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 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. 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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