Failing Tests

[still kicking]

todome wrote:

Which subforum do I use to lament failing my nidan with flying colours?

Todome, I took the liberty of quoting you in the Testing and Promotions thread, since it seems to me that's where it belongs. Sorry you didn't make it this time, but I hope you are not discouraged. Your comment brought to mind something one of my 8th Dan iaido senseis said, after some students had tested without getting promoted... "Don't worry about it, I've failed hundreds of times". He said this with an attitude of humor and inner peace -- I mean he is 8th Dan after all, so he did manage to get promoted enough times. Obviously the idea was to just keep training and don't give up.

In iaido I am still quite the beginner (less than a year), and haven't even tested yet. I don't care about rank in iaido right now, for several reaonse, one of which is that I know I'm not very good yet. Karate is a different story, however. In my karate school we have quarterly "evaluations" rather than "promotion tests". The idea is that it's a time to evaluate the school as a whole, and how we are doing, and if people are ready to be promoted then they will be. I think part of the idea is to take some of the pressure off about "testing", since you can go into it without necessarily expecting to be promoted. This works only to a certain extent, depending on your personality, driven-ness, and etc. At intermediate levels (4th kyu up to shodan) it's normal to take at least 6 months to a year to move up, so I find that I'm not upset if I don't get it after 3 months. If I don't get it at 6 months (assuming I've been training hard and frequently), I do get upset, and if I don't get it after 9 months I am distraught. Of course I'm not even shodan yet, and after that it takes longer. But the point I'm trying to make... yes, there is one... how can we get through these times of discouragement, when we have been training hard and are very disappointed about not getting the next rank? I think it becomes easier and easier to say that rank doesn't matter the higher rank we obtain -- at least that's been my experience -- but it can be almost devastatingly disappointing to not pass when we expect to at times. I think it's because it seems like a reflection of our teacher's respect and esteem, or the lack thereof. I am wondering what people do or say to themselves to get through these times. Any thoughts?

[sensei8]

While failing can be a very disappointing feeling, passing a test is fantastic!

In the martial arts, we must have trials and tribulations, as in life. Pass and failure must go hand in hand; the Yin and Yang of tests. One must have both the good as well as the bad; can't have one without the other. In that, one must fail first before one can truly appreciate a passed test! If one passed every Kyu/Dan test before him/her, there would be nothing positive of the experience in testing. Huh? After awhile, all of the tests would just become one long thing, nothing special, nothing to gain, and nothing to learn.

I've failed my share of tests and I'm glad I did. Anything of worth shouldn't be easy...ever! I failed my Hachidan in Kobudo the first time I took it, but, this experience made me a better martial artist across the board. Hence, I passed my Hachidan Kobudo test the second time around. I failed my Shindokan Hachidan...THREE times! Yet, these 3 failures didn't go ignored! No way! Each of these failures made me appreciate just how much harder I had to work than the times before. I knew where I kept messing up, but, I didn't let these failures dictate whom I was. I'm complete in my totality NOT because of my success', but, because of my many failures.

Show me someone's who passed every test and I'll show you someone who's never been truly tested!

While I expected to pass each and every test, I didn't! I wasn't sitting on the testing board, I was BEING tested BY the testing board. One runs the risk of being failed, it's bound to happen when one is being tested by someone and/or somebodies. Emotions do run amuck when one fails, it's normal. Shake it off, and know this, you will test again and this has helped me through each and every failed test(s)!

A failed test might feel like the end of the world, but, it's not, it's just another opportunity in ones continuing martial arts journey.

[bushido_man96]

I agree. At times, I think that failure is something that attempts are made to avoid in society these days, because of the "negative" effect it has on people. But, it is an experience that can be learned from, and I don't think that it is a bad thing. We shouldn't look forward to failure, but at the same time, we should come to understand that it isn't the end if we do.

[baldwin11]

While failing can be a very disappointing feeling, passing a test is fantastic!

In the martial arts, we must have trials and tribulations, as in life. Pass and failure must go hand in hand; the Yin and Yang of tests. One must have both the good as well as the bad; can't have one without the other. In that, one must fail first before one can truly appreciate a passed test! If one passed every Kyu/Dan test before him/her, there would be nothing positive of the experience in testing. Huh? After awhile, all of the tests would just become one long thing, nothing special, nothing to gain, and nothing to learn.

I've failed my share of tests and I'm glad I did. Anything of worth shouldn't be easy...ever! I failed my Hachidan in Kobudo the first time I took it, but, this experience made me a better martial artist across the board. Hence, I passed my Hachidan Kobudo test the second time around. I failed my Shindokan Hachidan...THREE times! Yet, these 3 failures didn't go ignored! No way! Each of these failures made me appreciate just how much harder I had to work than the times before. I knew where I kept messing up, but, I didn't let these failures dictate whom I was. I'm complete in my totality NOT because of my success', but, because of my many failures.

Show me someone's who passed every test and I'll show you someone who's never been truly tested!

While I expected to pass each and every test, I didn't! I wasn't sitting on the testing board, I was BEING tested BY the testing board. One runs the risk of being failed, it's bound to happen when one is being tested by someone and/or somebodies. Emotions do run amuck when one fails, it's normal. Shake it off, and know this, you will test again and this has helped me through each and every failed test(s)!

A failed test might feel like the end of the world, but, it's not, it's just another opportunity in ones continuing martial arts journey.

Sensei8, that hit me.

I'm coming up on my yellow belt test, and after the day I had training, those were some much needed words of wisdom. Long story short, the two Kata's that I need to have down for this test I totally messed up, which is frustrating. I'm not one to quit, and this just makes me want it that much more, but it is always good to hear someone else tell you to keep going. Not just the voice in the back of your head.

[ninjanurse]

"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism."-Norman Vincent Peale

A good piece of advice we often discuss around testing time-especially with the younger students. Food for thought for all!

[sensei8]

While failing can be a very disappointing feeling, passing a test is fantastic!

In the martial arts, we must have trials and tribulations, as in life. Pass and failure must go hand in hand; the Yin and Yang of tests. One must have both the good as well as the bad; can't have one without the other. In that, one must fail first before one can truly appreciate a passed test! If one passed every Kyu/Dan test before him/her, there would be nothing positive of the experience in testing. Huh? After awhile, all of the tests would just become one long thing, nothing special, nothing to gain, and nothing to learn.

I've failed my share of tests and I'm glad I did. Anything of worth shouldn't be easy...ever! I failed my Hachidan in Kobudo the first time I took it, but, this experience made me a better martial artist across the board. Hence, I passed my Hachidan Kobudo test the second time around. I failed my Shindokan Hachidan...THREE times! Yet, these 3 failures didn't go ignored! No way! Each of these failures made me appreciate just how much harder I had to work than the times before. I knew where I kept messing up, but, I didn't let these failures dictate whom I was. I'm complete in my totality NOT because of my success', but, because of my many failures.

Show me someone's who passed every test and I'll show you someone who's never been truly tested!

While I expected to pass each and every test, I didn't! I wasn't sitting on the testing board, I was BEING tested BY the testing board. One runs the risk of being failed, it's bound to happen when one is being tested by someone and/or somebodies. Emotions do run amuck when one fails, it's normal. Shake it off, and know this, you will test again and this has helped me through each and every failed test(s)!

A failed test might feel like the end of the world, but, it's not, it's just another opportunity in ones continuing martial arts journey.

Sensei8, that hit me.

I'm coming up on my yellow belt test, and after the day I had training, those were some much needed words of wisdom. Long story short, the two Kata's that I need to have down for this test I totally messed up, which is frustrating. I'm not one to quit, and this just makes me want it that much more, but it is always good to hear someone else tell you to keep going. Not just the voice in the back of your head.

You'll do just fine in the martial arts. Be tested and then be victorious! Martial Arts isn't unique when it comes to testing because if one wants a drivers license, then one must pass the tests before one can legally drive!

Then there's the old saying..."If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

[RichardZ]

I dont think failure is a option. I think it may be decidely upon the instructor to make sure that the student is capable and ready.

[bushido_man96]

I agree with you here, but the teacher can't help the fact that the student may just have a bad day. Sometimes pressure will get to people...it just happens. They may have been just as prepared as they had for previous tests, but this could just happen.

[RichardZ]

Not really. Martial art tests are not like trying to win a ball game. And, we are not talking tests like college finals either. I cant see how anyone could fail a martial art test.

[bushido_man96]

If the test is physically difficult, and mentally straining, it can happen. I've failed one myself.