Weakness Can Be Strength

A 10-year-old boy 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,”(Teacher in Japanese) 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.