I failed a grading today for the first time and one of the comments I got when I sent an sms to let an old instructor know, was "Congrats, hope you learnt something, hehehe". So I wondered, what can be learnt from it? It wasn't as if I had put myself forward for grading or anything, and it was an in-class grading in my regular class. What can I learn by failing?

Firstly, I'm sorry you failed your grade Nooms. Crap as it must make you feel (it would me) I think your of a strong characture who will bounce back twice as strong.
If it were me, personally I'd be inclined to ask the instructor/grader to let me know what I need to work on mostly, where are my weaknesses? Then, I'd suggest to them that they do not put you through for the grade until they are one hundred and ten percent sure you are ready for it.

Putting myself in that position as best I can, I believe I'd learn NEVER be complacent with my abilities but practice until I can not get it wrong.
Also, I would take comfort that some of the greatest people in history failed at what they did too.

I think that because you are strong enough to even ask what you could learn after a kick in the teeth shows you not to be a failure but a winner.
You'll get there lass.

Si

Gotta agree with Pleb that I dont think it was fair to put you up for a grading you didnt want to do, knowing you werent ready for it. I'm all for character building but theres gotta be better ways.

It wasn't deliberate - my instructor just kind of forgot I wasn't there for grading. It's an in-class grading and I was there just for class. On the bright side, I did nearly grade anyway and get another opportunity to try again next week. I have a couple of extra classes to do, and one of my classmates (who did grade) has volunteered to come practice with me during the week.

Did you get feedback from your examiner on why you failed? If so, that is how you learn from failing. If not... well it makes it pretty hard to know what you did wrong unless someone tells you.

Failing a grading is only useful if you get given the details why you failed. At the end the examiner(s) should have a list ready of what you need to work on, the same as they'd have a list of things for every person attempting the grading. Even if you pass you should be able to find out which areas you are weak in and need to work on Examples of which areas you did well and why is also useful. It is very easy to say "you didn't pass and these are the reasons why" if the examiners have been taking note of your performance. If you have to go ask them and they have to think about it to come up with reasons it just devalues the whole experience.


Mick

I did get great feedback from my instructor who has also offered to run through the things that need work this week. I lerned an awful lot from the whole thing - like I have some great people to train with - but wondered specifically what I should have learned from it. There have been some great points here already. Thanks for the input, all.

And now I have been awarded Antas Isa (Level One) in Dragon Arnis.

Excellent! Very well done.

Well done!!!

Thanks

Way to go Nooms, congratulations