Sometimes your biggest weakness
can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story of one
10-year-old boy who decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his
left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old
Japanese Judo Master Sensei. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand
why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. “Sensei,”
the boy finally said, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?” “This is the only move you know, but this is
the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the Sensei replied. Not quite understanding,
but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the
Sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily
won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but
after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used
his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in
the finals.
This time, his
opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy
appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee
called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. “No,”
the Sensei insisted, “Let him continue.” Soon after the match resumed, his
opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used
his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy
and Sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what
was really on his mind. “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one
move?” “You won for two reasons,” the Sensei answered. “First, you’ve almost
mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of Judo. And second, the only
known defense for that move is for your opponent
to grab your left arm.”
The boy’s biggest weakness
had become his biggest strength.
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