Strength in Weakness

Sometimes your biggest weakness can be your biggest strength. Take the 10-year-old boy who decided to study Judo despite losing his left arm in an accident. He began lessons with an old Judo Master Sensei. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after 3 months of training the master had taught him only one move. ‘Sensei,’ the boy asked, ‘Shouldn’t I be learning more moves?’ ‘This is the only move you’ll ever need to know,’ the Sensei replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing his teacher, the boy kept training. Months later, the Sensei took him to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first 2 matches. The 3rd was 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 was outplayed. Then his opponent made a mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament.

On the way home, the boy asked, ‘Sensei, how did I win with only one move?’ ‘You won for 2 reasons,’ the Sensei answered. ‘First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in Judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.’ The boy’s biggest weakness become his biggest strength. The hadith teaches that we are given provision due to the weak among us.