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It never occurred to me that running shoes might not be the best thing to wear in a gym. But now that I'm getting more serious about lifting weights (mostly squats and deadlifts) I found a comment on a YouTube weight lifting instructional video: "Friends don't let friends wear runningshoes when lifting weights."
Do you have specific shoes for that? It makes sense to wear shoes without cushioning when I think about it...

Also, do you think it's possible to learn how to power clean on my own, without a coach?

You can deadlift in your sock.

I wear a pair of flat coach's shoes, black Rockports from about 15 years ago. A heel will throw you forward for the dead.

Though, actual weight lifting shoes do have a heel, so go figure.

Chuck Taylor high tops make good deadlift shoes. Wrestling shoes also work. But like the Good Rev GJ said, barefoot works well too. Some indoor soccer shoes can also do the trick.

For squats I use Adidas weightlifting shoes. Powerlifting friends who have used the Westside style training program also have squatted in the Chuck Taylors. But they do a low bar, wide stance squat. I prefer a high bar "Olympic" style squat, so the raised and very stable heel of the Adidas shoe works great.

VS Ahtletics sell a more moderatley priced olympic lifting shoe. Dynamic-Eleiko.com sells a range of the Adidas models. If you are going to get into cleans and posssibly snatches the shoes will make a difference.

You can learn on your own, but I'd reccomend finding someone to show you the basics first. My power clean used to be comprised of a deadlift into an upright row with a reverse curl on the end. Not so good. It wasn't until I went to a gym with a platform and competitive Olympic lifters that I learned better technique.

There is at least two gyms I can think of in the South Bay with platforms. "Flex it" in Mt View and I've been told they have staff that knows a thing or two. Then there is the Gold's Gym in San Jose on Stauffer, off of Montery Road and Curtner. They have a back room with bumper plates and an Eleiko bar. And they let you use chalk in the back room if you bring your own. It's not close for me but I go there on weekends.

Best of luck.

I went for the indoor soccer shoes (Adidas Samba Millenium). I tried the Chucks too, but the quality was horrible and I gladly paid the $20 more to get something all leather that didn't look like it would fall apart after wearing them once.

The movement you describe sounds like something I'm doing right now. But I know there should also be a little squat involved, the hip should be a bit higher than for a deadlift for the starting position, elbows should be high when catching the bar etc. I found some nice descriptions and videos and I'll keep practicing with low weights.

Currently I go to the Gold's in Mountain View on Shoreline. Lots of cages, but no platform and generally a little cramped. Maybe I should check out the San Jose one you mentioned once. I think I can use all South Bay Gold's with my membership.

Thanks!