Amir Khan’s British Weight Lifting Coaching Journey

Welcome to our Weightlifting blog series: Lifting the Bar! We’re speaking with four individuals who are each at different stages of their Weightlifting coaching journey.

Each week we’ll uncover their stories, challenges and triumphs – unveiling how determination can overcome anything. Whether you’re a seasoned coach, or just curious about how to take the plunge into the world of coaching, this series is for you.

This week we’re featuring Amir Khan, who spoke about his passion for lifting and helping others to be great at the sport. Inspirational and down to earth, Amir gives his advice on why coaching qualifications pave the way to success.

How did you get into Weightlifting?

Hi, I’m Amir Khan aged 36 from Leeds.

I started my fitness journey at a young age planning rugby. I trained often and I was always told that to become a better player I must get stronger. This is when I started my Weightlifting journey! I was consistent with my lifting and ultimately, I ended up loving it more than playing rugby itself.

I have only ever worked in the fitness industry, and I have a passion for helping people grow and develop. When I was working at the gym people used to ask me for advice on their lifts and to critique their techniques. I guess that’s really when I started to realise that coaching is something I really enjoy and that I could make into a full-time career. 

What was your initial impression of Weightlifting when you started? Did it come naturally to you?

Something about me is that I’m super competitive. I've been in sport from a young age, and I am always seeing someone else’s progress as a point of challenge for myself.

I would say the strength came naturally but not technique, I had to learn to move well and use my strength correctly. I could lift a lot early, but the process was getting the correct form for lifting. My wins when lifting whether I am hitting a new PB or correcting a new technique impact me into every aspect of my life. I feel more resilient since starting to Weightlift. 

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced early on in your Weightlifting journey?

My first few years of training were class based, which at first was overwhelming as I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, I quickly realised that this sport had a great community and that the people who do Weightlifting are extremely supportive, giving high fives when you hit a pb and constantly cheering each other on. Weightlifting is a niche that not everyone is into, so we all have a respect for each other at any stage in the lifting journey.

I would say I now struggle with the issues of stepping away from the weights as this is my job, hobby and social life. The challenge is I always feel like I want to do more, and it takes a lot to force myself to rest but ultimately, I need my rest to progress.

How has Weightlifting impacted your day-to-day life?

Weightlifting itself and my training plans have had such a positive impact my mental health. I have a group that I train with on a Saturday morning, and we often finish a session by going and getting a lunch together. Which gives us more chance to chat about what we love… Weightlifting!

Can you describe a moment when you hit a breakthrough or achieved a goal in your lifting that was particularly meaningful to you?

I have coached for a long time, but I have only competed 3 times in Weightlifting. I would say my greatest goal achieved would be when I won 3rd place at the Masters Athletes, British Weight Lifting for the category of 35-39 (age) under 96kg. This moment was special as I felt extremely proud of myself and due to how I don’t often compete it was even more meaningful as I could see my hard work had paid off.

How did you know you wanted to start coaching?

When it comes to structuring my own routine, I have my own coach who helps. I believe no one is above coaching and it’s the best way to keep progressing in the sport. You need someone who is outside your head to see what you can’t always see, both physically and mentally. My advice, film your lifts and watch them back with your coach then you can both look at areas of improvement. The result of a coach is that your personal bias is taken out of this!

For inspiration when I am coaching, I look to a few different influencers on Instagram, take advise from the coaches around me and I refer to my previous learning from British Weight Lifting. It can be difficult to teach Weightlifting to a class of different abilities but doing this give me the inspiration on how I can plan correctly. I knew at university that I wanted to become a coach straight after studying my Masters in Coaching Science. The course gave me transferable skills that I still use day-to-day. I think to be the best coach I can be, I must continue to learn. I am always doing up to date training courses to make sure that the knowledge I am sharing is correct and relevant.

What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about starting Weightlifting coaching but feels intimidated or unsure?

If you have the communication skills and evaluation skills, you will make a great coach. It is important that you take on all the relevant education, I always found that from doing sports when I was younger it helped me massively, but it’s not everything.

The main thing is understanding how to explain from a coaches’ viewpoint to the lifter, what they need to do to improve and understanding how to correct them in a way that works best for them. It is so rewarding being a coach, I think it's great to help people and get to watch them have their lightbulb moment when it all starts to click. If you want to learn from the best, you can also be the best that’s why I do my training with British Weight Lifting!

Why have you chosen a British Weight Lifting course?

The online learning worked for me as I could dip in and dip out of the course and if I had two hours, I would use it! The assignments make you pay attention as the qualification requires you to provide a training programme. Their practical course helped me to put the theory into practice and gave me the confidence for when working with clients. Not only that British Weight Lifting is the governing body for Weightlifting so it’s the top place to get your qualifications from. I would say the difference between their courses and other is that BWL cares about the sport that’s the difference! They are present throughout and you will see them at events, training days and you can always get in touch with them when needed.

I have already completed my Level 1 and Level 2 Olympic Weightlifting courses with British Weight Lifting and I am now starting my Level 3 Strength and Power course with them and I’m looking forward to it!

 

We’ll be following Amir as he continues his coaching journey on the Level 3 Strength and Power course.

For more updates on Amir and his Weightlifting career, follow him on Instagram @amirkhanfitness

 

 

 

 

Publish date: 22/10/25

Author: Elicia Agar