San Diego Elite Speed and Strength - El Cajon, California

Lawrence C.

Coach Buzz and his team are great!
They work well with Kids, teaching them fundamentals of proper form and so much more. Which led to my Son being so much faster!

Can't wait till football season is over so I can have my son come back and get that work!

Oscar E.

Coach Buzz has been amazing with my 7 year old daughter for the past eight months. Buzz is super knowledgeable, has a scientific and measurable test approach that is second to none in San Diego. Linear and lateral workouts, plyometrics, core and stability workouts. You name it, he does it! We can’t wait for his indoor gym to open up!

10/25/23:
Indoor gym is as advertised. Group classes for younger and olders as well as a girls lift training class. If your kid lacks athleticism, balance, coordination… coach Buzz and staff is your place!

Arika D.

My daughter loves working out here! We tried for years to have her condition with us at home and she complained and never wanted to do it. At Elite she feels at home with the instructors and there’s other kids her age so she has a lot of fun. Plus, they play Taylor Swift on rotation so that’s an extra bonus. 😆 We’ve seen a lot of improvement in her athleticism from her time at Elite. We are very thankful for them and they’re great to work with.

raquel B.

My daughter Paige has been attending San Diego Elite Speed and Strength since May and I am very impressed. She loves working with all the coaches who are very professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. Coach Ethan and Coach Z challenge her to push herself and improve her skills in a safe and fun environment. All the coaches teach her the proper techniques and form for various exercises and movements that has helped her grow as an athlete. Coach Buzz provides her with constructive feedback and tips on how to progress and achieve her goals. She always comes home happy and excited after every session. Can’t forget about coach Christine who introduced girls lift to both of my daughters, but especially to my oldest who intentionally had no interest. San Diego Elite Speed and Strength is an awesome place for kids who want to improve their skill and strength!

Paul G.

I’ve been a member of this gym for a long time, and it breaks my heart to say that I’ve decided to leave not because I wanted to, but because the gym I once loved no longer exists under the new ownership. If you’re a potential new member reading this, I URGE you do NOT to be misled by the older 5-star reviews. Those were written during a very different era, under a previous owner who poured his heart into this place.

The former owner known as (Coach Buzz) was incredibly involved always present, approachable, and genuinely cared about the members and the facility. He took pride in maintaining the gym, ensuring everything ran smoothly, and creating a positive, welcoming atmosphere. It was a place you wanted to be a true community.

Unfortunately, things took a steep downturn when the new owners took over. Read this and see why

Here’s what changed:
1. Inconsistent and Reduced Hours:
The gym’s hours have become extremely limited, and the reliability has taken a major hit. They advertised plans to implement 24-hour access via a keycard or door system, but that promise has gone unfulfilled I have been waiting since December when they said it was going to be done January latest and not a single change has been made for months and they use the same excuse not. Only that they literally do not reply and read and leave on read. Many members, including myself, waited patiently for these improvements, only to be met with silence and inaction. Open 6am or 6pm ONLY by the way with NO in between.
2. Lack of Ownership Presence:
The new owners are BARLEY, if EVER, present. There’s no leadership, no sense of accountability, and no connection with the community. You can feel the absence, and it directly affects the vibe and operation of the gym. Previous owner was there 5 days was a week new owners RARELY twice a week.
3. No Improvements, No Upkeep:
Since the change in ownership, NOT a SINGLE improvement has been made. Equipment goes unrepaired, maintenance is ZERO I say that because there is roof leak since JANUARY and ZERO FIX has been done ZERO while drilling on the green turf which is a safety HAZARD. Any sort of innovation or upgrade has completely stalled. In fact, it feels like things are slowly falling apart. Previous water dispenser had been perfect for years the second these people came it somehow broke? Even better it still is broken and nothing has changed. Not to mention they RASIED all the PRICES of everything my previous membership was $45 and RAISED TO $65 for absolutely ZERO CHANGE just worsening the place.
4. Broken Promises:
What makes this all the more frustrating is the way the new owners sold a vision of growth and upgrades then completely FAILED TO DELIVER.

Eric P.

I have nothing but praise for SDESS. Excellent daily sessions, fantastic staff, clean and well equipped facility. We’ve been attending intermediate group sessions and our 10 year-old loves it. Buzz and his coaches challenge kids but keep it fun. We’ve been training here for about 6 months and he’s gotten measurably stronger and faster and he’s having more fun at soccer since his mobility has improved so much. As a parent, I’m so impressed with how knowledgeable the coaches are about training, movement, and the actual needs of the kids compared to the parent perception of the kids needs. They really get it and their program works.

Jason A.

My son has been training with SDESS for about 5 months now and I have seen the improvement in his explosiveness and running mechanics. Coach Buzz is excellent in his approach with the kids explaining why they are doing what they are doing and how it will improve their speed and explosiveness. I am a former collegiate running back so I have a pretty good nose for nonsense when I hear it when it comes to agility and speed training and Coach Buzz is none of that.. he is legit!! Go check him out. You and your child will learn a great deal.

Stephen B.

Coach Buzz and his team run a great program. I started both my son and daughter there a year ago. My son had some natural agility but my daughter next to none. I saw a vast improvement in both kids shortly after starting. His team also provided specialty training. Coach Christine helped my daughter advance in soccer and Coach Ethan helped with my son advance in football. I highly recommend SD Elite Speed and Strength