About Oakland’s Most Powerful
We coach beginners and busy adults to build real-world strength with kettlebell training, mobility, and step-by-step progressions—so you feel confident and supported from day one.
OUR MISSION
We teach strength as a skill—helping our members improve strength, mobility, and health with excellent technique, smart programming, and a supportive community—so you get stronger while minimizing wear and tear on your body.
What Training with us is like
Coaching-first (we teach, we don’t just “run workouts”)
Small-group attention and modifications for all levels
Kettlebells + mobility + sustainable progress
A community that’s welcoming, not intimidating
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Co-Owner & Coach
Before Mel was a coach, she was a full-time Judo athlete and was ranked in the top 3 in the country. She put her sights on the Olympics until she tore both ACLs within one year. This closed the Olympic window for her so she re-focused her energy on a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practice and on becoming a strength coach.
As a competitive BJJ athlete she won gold at the Pan American Championships at blue belt, silver at Adult World Championships as a purple belt & gold at the Masters World Championships as a brown belt.
Mel has a black belt in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She draws from kettlebell, bodyweight and barbell knowledge as a Strongfirst Certified Team Leader & Elite coach. She is an Iron Maiden and has completed Sinister. Inspired by the notion that “Size Matters Not,” at 120 lbs, she endeavors to be as powerful pound for pound as she can be.
Aside from practicing and competing in martial arts, Mel enjoys hiking, gardening, adventure stories, traveling & is often found next to a mug of tea when not in a gym.
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Instagram: @mo.throws007
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Born and raised in Oakland, Luis has been coaching since 2013 and co-owns Oakland’s Most Powerful. He specializes in helping beginners build real-world strength with step-by-step coaching, clean technique, and progressions that feel safe, clear, and sustainable—so you don’t need to “get in shape first” to start.
Luis’s philosophy is simple: strength is a skill. Learn the fundamentals, practice consistently, and your confidence (and capacity) grows fast.
What you can expect working with Luis
Clear coaching cues and form feedback (no guesswork)
Kettlebell strength + mobility work that fits real life
Smart progressions that meet you where you’re at
Luis discovered strength training while working alongside his father in the family auto collision repair business—an experience that shaped how he coaches: show up consistently, focus on quality, and earn results through steady progress. After going through his own major body transformation, he understands how hard change can be—and how powerful the right plan and support can be.
At OMP, Luis offers 1:1 coaching and small-group training.
Outside the gym, Luis trains and competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He is a brown belt at 10th Planet Oakland under Michael Hillebrand.
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Instagram: @louisdeltoro
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Bubbles was our in-house recovery coach—master of sun naps, stress reduction, and making friends instantly. He reminded us that rest is part of getting stronger. We miss him dearly and carry his spirit with us.