Journey of the Strongest
What happens when you're standing in Shibuya watching crowds move happily through the noisy night, and you're the only one who feels stuck, lazy, dreaming of becoming stronger but not knowing how?
In this episode, our 23-year-old narrator walks into a gym for the first time, ego soaring, and immediately attempts to bench press 50 kilograms with no warm-up. Predictably, the bar pins him down, choking him, and he's certain he's about to die until someone lifts the weight off his chest. Through blurred vision, he realises his rescuer is Saitama, the legendary figure from the workout commercials who inspired him in the first place.
What follows is a training montage that spans months: late nights at the gym, moments of wanting to quit, a commercial on telly that reignites the fire, and finally, stepping into the ring against one of the toughest bodybuilders around. Saitama is the referee, and our narrator knows he's rooting for him. After an intense battle with punches flying with no mercy, our narrator knocks him out. It feels good to win.
Fast-paced, earnest, and built on the universal truth that transformation requires both effort and guidance, this story captures the raw honesty of wanting to be strong and discovering what it actually takes.
This story proves what one Year 6 student told us: "The only superpower you need is imagination."
About the Story
Story Type: Personal transformation journey with mentor-student dynamics
Themes: Ambition vs reality, humility, persistence, mentorship, the gap between dreaming and doing
Setting: Shibuya, Japan; a gym; the ring
Key Elements:
- Opening scene in Shibuya watching crowds, feeling disconnected and lazy
- The gym as place of both intimidation and possibility
- Ego meeting reality: attempting 50kg with no preparation
- Near-death moment under bench press bar
- Saitama as rescuer and mentor (legendary figure from workout adverts)
- The offer: personal training for someone clearly not in shape
- Wanting to quit when exhausted, Saitama persuading him to stay
- The turning point: seeing commercial again at home, running back to gym
- Saitama waiting: 'He knew that I was coming back'
- Months of relentless training: 'never stopping'
- Final battle: stepping into ring against champion bodybuilder
- Saitama as referee, rooting for narrator
- Victory earned through persistence and mentorship: 'It felt good to win'
Why This Story Matters
This author has captured something universally relatable: the gap between who we want to be and who we are right now. That opening image, standing in Shibuya watching people move confidently whilst feeling stuck, is emotionally precise. And that moment of ego ('I took a 50kg weight thinking I could easily lift it') followed immediately by humiliation and genuine danger is brutally honest.
Notice the structure: dream, attempt, failure, rescue, guidance, persistence, victory. This is classic hero's journey, but grounded in the very real experience of walking into a gym for the first time and realising you have no idea what you're doing.
The relationship with Saitama is the emotional centre. He rescues (literally saves narrator's life), he offers training (sees potential where others might see failure), he persuades (stops narrator from quitting when exhausted), he waits (knew narrator would come back after seeing the commercial), and he referees (present for the final victory, rooting for his student). That's mentorship. That's someone who believes in you when you don't believe in yourself.
When children are given complete creative autonomy, they write stories that reflect their actual fears and aspirations. This isn't a fantasy story where the protagonist discovers they had hidden powers all along. This is a story where the protagonist has to train for months, wants to quit, gets inspired by a telly commercial, runs back to the gym, and keeps going. That's a story about character, not superpowers. And it's deeply valuable.
That ending, 'It felt good to win', is understated but powerful. Not 'I felt invincible' or 'I was the strongest'. Just: it felt good. That's someone who's learned that victory isn't about dominating others, it's about proving to yourself that you can do hard things.
About StoryQuestâ˘
StoryQuest is a validated methodology that achieves 100% engagement across all learners, including reluctant writers, boys, and students with SEND. The approach is simple but profound: give children complete creative autonomy over something that truly matters to them.
Resources & Links
Bring StoryQuest to Your School:
Visit my-storyquest.com to download the curriculum guide and discover how your students can become published authors.
Start Friday Night Storytelling at Home:
Download Gabriel's StoryQuest Family Kit at theadventuresofgabriel.com
Read Gabriel's Adventures:
The international #1 bestselling series that started it all, co-authored by Kate Markland and her son Gabriel Khan. Available at theadventuresofgabriel.com
Connect with Kate:
Website: katemarkland.com
Share This Episode
Know a teacher struggling with reluctant writers? A parent whose child says 'writing is boring'? A school leader looking for proven literacy solutions? Share this episode with them.
Because every child has a story. And when we give them the freedom to tell it, extraordinary things happen.
Keywords
Child authors, creative writing for children, literacy education, reluctant writers, StoryQuest, student engagement, children's storytelling, authentic writing, educational innovation, child-led learning, fitness journey, mentor stories, personal transformation, Shibuya Japan, boxing stories, training montage, Bradford UK, UK education
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Production: StoryQuest
"When given complete creative control, children don't just create great stories, they discover their voice. And that voice deserves to be heard." - Kate Markland