Limitation as the Doorway to Specialization

 My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:15-16 WEB)

 God created you with strengths and weaknesses. Do you focus on improving your weak areas instead of developing your strengths? The best strategy to overcome a weakness often lies in learning to specialize in your strengths.

Some time back, I read a story by Keith Pascal entitled One-Armed Al. He learned to fight by specializing in the moves he could accomplish with the one hand he had.

Today, I rec'd a story in an email from Trav at FightSmart. It makes the same point in the context of a Judo class.

Here it is:

A young man once wandered into a Judo school, because he wanted to learn how to throw people... you know... for self defense.

However, he only had one arm.

His Judo coach wouldn't let him jump into the normal classes... instead, he was forced to stay off on the side and practice a beginner throw.

Every day, the other students were allowed to master super-sweet moves and sweeps, while our One-Armed judoka did the same. boring. throw... over and over.

One day, the young man finally complained.

"I want to do advanced class with all of the other students. Don't limit me because of my disability!"!

The sensei stopped the class, and replied, "Well, NOW you're going to fight everyone in the gym. Let's see who throws who!"

What a jerk... AMIRIGHT!?

So he reluctantly stepped onto the mat with his first match, a pit of nervousness in his stomach, and began to fight.

Within seconds...

POW!

The sound of his opponent's back smacking onto the mat echoed throughout the room.

He was shocked.

However, each time the young judoka faced a new opponent, he promptly slammed with the same. stinking. basic. throw.

After 5 straight effortless victories, the young man's mind was ablaze... shocked by his own dominant ability, he looked at his sensei as if to ask, "how is this even possible"?

His sensei calmly explained, "The only known counter to that throw is to grab the arm that you don't have".

LIMITATION.

It can be a gift, if you allow it to be.