The Boy Who Turned His Weakness into Strength

A 10-year-old boy wanted to learn judo, even though he had lost his left arm in a terrible car accident.

He started taking lessons with an old Japanese judo master. After three months of training, the boy noticed something strange — his teacher had only taught him one move.

“Sensei,” the boy asked, “Shouldn’t I be learning more moves by now?”

The master smiled and said, “This is the only move you need to know.”

The boy didn’t fully understand, but he trusted his teacher and kept practicing. Months later, the sensei entered him into his first tournament.

To everyone’s surprise, the boy won his first two matches with ease. His third match was harder, but when his opponent made a mistake and rushed at him, the boy used his one move and won again. Now, he was in the finals.

His final opponent was older, stronger, and more experienced. At first, the boy seemed outmatched. Worried he might get hurt, the referee wanted to stop the match. But the sensei stepped in and said, “Let him continue.”

Soon after, the opponent dropped his guard. The boy used his move again — and won the match and the entire tournament.

On the way home, the boy asked, “Sensei, how did I win with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the sensei said. “First, you've practiced one of the hardest throws in judo and nearly perfected it. Second, the only way to defend against that move is to grab your left arm — and you don’t have one.”

The boy's greatest weakness had become his greatest strength.

Moral:
We all have things we think are weaknesses — something we lack or something that sets us apart. But sometimes, those very things can become our greatest strengths. Never lose hope, and never think you’re less than others. You are unique, and that makes you powerful in your own way.