Sometimes our biggest weakness can become your biggest strength. Take, for example, the story t of one 10-year-old boy who decided1 to study judo2 despite the fact that the had lost his left arm in a devastating3 car accident.

The boy began lesson with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was dong well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training, the master had taught him only one move.

Mister, 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.

To his surprise,, 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 deftly4 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 referee5 called a time-out. He was about to sTOP the match when the 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 his master reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really in his min.

Mister, how did I win the tournament with only one move?

You won for two reasons, the master answered. First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. Second, the only known defense6 for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.

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

有些时候,你的弱项可以变成你的强项。

给你讲一个10岁男生的故事做例子。这个男生在一次惨烈的车祸中失去了左臂,但他仍然决定学习柔道。

男生师从一位年长的日本柔道大师。孩子练得非常不错,但他不知道为何师傅在三个月的练习中,一直只让他重复同一个动作。

师傅,男生终于忍不住问道,我是否可以学点儿别的动作了?

师傅回答说:这是你惟一了解的动作,但也是你惟一需要了解的动作。

男生虽然不理解,但他很信赖我们的师傅,于是继续练着。

几个月后,师傅带这个男生去参加他的首次比赛。

令这个男生不可思议的是,他随便赢了头两场比赛。第三场比赛好像更难,但他的对手在比赛中开始失去耐心,向他冲过来,而这个孩子立即用他学过的惟一一招击败了对手。就如此稀里糊涂地,他进入了决赛。

这一次,他的对手更壮、更强,也更有经验。有那样一阵,男生好像低档不住了。考虑到男生或许会受伤,裁判叫了中止。他正筹备停止比赛的时候,男生的师傅阻止了他。

不可以停,他说,让他继续比。

比赛继续进行之后不久,男生的对手就有一个致命的错误:防漏(柔道术语)。男生飞速用他那惟一的一招绊倒了对手,赢了这场比赛,并最后获得了冠军。

回家的路上,当男生和他师傅重温着每一场比赛里的每个动作时,他鼓起勇气道出了心中的困惑。

师傅,我如何会用一个动作就取得了所有些比赛呢?

你获胜有两个缘由,师傅回答道:第一,你已经基本学会了柔道当中最难学的一个动作。第二,要应对这个动作,你的对手惟一可以做的就是去抓你的左臂。

就如此,男生的最大弱点变成了他的最强项。Everyday English