This is the story of a 10-year-old boy who decided to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in an 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.
“Master,” 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 Master replied.
The boy was not able to understand the logic behind it, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.
Several months later, the Master 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 skilfully used his one move to win the match. Still astonished by his success, the boy was now in the finals of the championship.
This time, his rival was bigger, stronger, and more veteran. For a while, the boy appeared to be over matched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the Master intervened.
“No,” the Master insisted, “Let him continue.”
Soon after the match resumed, his rival made a vital 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 the Master reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.
“Master, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”
“Dear son, you won for two reasons,” the Master 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 grip your left arm.”
Sometimes we have some weakness but we think it’s an end of the road. But true Master (God) knows what we can do with that.
The only thing we should trust our Master and follow his instructions.
As boy’s biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. Sometimes our biggest weakness can become our biggest strength.
