, and bar position are the four variables that determine whether you squat well or poorly. Fenner diagnoses which is off and corrects it specifically — not generic cues, but the one that fixes your pattern.
Bench
Setup is everything in the bench press. Most people leave significant weight on the bar because of poor arch, loose scapular setup, or incorrect bar path. These are all teachable and fixable in a single session of focused coaching.
Deadlift
Lower back rounding, bar drift, and poor starting position are the three form errors that limit every deadlifter who trains without coaching. Fenner identifies which error is yours and builds the corrective habits that carry into your heaviest sets.
Snatch
The snatch cannot be coached in generic cues — it is too technical. Fenner breaks it into phases and drills each phase until it is reliable before connecting them into the full lift. Patience and precision are the method.
Clean
Front rack position is the most common limiting factor for beginners learning the clean. Fenner addresses wrist, elbow, and shoulder mobility specifically so you can receive the bar in the correct position from day one.
Jerk
The dip-drive-receive sequence of the jerk must be trained as a consistent, automatic pattern. Fenner drills the timing and foot position until the jerk is reliable under fatigue — the condition in which it has to work in competition.
-- Competition Preparation
READY TO COMPETE?
For athletes with meet goals, Fenner builds proper peaking programs that bring you to your strongest on competition day — not before, not after. This requires understanding periodization, attempt selection, and the meet day process. Fenner coaches all of it.
Meet Selection
Choosing the right meet based on your timeline, weight class, and experience level.
Peaking Cycle
Periodized programming that builds toward peak strength on meet day, not the week before.
Attempt Strategy
Opening attempts and progression strategy to maximize your total across all three attempts.
Meet Day Coaching
Warmup timing, attempt adjustments, and coaching on the platform when it counts.
First meet? Perfect. Fenner actively encourages first-time competitors. She’ll help you understand how the meet works, what to expect, how to warm up, and how to make your attempts — before you ever step on the platform.
-- Who Fenner Trains
FROM FIRST BARBELL TO COMPETITION PLATFORM.
Complete Beginners
Never touched a barbell. Fenner starts from zero and builds correct mechanics before adding any load.
Intermediate Lifters
Training for a while but stuck, form breaking down at heavier weights, or wondering why progress has stalled.
Competitive Athletes
Preparing for a powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting meet. Full competition peaking and meet-day coaching.
Curious About the Lifts
Always been intrigued by the snatch or clean & jerk but never had proper instruction. Fenner starts you right.
-- Training Packages
TRAIN WITH FENNER
No gym membership required. All packages include personalized programming and direct coaching. Contact for exact pricing based on goals and frequency.
Try It First
Single Session
1 session
Start with a single session — Fenner assesses your current form on the lifts you want to work on and gets your program started.
- Form assessment on your chosen lifts
- Technical coaching from session one
- No membership required
- Powerlifting or Olympic lifting
Most Popular
4-Session Pack
4 sessions
Four sessions with a full program designed around your lifts, goals, and current level. Ideal for form correction and strength building.
- 4 coaching sessions with Fenner
- Custom periodized program
- Technique coaching every session
- Progress review at session 2
Full Program
Competition Prep
12 week peak
Full meet preparation cycle from 12 weeks out through competition day. Attempt strategy, peaking, and meet-day coaching included.
- Full periodized peaking cycle
- Meet selection and attempt strategy
- Competition day coaching
- Available for PL and Olympic lifting meets
-- Client Results
REAL LIFTERS. REAL NUMBERS.
-- Ready to Lift?
Book A Session With FENNER
Fill out the form to request a session, ask about powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting coaching, or discuss competition prep. Fenner responds personally.
- No gym membership required
- Complete beginners actively welcome
- Powerlifting & Olympic weightlifting both coached
- Competition prep available
- Prefer to reach out directly?
Call or text 314-669-5006 or email info@readyft.com to secure your Saturday appointment. Slots are limited — book ahead.
-- Common Questions
TRAINING WITH FENNER — FAQ
What is the difference between powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting?
Powerlifting focuses on three lifts — squat, bench press, and deadlift — testing maximal strength through heavier loads and more controlled, slower movements. Olympic weightlifting focuses on the snatch and clean & jerk, which are explosive overhead lifts requiring speed, power, and a much higher level of technical precision and mobility. Both are competitive sports. Fenner coaches both disciplines at Ready Fitness Training.
Do I have to want to compete to train with Fenner?
Absolutely not. Fenner trains complete beginners, recreational lifters who just want to get stronger and safer on the barbell, and competitive athletes preparing for meets. You don’t need any competition goals — many of Fenner’s clients simply want to squat, bench, and deadlift correctly and progressively increase their weight over time.
I’ve been told my squat / deadlift form is bad. Can Fenner fix it?
Yes – and this is one of Fenner’s primary focuses. She assesses your movement on every lift, identifies the specific fault (not a generic list), and coaches the correction with precision. Most clients see significant form improvement within their first few sessions.
Is Olympic weightlifting too advanced for beginners?
It is technically complex, but not too advanced to start as a beginner – provided you have proper coaching from the start. Fenner builds Olympic lifters from their very first session, using a progressive approach that introduces the components of the snatch and clean & jerk in a logical sequence before combining them into the full competition movement.
Do I need a gym membership to train with Fenner?
No. You can train with Fenner as a standalone service without a gym membership. Adding a gym membership allows you to train independently between sessions, which accelerates results especially for technical lifting where volume and repetition are important for skill development.