“Chop Wood, Carry Water”
The Hidden Power of Repetition
“Everyone wants to be great until it’s time to do what greatness requires.”
— Chop Wood, Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf
At The Movement Hub, we often celebrate the big wins — someone achieving their first chin-up, hitting a new deadlift PR, or finally feeling confident in their movement after years of injury. But behind each of these milestones is something much less glamorous: the quiet discipline of showing up, again and again, and doing the work.
This is the essence of Chop Wood, Carry Water. The book follows a boy named John who travels to Japan to train as a samurai archer. He dreams of greatness. But his teacher has other ideas — instead of flashy technique or shortcuts, John is told to simply chop wood and carry water. Daily. Repetitively. With care.
The lesson? Greatness isn't achieved through hacks or hype. It’s built through repetition, patience, and humility.
Reps, Sets, and Samurai Wisdom
When you come into the gym and do your rows, push-ups, or mobility drills — you’re chopping wood. When you train tempo squats, breathing drills, or shoulder cars with precision — you’re carrying water.
It might not feel dramatic. It might not look exciting. But it’s working.
Every rep you do with intention is laying down the neural and physical groundwork for the athlete you’re becoming — stronger, more mobile, more in control of your body.
Why Boring is Brave
In the book, John learns that the most dangerous temptation isn’t failure — it’s impatience. Wanting results too quickly, skipping the fundamentals, or comparing yourself to others can derail progress.
At The Movement Hub, we take a different approach.
We slow things down.
We focus on technique.
We revisit the basics often — not because you’re a beginner, but because mastery lives in the basics.
This isn’t just about looking fit. It’s about building a body you can rely on 5, 10, or 20 years from now.
The Real Wins Aren’t Always on Instagram
Here’s what rarely gets shared online:
The member who came in tired but still showed up.
The person who spent 3 months improving shoulder mobility before finally going overhead again.
The one who didn’t miss a single session in 6 weeks, even though progress felt slow.
These are the real “chop wood, carry water” stories. Quiet. Uncelebrated. But powerful.
What This Means For You
If you’re currently in a season of training where things feel slow — don’t be discouraged. You’re in the middle of the process. And that’s where transformation lives.
Whether you’re chasing your first push-up, coming back from injury, or trying to move without pain, remember:
Progress is rarely linear.
Consistency beats intensity.
The person who keeps showing up wins.
So next time you train, ask yourself:
“What’s my wood to chop today? What water do I need to carry?”
Then get to work. Not because it's sexy — but because it works.