Deadlift from 12lbs to 355lbs (watch this)

Every Mighty Oak Starts as a Tiny Acorn: From a 12-Pound Deadlift to 355

One of my favorite videos we've ever filmed starts with a six-year-old deadlifting 12 pounds off a yoga block — and ends with an eighteen-year-old college football player pulling 355. Most people see the beginning and the end. In this episode, we talk about everything in between.

Coach Michael Ockrim, CSCS, founder of Mighty Oak Athletic in Westmont, Illinois, breaks down why parents asking "how fast can my child get stronger?" are asking the wrong question — and what to ask instead. You'll hear why the best time to start strength training isn't when your child needs to get stronger, but before they need to; why the weight is just a tool for building patience, focus, and confidence; and why the strongest athletes aren't the ones who started lifting the heaviest, but the ones who started building the earliest.

Whether your athlete is six or sixteen, this one's about playing the long game: plant the seed, protect it, be patient, trust the process.

Mighty Oak Athletic trains young athletes ages 6–18 in Westmont, serving families across DuPage County. Book a free training session at mightyoakathletic.com.

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