The Small Boy – Inspirational Story

There is a story of a 13 year old boy who decided to learn karate despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident.

The boy began lessons with his expert karate master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn’t understand why, after six months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Master” 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 Master replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the Master 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 over matched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when his Master intervened.

“No,” his Master 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 Master reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind.

“Master, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” his master answered. “First, you’ve almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of karate. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grasp your left arm.”

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

Moral: With the right Attitude you can make your biggest weakness into your biggest strength!!