Abstract: A weight lifting free-weight support method and apparatus comprising a support frame connected to at least one retractor assembly comprising a first and second reel having a locked and unlocked condition and an elongated strap with a first end and second end, the second end attached to a weight lifting free-weight, the first end having first and second spooling portions diverging from each other, the first spooling portion connected to the first reel and the second spooling portion connected to the second reel such that when the reels are in the unlocked condition the elongated strap is allowed to travel freely along a user-defined path relative to the support frame, and when at least one of the reels is in the locked condition, the spooling portions are prevented from unspooling from the reels, the locked condition triggered by unspooling the spooling portions at a rate greater than a predetermined rate.