Unexpected Strength

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Hand-drawn art by Rupali Bhuva
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Unerwartete Stärke
Autor Unbekannt

Ein 10-jähriger Junge beschloss, Judo zu lernen, obwohl er seinen linken Arm bei einem verheerenden Autounfall verloren hatte. Der Junge begann mit dem Unterricht bei einem alten Judo-Meister. Der Junge machte seine Sache gut und konnte nicht verstehen, warum der Meister ihm nach drei Monaten Training nur eine einzige Bewegung beigebracht hatte. Schließlich fragte der Junge: „Herr Lehrer, sollte ich mehr Bewegungen lernen?“

„Dies ist die einzige Bewegung, die du kennst, aber auch die einzige, die du jemals kennen musst“, antwortete der Lehrer. Der Junge verstand zwar nicht ganz, aber er glaubte an seinen Lehrer und trainierte weiter. Einige Monate später nahm der Lehrer den Jungen zu seinem ersten Turnier mit. Zu seiner eigenen Überraschung gewann der Junge seine ersten beiden Kämpfe mit Leichtigkeit. Der dritte Kampf erwies sich als schwieriger, aber nach einiger Zeit wurde sein Gegner ungeduldig und griff an; der Junge nutzte geschickt seinen einzigen Zug und gewann den Kampf. Noch immer erstaunt über seinen Erfolg, stand der Junge nun im Finale. Diesmal war sein Gegner größer, stärker und erfahrener. Eine Zeit lang schien der Junge überfordert zu sein.

Aus Sorge, dass der Junge sich verletzen könnte, rief der Schiedsrichter eine Auszeit aus. Er wollte das Spiel gerade abbrechen, als der Lehrer eingriff und sagte: „Nein, lasst ihn weitermachen.“ Der Kampf wurde fortgesetzt, und der Gegner des Jungen machte einen entscheidenden Fehler: Er ließ seine Deckung fallen. Sofort nutzte der Junge seine Bewegung, um ihn festzunageln. Der Junge hatte den Kampf und das Turnier gewonnen. Er war der Champion.

Auf dem Heimweg besprachen der Junge und sein Lehrer jeden einzelnen Zug in jeder einzelnen Runde. Schließlich brachte der Junge den Mut auf, das zu fragen, was ihm wirklich auf der Seele lag: „Herr Lehrer, wie konnte ich das Turnier mit nur einem Zug gewinnen?“

„Du hast aus zwei Gründen gewonnen“, antwortete der Lehrer. „Erstens hast du eine der schwierigsten Wurftechniken im gesamten Judo beinahe gemeistert. Und zweitens besteht die einzige bekannte Verteidigung für diesen Wurf darin, dass dein Gegner deinen linken Arm packt.“ Die größte Schwäche des Jungen war zu seiner größten Stärke geworden. ______________________________________________
Kernfragen zum Nachdenken: Fällt Ihnen ein Moment ein, in dem sich etwas, das Sie als Schwäche ansahen, als Stärke erwiesen hat? Wenn Sie die Lektion aus dieser Geschichte auf Ihr Leben anwenden könnten, was würden Sie anders machen? Wie haben andere Lehrerinnen und Lehrer in Ihrem Leben das beeinflusst, was Sie als möglich ansehen?
Seed Questions for Reflection

Can you think of a time when something you saw as a weakness turned out to be a strength? If you could apply the lesson from this story to your life, what would you do differently? How have other teachers in your life influenced what you see as possible?

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Add Your Reflection

15 Past Reflections
ST
Mar 26, 2025
A lot to ponder in this story. I was seen as overly sensitive and easily cried and had a very hard time accepting any thing I felt was injustice. So, I interpreted that as me being a "weirdo" or something wrong with me. My sensitivity , emotionality, and caring for justness are certainly what shaped me to be the human I am and love. It may have been wonderful to have had a happier childhood and found others that appreciated the qualities that I hid. I eventually was drawn to and chose teachers who demonstrated compassion and self awareness.
DP
Deepika Patel
Mar 25, 2025
A simple story driving home “Practise makes perfect “ yet again.
As we know, this is the truest truth!
This translates into my life in the form of running. I started as a young Mother more so because of the flexibility in terms of time. I could only run when the baby was sleeping. Cut to 26 years ( and counting ), I’m now a seasoned marathoner without even realising how I got here.
JP
Mar 25, 2025
My Reflections: This article has drawn my attention to the importance of the value of seeing objects, situations, people, relationships and above all my own self. There is a wise saying in Sanskrit: Yatha dristihi tatha sristihi: The world appears as we see it. People, objects, situations, relationships and above my own self are perceived according to my inner mind state: with a clear mind state like the clear sky or the cloudy state. We tend to project our inner world onto our world. Our perception creates the outer world. Our mind, our inner vision is the cause of inner freedom or inner bondage. As the Bhagavad Geeta says: Manaha eva manushyanam karanam bandhmokshayho. As I am advancing in age and as I am getting older, my inner world has been getting more free from the inner bondage I myself have created. I have learned the significance of seeing and relating to people clearly, empathetically and compassionately. The first teachers in my life were my parents. My father t... View full comment
PA
Mar 25, 2025
I love the lessons: patience, respect, practice, faith, obedience, ultimate achievement. These teaching stories are powerful
AP
Mar 25, 2025
Brilliant message to leverage even weakness into strength.
CT
Charles Tutt
Mar 25, 2025
Beautiful, touching, inspiring, meaningful, and useful. A good theme upon which to meditate daily.
FI
Mar 25, 2025
Resonates! I struggled in a very challenging marriage for many years. I felt ill equipped for dealing with my husbands metal health challenges and addiction. But I just kept showing up with my authentic self and getting on with developing myself. It drove me to work hard on my own demons and motivated me to be true to myself. When I finally left the marriage I realized I had developed the skills I needed to recreate my life again from nothing and knew what I was in curating mt new life.
DD
Mar 21, 2025
Wonderful story! I've had the experience of something I saw as weakness become a strength. As a child, my learning that people were happier if I was quiet turned me inward, which had negative and positive aspects. The positive of turning inward was finding more of me. Eventually I grew to be louder and more outward and held onto at least some of what I gained in turning inward. If I could do it differently, I would learn at a younger age that my expressing me is an asset and I would learn to turn inward in a different way. I've had some wonderful teachers. From them I learned that I am plenty, that very much is possible, and it's for me to live and make good use of what I am. I'm still working on it.
FI
Fiona Mar 25, 2025
I love ‘I am plenty.’ I have been saying ‘I am enough’ for years, but I think I am now plenty! Better, thanks!
DD
David Doane Mar 27, 2025
Thanks for telling me. Now we are plenty.
AL
Mar 21, 2025
“You won for two reasons,” the teacher 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....
the importance of simplicity...
and staying simple
:)
VI
Mar 20, 2025
Love the story and the reminder of how our perceived weaknesses can be our greatest strengths. Beautiful!
AM
Amy Mar 20, 2025
Amen!!!!❤️
BS
Mar 20, 2025
What an inspiring story. A beautiful reading to start my day. Teachers have been my heroes. I believe many of my teachers changed the course of my life. The support and kindness of teachers set the stage for my interest in education.