Hello,

I’m Kalah 

Kalah Thompson began weightlifting in 2012 in order to become stronger for her martial arts training. She soon fell in love with the sport of weightlifting itself, and became a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Coach. Over the past decade, she has led weightlifting classes and programmed for Denton MAC’s competitive team, the Denton Barbell Club. Denton Barbell athletes have competed in both local and national level meets. Kalah, too, competes as a masters athlete, and serves as a USA Weightlifting referee.

Kalah is also an assistant teacher in the judo program under Sensei Idean. She began training judo in 2019, having previously attained a black belt (shodan) in Aikido. She is currently a third-kyu brown belt in judo, and competes nationally as a masters athlete.

She moved to Denton in 2003 to attend the University of North Texas where she studied English and philosophy, graduating with a B.A. in 2008. To further her knowledge as a coach, she completed additional post-baccalaureate work in nutrition at Texas Woman’s University. She now teaches English and coaches at Strickland Middle School in Denton ISD. Kalah loves that her job allows her to combine her love of books and sports, believing in the importance of being a well-rounded human being — strong in mind, body, and spirit.

Certifications:

• USAW Sports Performance Coach
• CrossFit Olympic Lifting
• CrossFit Level 1
• CrossFit Level 2
• CrossFit Kids