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‘It’s not just about the shakes’: Ninja Warrior Jimmy Choi on living with Parkinson’s disease

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Athlete Jimmy Choi joined the launch of Singapore's Warrior 24/7 exhibition to show that Parkinson's disease encompasses debilitating symptoms beyond visible tremors, such as dystonia, slowness of movement, and extreme sleep disruption. Diagnosed at age 27, Choi manages his condition through a rigorous six-day weekly gym regimen alongside medication that keeps his severe stage-four symptoms down to mild stage-one levels. The initiative addresses an expanding regional health challenge as Singapore's diagnosed population continues to grow toward an anticipated 10,000 cases by 2026. Medical experts note that heightened public education has already contributed to lowering the average age of dia…

Key points

  • Parkinson’s disease presents diverse and debilitating symptoms beyond tremors, including…: Parkinson’s disease presents diverse and debilitating symptoms beyond tremors, including muscle rigidity, freezing mid-step, and chronic sleep disruption.
  • Consistent physical exercise paired with prescribed medical regimens can help preserve fu…: Consistent physical exercise paired with prescribed medical regimens can help preserve functional capability and control advanced stage-four symptoms.
  • Increased public awareness encourages earlier medical consultations, aiding earlier detec…: Increased public awareness encourages earlier medical consultations, aiding earlier detection among the estimated 10 percent of patients diagnosed before age 50.

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SINGAPORE – Ask Parkinson’s disease (PD) advocate Jimmy Choi for a short video clip on his invisible symptoms and how he is preparing for a future with the neurodegenerative condition, and he gives it to you in a single take.

“They call me one-take Jimmy,” said Choi, a 51-year-old Taiwan-born American, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease at age 27.

Choi, a social media advocate @jcfoxninja and motivational speaker, is a seven-time American Ninja Warrior competitor and an endurance athlete who has completed an ultra-marathon, multiple marathons and triathlons, and a 161km bike ride in under five hours.

But beyond the confident public image and rippling muscles is the reality of living with a progressive disease in a body that is changing with time, he told The Straits Times.

He and his wife Cherryl, 50, have arrived in Singapore to headline the Oct 31 launch of Warrior 24/7, an experiential exhibition designed to raise awareness of PD. Choi is also speaking at a fully subscribed symposium for about 320 people.

Organised by the Lien Foundation in collaboration with Parkinson…

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