This is a 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
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 defence for that move is for your opponent to
grab your left arm."
The boy's greatest weakness had become his greatest
strength.
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