Saturday, June 20, 2015

Weakness and strength.

Forwarded email from Prof. Najumdeen.

 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 greatest.strength.

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