Failing a Grading - Aikido Articles
It doesn't matter whether you are a White Belt or a senior Black Belt – failing a grading is an extremely painful experience. If you are an instructor, seeing your own students fail a grading can be even worse, knowing that you have to inform the parents, (if the candidate is under 18), and then help to pick themselves up emotionally, whilst secretly questioning your own teaching methods and ability.
Trying to turn such a big negative into a positive is immensely difficult at the best of times. But any words of wisdom or comfort can fall on the deaf ears of a child who believes it to be the end of the world, too young to understand that it's a hard way to learn about the setbacks and knocks that we can encounter in everyday life.
I've had a small handful of students who have failed a grading over the past two years. All of them were under 12 years old and obviously, all of them were very upset. The first thing that I try to explain is that there are only two ways of failing a grading:
- 1) They have experienced "a bad day at the office". This is something that can happen to anyone, and needs to be put down to experience. Some people (including myself) find any type of examination or test an ordeal, and it's natural for the brain to shut down, despite endless training, hard work and a successful mock grading.
- 2) They may simply not be ready for promotion. In this scenario, I would tell the unsuccessful candidate that this does not reflect the hard work that they had recently put in, or highlight that they are not a bad martial artist, or even that they are not worthy of the belt that they have already earned. It just means that they require a little bit of extra work before they will be ready for the next step.
For most instructors, the first reason is by far the most common, as it is rare for students to be let into the grading without the necessary preparation and experience, and VERY common for nerves to get the better of someone who's under so much pressure.
Another method I have used is to sit all candidates down before a grading and revise the 5 Tenets, with the emphasis on Perseverance and Indomitable Spirit. Everyone is reminded that while we all want to succeed in our grading, (and everything else in life), failure is an unwelcome hazard, which we all encounter at some stage, and it's not the fact that we fail, but the way in which we deal with it.
So you must be thinking by now how wonderful it must be for me to have any unsuccessful candidate rushing back to me the following week, all smiles, with the unfortunate grading a distant memory. Well, I've still had two unsuccessful candidates who were not won over by my "reassuring tones" and dropped out! However, the rest have shown an amazing amount of Perseverance and Indomitable Spirit by dusting themselves down, studying the examiner's comments and getting straight back in to the next grading.
No one has shown more guts and determination than one particular young lad in my class called Alex, aged 12 (pictured). Last year, he was unsuccessful in his attempt for Blue Belt. I've always admired Alex for his spirit and "never say die" attitude, but when he turned up to train at the club where all the examiners trained the week after the grading (not my club, and not a club to which he is familiar!), I cannot think of anyone else who would have done that – including myself!
Then last week, despite all his hard work and a good mock grading, Alex once again experienced another "bad day at the office" and was again unsuccessful in his attempt to be promoted, this time to Red Belt. This was obviously a bitter disappointment and very upsetting, but Alex was still at the following lesson, congratulating the successful candidates and keen to start training again.
For this effort and more, I cannot praise Alex enough. He is a shining example to every student (and instructor!) out there who has experienced the pain of failure, but refuses to just walk away and quit. Master Con Halpin always says that a Black Belt is just a White Belt that never gave up, and from my own experience, it is the students who have struggled the hardest who enjoy their Black Belt the most. I'm not going to say "if", but WHEN Alex reaches his Black Belt, he will enjoy it more than most and deservedly so.
I hope that any student who is unsuccessful in a future grading will remember these points, dust themselves down and really show the examiner at the next grading just how much you've learned and progressed – all the way to the top!
Aikido is a modern Japanese Martial Art and is very different from disciplines such as Karate, Kick Boxing, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, MMA, BJJ, Kempo and Krav Maga where there is emphasis on kicking, punching or wrestling.
Aikido is an extremely efficient self defence (also as Self-Defence Women London) system utilising balance-taking and posture-breaking movements to achieve joint locks, pins and throws. It contains elements of Ju Jitsu, Kendo, Judo and other budo.
Aikido Classes are held every Tuesday and Wednesday evening at our Harrow dojo, and Thursday evening at our Pinner dojo in NW London. Pinner Aikido Club London is a part of the Kai Shin Kai International Traditional Aikido Association (KSK), which is a member of the Aikido Alliance.
Aikido is essentially a non-violent Martial art system that encourages the avoidance of confrontation and harmony with an aggressor. The classes are well attended with Aikido students always on the mat and aimed at all levels, from beginner to advanced but everyone is welcome to come along regardless of fitness or experience.
Our Aikido students work at their own pace during the training sessions and no one is forced into doing anything they are not comfortable with.
Pinner Aikido Club in London can help you achieve self-defense skills, self-esteem, confidence, and fitness. Most of all though, our classes are fun.
You do not have to be competitive or naturally athletic to take part in the Aikido class. Learning Aikido is about self-improvement and self-confidence.
Regardless of your size, body type and current level of physical ability or disability. If you are looking for a healthier, more confident way of life, then the modern art of Aikido may well be for you.