“How Mentally Weak…”: Still Shredded at 54, Former Mr. Universe Mike O’Hearn Shuts Down Haters Bashing Quadfather’s Squat Technique

Mike O’Hearn is among the few bodybuilding icons who regularly interact with individual fans on social media. In a Q&A session he uploaded yesterday, the former Mr. Universe answered questions fans asked. Recently, the power bodybuilder had worked out with WSM winner Hafthor Bjornsson. During their session, O’Hearn and Bjornsson did a variation of the squat that the Quadfather Tom Platz popularized. The fan showed interest in trying out the unique squat, and The Titan praised him. However, he also had few words for the haters.

The former powerlifter and the 2018 Word Strongest Man winner performed an advanced variation of the traditional squat called the sissy squat. Unlike a standard squat, a sissy squat involves bending forward, leading with your knees, while pushing through your toes. O’Hearn gave a piece of his mind to those who say the Quadfather’s squat technique would cause knee damage.

Mike O’Hearn blamed the mindset, not the exercise

The four-time Mr. Universe said he was trying to bridge the gap between the old era and the new one by keeping a lesser-known but effective movement alive. However, while some would be interested in the exercise variation, others would denounce it even without giving it a try. “Oh! Just watching that hurts my knees,” they would say, according to O’Hearn.

Although the sissy squat may not be straightforward, it has been proven effective. Tom Platz earned the nickname Quadfather due to his exceptional leg development in bodybuilding. Despite putting his leg muscles through hell, Platz doesn’t have knee issues at 67 and still works out. “How mentally weak are those individuals?” questioned the 54-year-old bodybuilder.

Despite being his age, O’Hearn maintains a shredded physique and demonstrated the sissy squat to Hafthor Bjornsson during their workout at Gold’s Gym. Bjornsson, who is currently recovering from a pec tear, initially hesitated to attempt the variation. However, after O’Hearn assured him that the movement is beneficial for the knees, Bjornsson gave it a try. In his Q&A video, the former Mr. Universe used Bjornsson’s example to state why the haters’ argument doesn’t hold up.

Why the movement is good for your knees

O’Hearn explained Thor was reluctant because he thought the movement would hurt his knees. “Thor who’s a monster of a human… I could understand him saying ‘I’m really long, my limbs are long, that’s putting a lot of stress on my knee,'” the 54-year-old said. However, since the 6’9 Ft strongman has the “champion mindset,” he tried it.

READ MORE | “You Are Going to Get Weaker”: Still Carrying a Marvelous Physique at 54, Mike O Hearn Drops a Harsh Reality Check for People Compromising on Weight as They Age

The bodybuilding icon also assisted him in reducing the load on the hack squat machine and closely monitoring Thor’s form. However, after Bjornsson performed the movement, he experienced a pleasant surprise.“There’s no stress to my knee, this feels incredible,” he told Mike O’Hearn. The 54-year-old explained the sissy squat strengthens the knee joint and ligaments instead of damaging them. Hence those dismissing a movement The Quadfather relied on should try it themselves, said O’Hearn.

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