A martial arts master is encouraging students to embrace failure as part of part of their journey.
Master Vaughan Buxton, a 7th-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a British, European, and World title holder, said not succeeding the first time – or every time – was par for the course.
Mr Buxton, who did not win any medals until he reached black belt, said of competing: “Someone has to lose in a competition. It’s disappointing, but you often learn more from your losses – and if you persevere, it tends to make you a better competitor over time.”
He has gone on to train a dozen world champions and stresses that lessons in martial arts, such as the tenet of perseverance, apply to sport and life in general.
You are not a failure.
Mr Buxton, who is also a master violinist and teaches taekwondo at South West Taekwondo (SWTKD) in Bristol, UK, said: “You can stay in your comfort zone and have easy wins.
“But if you challenge yourself, it helps to accept that it will be hard and won’t always go as planned. It doesn’t mean that you are a failure; it means your attempt didn’t work out – this time.”
Mr Buxton, who is a senior manager with bathroom distributor Davroc, has experienced set back. But with perseverance he went on to win his first gold at the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain (TAGB) Welsh Open in 1995.
He later seeded as number 1 when he qualified for entry into the World Championships in 2004. He won all 10 of his bouts – on his 21st birthday.
And he went on to fight a half dozen tough rounds to be crowned welterweight World Champion in the sparring division in taekwondo’s birthplace of Korea.
Growth Mindset
Psychologist Carol Dweck, one of the world’s leading researchers in the field of motivation, has found mindset can affect students’ progress.
In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, she describes a growth mindset as ‘the idea that abilities can be developed and improved.
In contrast, a ‘fixed mindset’ is the belief that intelligence and talent are ‘fixed’ and cannot be changed – which can lead children to becoming disheartened when they make a mistake.
Research has shown a growth mindset may boost academic progress and help self-esteem – as mistakes are not seen as a reflection on self-identity but rather an opportunity to grow.
Reflect
Mr Buxton believes humility, a key value of martial arts, is important for a growth mindset.
He said: “By putting ego aside, you are better prepared to listen, follow instructions, learn, and improve. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help.”
Some studies suggest we learn more from failures than successes and emphasize the importance of reflection.
Mr Buxton added: “Win or lose, it’s important to reflect on what went well and what could go better. Try not to get deflated by a loss or complacent by a win. Instead, take the lessons and think about how you can make it better.”.
She took up Tang Soo Do several years ago, and then Taekwondo. She used to enjoy Thai Boxing and Judo as a teenager. She is a student with South West Taekwondo Academy (SWTKD) ww.swtkd.co.uk
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