A Fall and a Rise

It was the 20th century, I was a high schooler and my parents had enrolled me in a Karate Academy. Self-defense was numero uno even at that time especially since I used to love going on trekking expeditions with groups. I had to become self-sufficient and thus started the journey of sweating and grinding those teeth and blowing out air while furiously yet with elegance and swiftness move my legs and arms in the air to learn the right strokes of defense. 

With repeated actions for a few months day in and out, my muscle memory was getting sharp, thus helping me transform from a crude to a couth.

Came the day of testing where myself a white belt was aspiring for a yellow belt. Practiced my drill many times in the presence and the absence of my instructor. 

Many schools had assembled there for the belt testing of their respective students. 

The Academy had decided to start from the highest rank to the lowest. Thus, I was seated with all the white belt students and enjoying the show although would gulp now and then seeing how meticulous and thorough the students testing for higher belts were. I was amazed at how their simple shout from the gut and keeping their hands slightly tilted they could break "n" number of tiles. At every slab thrashed, I would look at my hand, which thankfully was intact. 

*Gulp*

Finally the colored belts finished, and my name was announced. I performed my drills and then when it came to breaking the tiles, I gave out a loud sound (inspired by the pros) and brought my hand thrashing to the tile.

Alas, it did not break. 

In fact, I felt my flexor tendons tire out.

Hmm strange!

I tried this time with a bellowing sound again and came towards the tile with an active force. 

Nothing!

Finally, the instructor asked me to be seated. 
I was devastated!

This was my epic fail moment, cause I came with full confidence but could not deliver the result. 

Sad, and dejected I sat down hand in hand while caressing it. 

The result was clear since I did not break that darn tile, I was a white belter for another ~six months until the next testing period.

Needless to say, my next testing was perfect. My stances, punches, kicks, blocks and self-defense was smooth. It was as if over a period, I was polished several times, and thus was shining like a diamond on the day of my test. 

Mantra for today: Nothing is termed as the epic fail, as long as you learn from the fall. 


--------

FTSF is here.
Their sentence is,"A Epic Fail moment"