The boy

I hope this story will inspire you as much as it did me.

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," 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.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my god !! i can't believe a boy of that age conquered such great Adversity !!!

It really does put a tear in your eye when u hear that a 10 year old boy had to put up with this , but for the master to have a more greater burden on his shoulder must have been hard.

Kaitlin T., Seattle said...

Very inspiring.In this country there is SO much focus on what the disabled cannot do and we pay them for not being able. I know, I am one such person. The truth is that with training a larger percentage
of individuals could contribute (through full and part time work and even volunteer work)and greatly reduce the fiscal load on the rest of the hard-working people in this country. Imagine it.

Differently-abled and dreaming of accommodation and productivity.

Anonymous said...

Sense and sensibility