Weakness or Strength?
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. 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 understand-
ing, but believing in
his teacher, the
boy kept
training.
Several months later, the sensei took the
boy to his first tournament. Surprising him-
self, the boy easily won his first two match-
es. The third match proved to be more diffi-
cult, but after some time, his opponent
became impatient and charged; the boy deft-
ly 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 contin-
ue."
Soon after the match resumed, his oppo-
nent 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.
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. 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 understand-
ing, but believing in
his teacher, the
boy kept
training.
Several months later, the sensei took the
boy to his first tournament. Surprising him-
self, the boy easily won his first two match-
es. The third match proved to be more diffi-
cult, but after some time, his opponent
became impatient and charged; the boy deft-
ly 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 contin-
ue."
Soon after the match resumed, his oppo-
nent 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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