Tuesday, September 6, 2016

2016-36 - A weakness...

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 and was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei, shouldn't I be learning more moves?" he asked. "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 and win the finals.

He was the champion. On the way home, 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 biggest weakness had become his biggest strength.

~ Mike Bennett



Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength.

~ Charles Colton

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