There is a story that is told in various forms about a young boy who was missing his left arm after an automobile accident. Despite only having one arm, the young boy decided to study Judo. Being a former Judoka, I've always enjoyed the story and want to share it with you here.
The boy found a judo school run by an old Japanese judo master. Nervously, he asked if he could still learn and train with only one arm. After a minute of careful thought, the master accepted the young boy as one of his students.
The boy began lessons with the old master and was doing well. However, he didn't understand why the master had only taught him one technique. Each class for months, after warm ups, falling, and footwork drills, the boy practiced his one throwing technique over and over.
"Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?"
"I know I have only taught you one technique, but this is the move you 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 over extended his balance; 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 earn an epon, one point, and a win. The boy not only won the match, but he won the tournament. He was the champion.
On the way home, the boy and the 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."
This story is used to illustrate a number of points depending on who is telling it. I'd like to make a couple of points.
First, there is a lot to be said about leaning a few techniques very well versus learning a lot of techniques adequately. Kelly McCann, who I have great respect for, and practice some of what he teaches, uses a very simple system. His philosophy is to learn a few things that can be used in a variety of situations. Rather than learn separate techniques for when an attacker is using his right hand, left hand, or both, he teaches one technique that can be used regardless of the hand the attacker is using. This makes a lot of sense, and for practical self-defense it is the few basics that you have mastered that will come to you under the stress and adrenaline dump of an actual physical encounter.
For those that teach a martial art system you teach more but you are teaching an "art" that has many more component and benefits than just fighting. McCann will be one of the first to say he does not teach martial arts, he teaches combatives to fight and that is it. If you train or teach for both, you should know the difference and understand the goals and purposes of what you are doing with your training.
Second, this story shows how you can overcome weaknesses, and not only overcome them, but turn them to strengths. The boy's disability which could be considered a weakness turned out to be a strength when taught the specific technique to capitalize on not having a left arm. It allowed him to win the championship. All of us have obstacles to overcome. All of us have different strengths and weaknesses. We need to look at our strengths and weakness and determine how to best utilize the strengths we have and minimize our weaknesses. We may even be able to turn our weaknesses into strengths as the old master did for his young judoka.
Remember this young boy the next time you head to the gym. But also remember him when dealing with other obstacles in life. This lesson is not just for your martial art training. The warrior lifestyle and martial art training give us the warrior's edge in everything we do.
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