How to Read “Even if you take small steps, winning is what matters”
Komata totte mo katsu ga hon
Meaning of “Even if you take small steps, winning is what matters”
“Even if you take small steps, winning is what matters” means that even if your methods are small or modest, victory is what’s most important.
The proverb teaches that achieving your goal matters more than using flashy or impressive methods. Even if your approach seems plain or unremarkable, it has the greatest value if it gets results.
This saying emphasizes the importance of producing results. Some people focus on methods that look good or seem impressive.
But what truly matters is achieving solid outcomes, no matter what method you use. This applies to business, studying, and any situation where steady results matter more than showy performance.
Today, social media often highlights flashy appearances. But this proverb reminds us not to lose sight of what’s essential.
It helps us remember the value of moving forward steadily, even if we take small steps.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb likely comes from a sumo wrestling technique. “Taking the small step” refers to a sumo move where you scoop up your opponent’s ankle.
Compared to dramatic throws or power moves, this technique might look plain and small. But in sumo, any technique that pushes your opponent out of the ring or makes them fall counts as a proper victory.
Sumo has been popular in Japan since ancient times. Its spiritual aspects connect to bushido, the way of the samurai.
In combat, what matters isn’t how flashy or cool you look, but the final result. The ankle scoop works well even against larger opponents.
It shows how important technique and quick thinking are for winning.
This proverb reflects a practical Japanese mindset. People value actual results over appearances and formalities.
This value system crystallized into a proverb through the concrete example of sumo wrestling.
Interesting Facts
Sumo currently has 82 official winning techniques. The ankle scoop has been passed down since ancient times as one of the basic moves.
Smaller wrestlers have valued it since the Edo period as an important technique for defeating larger opponents.
A similar saying is “the winner becomes the imperial army.” But that one emphasizes the winner’s legitimacy.
“Even if you take small steps, winning is what matters” is different. It expresses a practical mindset that doesn’t care whether methods are big or small.
Usage Examples
- The presentation was plain, but we got the contract. Even if you take small steps, winning is what matters.
- The strategy wasn’t flashy, but it produced results. That’s what “even if you take small steps, winning is what matters” means.
Universal Wisdom
Humans are creatures who want to show off. If possible, we want to succeed in flashy, cool ways while people praise us.
But this proverb has been passed down for hundreds of years. It warns against human vanity while also offering encouragement.
In the real world, not everyone has great power. Resources and time are limited.
We can only choose the best method available to us. Even a small technique or plain method counts as a proper victory if it achieves your goal.
This proverb also represents the wisdom of the weak. Those with less power face the strong using technique and ingenuity.
This shows the beauty of human creativity. Our ancestors knew that survival depends on results. How you get there doesn’t matter as much.
At the same time, this proverb teaches that there’s more than one path to success. Big techniques aren’t the only way to win.
Small techniques have value too. When you think this way, possibilities open up for people in any position.
This might be the universal hope that this proverb carries.
When AI Hears This
This proverb recommends using small techniques to win in sumo. It actually hides surprising mathematical rationality.
In game theory, “the beauty of winning” doesn’t get scored. Whether you win with a big move or small move, the result is the same: one victory.
But human psychology has a bias toward “winning beautifully.” This creates strategic blind spots.
Notice the quality of information that winning with small techniques gives your opponent. Winning with a big move reveals your maximum power.
But winning with a small move only gives ambiguous information that “you weren’t going all out.” Your opponent can’t estimate your true ability distribution for the next match.
They face risks of both overestimating and underestimating you. This information asymmetry is key to increasing your continuous winning probability.
Even more interesting is the connection to minimax strategy. This strategy maximizes overall expected value by minimizing worst-case losses.
Winning with small techniques is exactly a minimax choice. It secures the benefit of victory while minimizing the cost of physical exhaustion.
When you include the time dimension of conserving energy for the next match, the quality of each win affects consecutive win probability in a compound way.
Edo period wrestlers understood this complex probability calculation through experience, even without putting it into words.
Lessons for Today
Modern society tends to overemphasize how things look, partly due to social media influence.
But this proverb reminds us of something important. What truly has value is the result, not how flashy the process looks.
If you’re working toward a goal right now, don’t put yourself down because your method seems plain.
What matters is whether your method is doable for you and moves you forward reliably. Don’t get distracted by other people’s flashy success stories.
Taking your own steady steps has value.
Especially in today’s rapidly changing times, building up small but certain actions often works better than making big moves with perfect plans.
Startup companies use the approach of “start small and improve quickly” for the same reason.
This proverb gives you courage. You can start with small things you can do now.
If that produces results, then that’s the best method.
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