A Judo Masters Lesson
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An energetic young boy despite the fact that he was born without a left arm joined to learn judo with an old Japanese Judo master.
The old Japanese Judo master taught him a very exciting judo throw during the first week of the training. In the second week, he was asked to practice the same judo move. Every other week the young boy was taught to practice the same technique over and over again. He could see other students learning different Judo techniques, but he couldn’t understand why even 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?”
The Sensei replied – “Just focus on this one throw. This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know”
The little boy did not quite understand what his teacher was up to but continued his training as his Sensei instructed.
Several months later, the Sensei took the boy to his first tournament.
The young boy was terrified to enter the tournament filled with other well-trained and experienced Judo Players.
Surprising himself and the audience, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third one was a little harder, but the young boy pulled off the technique – the only technique he knew, and won. The fourth round amazingly went the same way and the young boy found himself in the tournament final facing a much bigger, stronger and tougher opponent.
For some time in the finals, the young boy without an arm appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt during the match, the referee called for a time-out. The referee was about to stop the match, but the old Sensei intervened and insisted on letting the boy continue.
After the match resumed, his opponent made a mistake and dropped his guard. Promptly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. The boy deftly used his one and only move throughout the tournament and came out as a winner.
On the way home, the Sensei and the boy reviewed every move in each and every match the boy. Surprised by his own victory, the boy summoned the courage to ask the Sensei how he was able to win the tournament with only one move.
“You won for two reasons,” the Sensei answered. “First, with several months of dedicated practice, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for the move you learned is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”
With the boy’s hard work and the Sensei’s sagacity, the boy’s biggest weakness was transformed into his biggest strength.
Alan /|\
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