Once there was a 10-year-old boy who wished to study Judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a car accident. He started having lessons with an old Japanese Judo master. The boy was doing well. But he couldn’t understand the reason as to why, even after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move. One day, the boy asked the Sensei if he should be learning more moves, to which the sensei replied that this was the only move he’ll ever need to know. The young lad could not understand, but believing in his teacher, he kept training.

After several months of practice, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. The boy easily won his first two matches. The third match turned out to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent started losing patience and charged. The boy cleverly used his one move and won the match. Surprised by his success, the boy reached the finals. The opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. The boy appeared to be overmatched. The referee was concerned that the boy might get hurt, and called a time-out. The sensei intervened and requested to let the boy continue.

Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a huge mistake and dropped his guard. The boy was quick to use his move to pin him. The boy won the match and the tournament. He was the champion.

On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in all the matches. The boy curiously asked, “Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?” The sensei explained that he won for two reasons. First, he had almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for the opponent to grip your left arm.

The boy’s biggest weakness had now become his biggest strength.