About Us - Arcane Lith Veil Forge Fitness | Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Strength

How This All Started

Look, I'm not gonna feed you some mystical BS about discovering ancient scrolls in a hidden temple. But yeah, there's something to be said about training methods that've been around for centuries.

Started this place back in 2019 after spending years bouncing between commercial gyms that felt... empty. You know what I mean? All flash, no substance. I'd been studying movement patterns from different cultures - Greek wrestling, Indian club training, old-school strongman stuff - and realized modern fitness had kinda forgotten the basics.

So I took everything I learned traveling through Europe and Asia, mixed it with solid powerlifting foundations, and built something different. Not better, just... honest. Real training that connects your body to something deeper than just mirror muscles.

The Philosophy (Without the Fluff)

Here's the deal - your body isn't a machine. It's more like... I dunno, a weapon that needs proper forging. You can't just hammer away randomly and expect results. There's gotta be intention, rhythm, recovery.

We call it the "Veil" because most people train through a fog. They're disconnected from what their body's actually doing. Our job? Lift that veil. Make you aware of every movement, every muscle firing, every breath supporting the lift.

Ancient civilizations knew this stuff instinctively. They moved with purpose 'cause their survival depended on it. We've just adapted those patterns for modern strength goals - whether you're chasing a 500lb deadlift or just wanna move better in daily life.

No gimmicks. No 30-day transformations. Just consistent, intelligent training that builds strength that lasts.

The Forgemasters

Our trainers aren't just certified - they've lived this stuff

Marcus Chen - Head Forgemaster

Been lifting for 15 years, teaching for 8. Competed in strongman circuits across BC before realizing I liked coaching more than competing. Spent 2 years studying traditional movement systems in Southeast Asia. Now I just help people get ridiculously strong while staying injury-free.

Elena Kowalski - Movement Specialist

Former Olympic weightlifting athlete turned mobility junkie. Wrecked my shoulder in 2017 and had to rebuild from scratch - that's when I discovered the ancient movement patterns that actually fixed what physio couldn't. Now I blend powerlifting with flexibility work that'll make you question everything.

Jamal Thompson

Functional Strength Coach

Ex-firefighter who knows what real-world strength looks like. Brings that practical, no-nonsense approach to every session. If you can't use the strength you're building, what's the point?

Sarah Nakamura

Core Systems Coach

Trained as a dancer for 12 years before switching to strength training. That background means she sees movement patterns most coaches miss. Your core will hate her, then thank her.

Viktor Petrov

Powerlifting Foundations

Grew up training in Eastern European sports halls where technique was everything. Total competition numbers: 1450lbs at 198lbs. He'll make you fall in love with the basics all over again.

The Space Itself

We're not fancy. Got about 3,500 square feet of solid equipment - platforms, racks, bars that've seen some serious weight. Stone accents on the walls because, yeah, we committed to the aesthetic but also because it deadens sound and feels right.

Lighting's intentionally dim. Music's whatever the coach on duty's feeling. Temperature varies 'cause we're not running a spa - you'll sweat, that's kinda the point.

What we do have? Space to move. Quality bars. Chalk. Platforms that don't shake. And a crew of people who genuinely care whether you're progressing.

Come Check It Out

What We're Actually About

We're not trying to be the biggest gym in Vancouver. We're trying to be the one where you actually learn something.

Every session here teaches you something about how your body works, how to move better, how to push past mental blocks you didn't know you had. Whether you're training for competition or just want to feel capable again, we've got the tools and knowledge to get you there.

The mystical stuff? That's just recognizing that strength training done right is almost meditative. You'll see what I mean after your first heavy set.