Even at the age of 54, four-time Mr. Universe winner Mike O’Hearn is as chiseled and youthful as he was during his competitive days. The bodybuilder who is known for his impeccable build still loves to lift iron and even to this day regularly goes to the gym at the crack of dawn and trains for hours.

The fitness expert recently uploaded a video informing fitness enthusiasts why one should train heavily, while also revealing why he took a different approach while lifting iron.

Mike O’Hearn’s approach to heavy weightlifting was derived from outside the gym

Since he had always been into basketball and rugby from high school, O’Hearn already had a huge physique. Owing to the same, O’Hearn prides himself on the fact that he found a lot of bodybuilding techniques outside of the gym, making his approach slightly different from other bodybuilders. “I approach most of it as some kind of a setup even if it’s a deadlift, I grab the bar like I’m going to break the guy’s arm.”

Furthermore, he slyly hinted at the fact that he did this to “keep it alive” in the gym. As the video progressed next part of the video showed how the Titan lifted weights and did some bicep curls. As he had said earlier, the technique might remind some of holding someone by their collar and lifting them up.

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Earlier, O’Hearn had talked about why lifting heavy was important and how heavier weights are crucial for developing strength and muscle. This mindset was pretty similar to what Ronnie Coleman believed in.

Mike O’Hearn regretted not lifting heavy when he was young

In a recent interview with Muscle and Fitness, O’Hearn expressed his regret about not using heavier weights when he was still younger. The fitness icon and model stated the fact that he believed he would have achieved even greater success if he had known the significance of progressive overload at a younger age. According to the Titan, heavier weights are important for bodybuilding.

He recommended that young bodybuilders should not be afraid to lift heavy weights because doing that would help maintain the constant tension inside the muscle, which was important for muscle growth. He made it clear, “Do not run away from the heavier weights.”

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It is the Titan’s experience that makes him such a good source to follow if one needs to know their way through building muscles using heavyweights. As he continues to tout the benefits of lifting heavy, let us know your thoughts about his technique in the comments below.