Strength or weakness

Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our 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. And second, the only known defense for

that move is for your opponent to grap your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our biggest

strength.