A weight training apparatus comprising: a plurality of weight plates , at least some of said plurality of weight plates to be detachably connected to one another and lifted during a weight training exercise, each of said plurality of weight plates having a first face and an opposite face , a coupling slot recessed into said first face, and a coupling body extending from said opposite face, the coupling body of a first weight plate (e.g., 8-6) of said plurality of weight plates being removably received within the coupling slot of a second weight plate (e.g., 8-7) of said plurality of weight plates, whereby said first and second weight plates are detachably connected to one another and lifted together, at least the first weight plate of said plurality of weight plates also having an electric motor located therewithin and operable to cause the coupling body of said first weight plate to be coupled to and retained within the coupling slot of the second weight plate of said plurality of weight plates to prevent a disconnection of said first and second weight plates from one another when said first and second weight plates are lifted together, and characterised in that each of said plurality of weight plates has an electric motor located therewithin, and each of said first (8-6) and second (8-7) weight plates of said plurality of weight plates also has a housing including a locking pin moving therethrough between a retracted position located inwardly of said housing and an extended position extending outwardly from said housing, the electric motor of said second weight plate lying within the housing of said second weight plate and cooperating with the locking pin of the housing of said second weight plate for causing the locking pin of said second weight plate to move to said extended position and into the coupling slot of said second weight plate at which to engage the coupling body of said first weight plate that is removably received by the coupling slot of said second weight plate. a plurality of weight plates , at least some of said plurality of weight plates to be detachably connected to one another and lifted during a weight training exercise, each of said plurality of weight plates having a first face and an opposite face , a coupling slot recessed into said first face, and a coupling body extending from said opposite face, the coupling body of a first weight plate (e.g., 8-6) of said plurality of weight plates being removably received within the coupling slot of a second weight plate (e.g., 8-7) of said plurality of weight plates, whereby said first and second weight plates are detachably connected to one another and lifted together, at least the first weight plate of said plurality of weight plates also having an electric motor located therewithin and operable to cause the coupling body of said first weight plate to be coupled to and retained within the coupling slot of the second weight plate of said plurality of weight plates to prevent a disconnection of said first and second weight plates from one another when said first and second weight plates are lifted together, and characterised in that each of said plurality of weight plates has an electric motor located therewithin, and each of said first (8-6) and second (8-7) weight plates of said plurality of weight plates also has a housing including a locking pin moving therethrough between a retracted position located inwardly of said housing and an extended position extending outwardly from said housing, the electric motor of said second weight plate lying within the housing of said second weight plate and cooperating with the locking pin of the housing of said second weight plate for causing the locking pin of said second weight plate to move to said extended position and into the coupling slot of said second weight plate at which to engage the coupling body of said first weight plate that is removably received by the coupling slot of said second weight plate. <EOS>