Erlkönig: lemons-lemonade+judo.shtml

> 
> Lemons and Lemonade
> 
> Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take,
> for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who 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. 
> 
> -Author Unknown