Provided herein are embodiments of a barbell spotting apparatus having all the benefits of a free-floating, unconstrained barbell in both the horizontal and vertical axes with the safety of a dedicated spotting mechanism, while addressing safety, noise, and space concerns raised by typical barbell apparatus. The embodiments herein permit a loaded barbell to be positioned in line with the axis of motion of the lift to be performed at both the beginning and end of the lift.

A bracket assembly includes a back plate with outer and inner sides and a pin opening extending therethrough. A clasp member has an extending portion and an encasing portion extending from the extending portion. The extending and encasing portions and the inner side of the body define a channel configured to receive a rack beam. A pin seated in the pin opening has a shank, and a head at the outer side of the back plate. The shank extends through the opening into the channel The shank is configured to engage the rack beam within the channel The head is welded to the outer side of the back plate. An extension member defines a support surface and includes pair of substantially J-shaped plates and a cover nested with the plates such that it forms the entire support surface and is substantially flush with sides of the substantially J-shaped plates.

A weight lifting support shirt is used to assist a lifter to perform workouts and includes a chest support portion, a shoulder support portion, an abdominal support portion, and a first and second arm support portions each including a sleeve portion. The chest support portion is configured to extend across a chest portion of the lifter from a first end to a second end. The first and second arm support portions extend from the first and second ends of the chest support portion, respectively. The shoulder support portion abuts and extends across boundaries of the first and second arm support portions, and the chest support portion. The first and second arm support portions are configured to conform around a first and a second arm of the lifter. The abdominal support portion extends below from the chest support portion and is configured to conform and fasten around the lifer's abdomen.

A squat and bench press bar includes a horizontal bar, a pair of vertical bars affixed to the horizontal bar, a pair of horizontal rods affixed to the pair of vertical bars, and a pair of weight plates for mounting onto the rods. The vertical bars include a first portion slidably disposed within a second portion forming an adjustable telescopic arrangement that enables a user to configure the squat and bench press bar into a squatting configuration or a bench-pressing configuration. The rods define a lowermost point of the squat and bench press bar such that when the weight plates are mounted onto the rods, a portion of the weight plates is positioned below the rods. The rods define an axle upon which the weight plates may rotate such that a user may move the squat and bench press bar from one position to another without requiring a spotter.

A self-spotting exercise apparatus is formed to include a pair of weight-bearing arms that are attached to a back frame assembly of the apparatus by a pair of double-hinge components. The double-hinge configuration provides a full range of motion for the weight-bearing arms with respect to the “fixed” apparatus itself. The opposing end terminations of the weight-bearing arms are configured to support weight plates (which may be changed out, as desired), with the weight-bearing arms also including a pair of handgrips for the user to hold as he/she moves the weight-bearing arms during an exercise routine. Self-spotting is provided by the use of a foot-activated motion bar, which is attached to a pair of vertical support posts that hold the distal ends of the extended arms when not in use.

A barbell including a bar member, a first side weight assembly and a second side weight assembly. The bar member has a first side sleeve region and a second side sleeve region opposite the first side sleeve region. The first side weight assembly includes a weight surface and extends over the first side sleeve region, and is rotatively coupled to the bar member through an inner and outer slidable engagement surface. The second side weight assembly includes a weight surface and extends over the second side sleeve region, and is rotatively coupled to the bar member through an inner and outer slidable engagement surface. The bar member includes a first and second surface enhanced region, the first surface enhanced region spanning a portion of the central region and the first side sleeve region, and with the second surface enhanced region spanning a portion of the central region and the second side sleeve region.

A training device for strength training is capable of performing through use of a barbell, the training device including: a frame body; a support body configured to support the barbell from below; moving means for moving the support body to ascend and descend along the frame body; control means for controlling the moving means; and state detecting means for detecting a state of the barbell or a user, wherein the control means is configured to control the moving means based on a detection signal detected by the state detecting means. With the training device, various kinds of free-weight training can be solely and safely performed.

A weight lifting device including a housing having first frame having first vertical channel for accommodating first weight holding means and second frame having second vertical channel for accommodating second weight holding means, wherein first vertical channel and second vertical channel are dimensioned so that first weight holding means and second weight holding means can move up and down, when in use, in first vertical channel and second vertical channel, respectively. The weight lifting device also includes a handle bar pivotably connectable to first weight holding means and to second weight holding means from first end of handle bar and second end of handle bar, respectively. The weight lifting device further includes at least one of: first holding bar, second holding bar, first pivotable arm and second pivotable arm, arranged between pivotably connectable handle bar and first weight holding means and second weight holding means.

Described herein are examples of a device which includes a weight spotter configured to hold a free weight on a lower portion, and be attached to a structure, such as cross bar of exercise equipment or a shaft of a barbell. The weight spotter configured to allow a user to easily lift and replace the free weight from the structure while providing support and ease of use for the user.

An exercise rack enclosure system for providing an exercise rack which is concealable within an enclosure. The exercise rack enclosure system generally includes an enclosure including an interior space. An exercise rack is pivotably connected to the enclosure within the interior space. The exercise rack is adjustable between a collapsed position, in which the exercise rack is completely positioned within the interior space of the enclosure, and an extended position, in which the exercise rack extends out of the interior space of the enclosure for use. The enclosure may optionally include one or more doors for concealing the interior space and exercise rack when not in use. Various attachments may be stored in the enclosure and removably connected to the exercise rack for performing a wide range of exercise moves.