Unpacking my beliefs on physical strength, part 3

Third in a series. Read parts one and two. 

In a pivotal scene from the 1984 film “The Karate Kid,” Daniel, an energetic and impressionable teen, confronts Mr. Miyagi, an elderly neighborhood handyman and karate master. For days, Daniel had eagerly awaited Mr. Miyagi’s instruction, expecting to learn something about karate; after all, the elder man had agreed to train him for an upcoming tournament.

But after four days, Mr. Miyagi had yet to demonstrate a single punch, block, or kick. Instead, he simply instructed his young pupil to complete a variety of tedious chores around his house: wax the Ford Super Deluxe, sand the deck, paint the fence and the house.

Finally, convinced Mr. Miyagi has been taking advantage of him or that he’s been the brunt of some elaborate joke, Daniel exclaims, “For four days, I’ve been busting my ass, and I haven’t learned a goddamn thing!”

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In response, Mr. Miyagi commands Daniel to demonstrate the motion he makes when sanding the floor, a movement now ingrained in his muscles after thousands of repetitions. Next, Mr. Miyagi instructs Daniel to show him the motion he makes when waxing, followed by the motion he makes when painting.

Suddenly, the older man throws a punch — one Daniel blocks, to his amazement, with the same motion he used to wax Mr. Miyagi’s car.

With this, the karate master reveals he wasn’t, in fact, just using the teenager as cheap labor. The household chores taught him skills and instincts easily transferable to karate.

Admittedly, Mr. Miyagi could’ve been more honest from the beginning. Surely, there are more efficient and direct ways to teach karate.

Still, I appreciate the scene as an illustration of how life offers many teachable moments. Sometimes, we learn skills and competencies in places we don’t expect.

The benefits of strength training

In my last column, I wrote that physical strength occupies an undeserved pedestal in society. After all, it’s not a reliable indicator of inner strength or good character.

However, I also believe the pursuit of physical strength is likely underrated, given its potential to improve health and well-being. As someone with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, I am a testament to this.

By now, I’ve likely accumulated thousands of repetitions of leg press variations, dead lift variations, chest presses, shoulder presses, pull-ups, pulldowns, rows, hip hinges, thrusts, curls, and pushdowns. I’ve gained some proficiency in certain exercises and movement patterns, which has increased my strength.

My fellow CMTers won’t be surprised to learn that the two exceptions are my hands and ankles. I haven’t seen much change, no matter how often I train them. Still, I feel better after a few years of consistent resistance training. I’m more prepared for the movements required in my everyday life.

Just as thousands of waxing movements prepared Daniel to block punches, my thousands of repetitions of lower-body exercises have better prepared me to stand up from chairs, climb steps, crouch, and get up after falls.

In the same way, dead lift variations have strengthened the muscles I use to pick up and carry things, such as books, chairs, and groceries. And shoulder presses have made it easier for me to lift objects above my head.

Resistance training has also given me opportunities to better connect with my body. It’s meditative and helpful in tracking changes, including the progression of my CMT symptoms. Some reports even suggest that resistance training can benefit mental health, though I personally find that harder to measure.

None of this amounts to a cure for CMT, of course. But even if very few of us with CMT embody the mainstream image of peak physical strength, investing in our health — and our strength — is a profound act. It’s one of the few ways we can put up a meaningful fight against symptom progression while researchers work to find treatments, or even a cure.

In my next column, I’ll finalize my thoughts on physical strength and share practical takeaways.

Note: Charcot-Marie-Tooth News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Charcot-Marie-Tooth News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Charcot-Marie-Tooth.