Final Chapter for Mack Miya, Former ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Pound for Pound
After a prestigious bodybuilding career and business, the Japanese Canadian is forced to close Mack’s Gym, a Toronto institution.
When you think about the world of bodybuilding, images of rippling muscles flexed to show off for the judges or iron pumping men and women at Muscle Beach in Venice, California are first to come to mind. For most, bodybuilding is associated with Lou Ferrigno, aka “The Hulk,” or Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
You don’t think of 5-feet-4 inches tall Masaki Miyashita, better known as Mack Miya. But you would be ill-informed.
Japanese Canadian Mack, now 83, is a bodybuilding institution in Toronto. During his peak he was once recognized as the strongest man in the world, pound for pound. At 176 pounds, he could pump a 310-pound barbell over his head while barely breaking a sweat. He could also bench press 500 pounds.
Mack has been in the bodybuilding business for the past 60 years and has owned and run Mack’s Gym, currently located on the Westside of Toronto since 1990. But with his recent health problems — he had congestive heart failure in May — and a landlord whose looking to increase his rent and move in a new tenant, the gym has been forced to close.
“It’s been a bit of a strain on me right now. But I’m okay because I train,” said Mack, speaking with the Pacific Citizen from his gym. Although only months since his hospitalization, his voice is clear and full of resolve.
Mack’s Gym is scheduled to officially close Nov. 4 and he doesn’t have the financial resources to relocate the business to another facility. In recent months he’s been on a month-to-month lease and his clientele has dwindled dramatically.
Lately, he has been using his old age pension funds to cover the costs of running the gym and isn’t pulling in a profit.
Mack currently lives in one of the gym’s small rooms and plans to move in with his daughter after his business closes. Although saying goodbye to his beloved gym has left him saddened, he plans to keep on training and hopes a book deal may be in the near future.
“It’s been a mental strain but whatever comes up, I will do it,” said Mack. He’s received calls of support from across the country, even from clients he hasn’t seen in 40 years. “Everybody wants me to keep [the gym] going.”
Although Mack and his family are open to selling the business, no offers have come in and his lease is set to expire in less than a week. They plan to sell off Mack’s inventory of gym equipment to help make ends meet.
“We all got caught off guard. The business went downhill very fast,” said daughter Karen Miya Leone, who has taken time off work to help her father out. “Mack just doesn’t have the money to go on. It has been an extremely uncheerful time for us.”
A Bodybuilding Star is Born
Mack was born in Stevenson, British Columbia in 1923 and worked as a logger during his early years. For a short time he was one of the tens of thousands of Japanese Canadians who were relocated to World War II internment camps. He ended up in Angler, Ontario.
Mack’s career in bodybuilding grew out of his interest in boxing, an interest that began at the age of nine because he was sick of being bullied. He went on to win several amateur featherweight titles and at 17 was still undefeated. He moved to Toronto in 1942 to further his boxing career but then one day he began to lift weights while waiting for his trainer. The rest, as they say, is history.
“Because I was so strong, no one wanted to compete with me,” said Mack with a knowing chuckle.
Eventually he got married to Chiyoko in 1946 and had two children: Karen and son Ritchie.
Over the years, Mack has made a name for himself, winning several weight lifting competitions and even becoming a master welder so he could build his own gym equipment. He has trained bodybuilders, boxers, and wrestlers and has advised clients on their health and workout regiments. At its peak, Mack’s Gym boasted thousands of clients.
“I love bodybuilding, it makes me feel good. You have to train to really see how it feels. Of course everything is in conjunction with a good diet,” said Mack, who still takes his training and healthy diet very seriously. He explains at length the values of carbohydrates and proteins and the evils of drinking and smoking.
Although the recent months have put a strain on him, Mack’s years of hardcore training still shows in his astounding physique and he looks years younger than his age of 83. He jokingly recalls a Toronto streetcar driver admonishing him for paying the senior citizen’s rate and demanding he pay the regular fare. He was 76 at the time.
Moving On
Now just days before Mack’s Gym comes to a close, Mack has many accomplishments he can be proud of. He especially cherishes the numerous stories and articles that have been written on him over the years.
“It’s been really gratifying. Everybody comes over and thinks I’m superman. They always call me super-strong,” said Mack, noting how the neighborhood kids would often come over to watch him work out.
Karen and the rest of the family have been helping Mack keep up his spirits. Her son Joseph has even started a Web site (www.geocities.com/Macks_Gym) to help get the word out about Mack’s Gym. Karen has also bought Mack a cell phone (647/892-4501) and set up an e-mail account (Macks_Gym@yahoo.ca) for those who wish to keep in touch.
“Mack has a very interesting life story,” said Karen. “I think if someone has a passion, it helps build on your self-esteem but it’s also good to have a balanced life.”
Mack’s love of bodybuilding hasn’t dwindled over the years and his message has remained the same, something he will continue to pass on even after Mack’s Gym comes to a close.
“Everybody wants to live long,” he said. “You have to function like a young fella. You need to train and eat healthy. I want to pass that message on.”
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