The Master

Imelda Revilla Jones

Theme: Learning the fundamentals of the imperfection of man, and understanding the value of not
always winning.
Setting: Mostly in the Philippines and Japan, years after the 2nd World War
Characters:
Sadiwa the man who is almost perfect and tries to overcome everything with technique and force.
Antagonist.
The narrator whose name was not told in the story, he is the bestfriend of Sadiwa who witnessed the
young mans rise and fall in life. The narrator rather is the protagonist.
Master Yushiba the Master, who taught the narrator and Sadiwa the art of Jiu-jitsu.

Conflict
Sources:
Man VS Society
Sadiwa doesnt seem to defeat the narrator in strategy mind games like chess, this is the only sport he
cannot excel.
Sadiwa who was almost best at everything he do and his arrogance, selfishness, and boldness in his
youth. He was not a man who accepts his weaknesses rather he tries to overcome them. He does not
accept defeat and he thinks no one can match his skills and abilities. Until he met the Master who made
him realized he is wrong.
Man VS Himself
Sadiwa cannot overcome his greatest weakness: his mind and his ego. He cannot accept the fact that
there is always someone better than him.

Point of view: First person point of view

Plot
Introduction/Exposition
The narrator describes his bestfriend, Sadiwa, in a very descriptive manner, depicting that Sadiwa is one
of the most talented man he have ever met. He also tells us how he, Sadiwas long term rival, manages
to grasp the understanding that he will never surpassed Sadiwa in anything but chess. Until all of a
sudden a young Japanese beats Sadiwa in the mysterious art of self-defense called Jiu-jitsu whilst
training in a gym. Sadiwa then, decides to go to Japan to learn this art, and of course with his old friend.
Rising Action
They started training Jiu-jitsu for weeks until Sadiwa was able to beat almost all students and teachers of
Jiu-jitsu. As always he beat them all,even the narrator who hardly kept up with him. He scoured the
Dojos to fight the best men out there. But still, he wasnt able to beat the Master because he lacks
something. When they played a game of go and shogi, the Master has seen that the narrator can play
really well, unlike Sadiwa who plays really terrible in these kind of games. The narrator realizes that
there was an ongoing battle, a struggle between art and technique. Sadiwa beats his enemies with only
technique but he lacks the art and passion of the art of Jiu-jitsu.
Climax
The narrator and Sadiwa must sail back to Philippines to continue their study, they only have little time
left in Japan. So Sadiwa was getting desperate, he wants to defeat the Master so that he can satisfy
himself, and become much more powerful than before. The time for final grading has come and the
narrator finds himself awarded equal rank with Sadiwa. This event made Sadiwa contemptuous. During
the demonstration, he made a special move but still he did not defeat the Master, he got furious and to
the crowds disbelief, started lashing out with a sword at the old man. He cornered the Master and as he
was giving his final blow, the Master, kneeling, rolled away and tripping Sadiwa in a fluid movement,
making Sadiwa fall on his face. He got a wound and leaving it a permanent scar which makes Sadiwas
handsome face betray anyone his true nature.
Falling Action
Grim-faced Sadiwa and the narrator sails back to Philippines, as they were setting out, a messenger of
the Master, hands over to him a note saying: Control your opponents mind, before you try to control
their body. That is the ultimate secret of Jiu-jitsu, which I am now giving you.
Conclusion
I found out that being good and better than anyone else is really human nature. It boosts our ego, it
makes us popular, it makes us fearless. But being good at all times sometimes has its own demise. We
cant possibly live in this world with a perfect mindset that you can be perfect. There is no such thing as
being perfect. Then again, being best at anything we do is great, but being the best and being the
humblest is better. What you are lacking in strength, is what you must concentrate on, like your mind.

Lesson/Implication:
We do not use our talents, skills to boast how good we are to people who cant do it, instead we should
teach it to those less unfortunate. We need to use those skills for good for God gave us these talents, we
use it to help those in need. Being good at everything isnt always the best path to greatness, no matter
how you try, being good doesnt make you good in character. These must be balance. Being good comes
great responsibility. We can be proud on how good we are at doing things, but it wont get the sympathy
of all people. We must always remember that God made us for a purpose.