In a clip that has surprised many in the fitness community, legendary bodybuilder and fitness model Mike O’Hearn has shared his most effective method for burning calories – and it’s not what most would expect from the muscular titan.
The fitness veteran recently disclosed that Brazilian jiu-jitsu outperforms all other training modalities in his regimen when it comes to caloric expenditure.
“I burn more calories doing two hours of jiu-jitsu with nothing else that day,” O’Hearn stated. “I burn twice as many calories that day than I do anytime I’m training and doing cardio.”
This admission has generated significant buzz among O’Hearn’s followers, with many expressing surprise at learning the bodybuilding icon practices the grappling martial art. One fan commented, “I didn’t know Mike trained! That’s awesome 💪,” while another noted, “Yooooo! I didn’t know you train. That’s kind of awesome.”
Fitness experts have weighed in to explain the science behind O’Hearn’s experience. One follower pointed out,
“Facts because it’s a full-body workout using compound, multi-joint movements that target multiple muscle groups at once. All while keeping your brain hyper focused to react to your opponent’s moves….oh and it’s fun.”
Another training enthusiast explained,
“If you repeatedly do the same type of cardio your body becomes more efficient at doing it = you burn less calories. The inverse is true which is what Mike here is saying.”
The revelation aligns with research suggesting that high-intensity interval-style training, which characterizes much of jiu-jitsu practice, can lead to greater caloric expenditure even after the workout has concluded, thanks to the “afterburn effect.”
Beyond just calorie burning, fans noted additional benefits of the martial art.
“U will also get a different level of strength, it’s an insane workout… not the same long holding and stretching motions,”
one commenter observed.
For O’Hearn, who has built his reputation on his impressive physique and traditional bodybuilding methods, this endorsement of martial arts training represents an interesting diversification in his fitness approach.
While traditional cardio methods remain popular among bodybuilders, O’Hearn’s experience suggests that incorporating skill-based, full-body activities like jiu-jitsu might offer superior results for those looking to maximize caloric expenditure while developing practical skills.
As one enthusiast summed it up:
“BJJ is no joke if you do it right.”
