A boy and his Judo Master
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.
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.
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