Grading

Note that full-contact sparring between candidates is not a requirement for grading. 

If it is required the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) will make it compulsory for candidates to wear full protective equipment.  There is no reason why only groin guard is compulsory for male and optional for female when the STF is committed to ensure the safety of all participants in the grading.

Candidates and sparring assistants are strictly prohibited from engaging in full-contact sparring.  Only light or slight contact is allowed. 

For the candidates to earn the thumbs-up from the examiners, they have to display adequate sparring techniques and tactics.  The expectations from the examiners will be progressively more the higher the grades.

For example, a green belt may pass his sparring test by displaying only one technique during the grading.  But it will not see a red belt through in his grading.  He is expected to show at least three different techniques and employ two tactical moves.  The examiners want to see different types of kicks.  Candidates may use straight punches as one of the techniques.

The STF encourages coaches to arrange sparring partners for their candidates.  The primary purpose of allowing this arrangement is to give the candidates an ideal condition to showcase their skills.

Candidates should be reminded that the examiners will not hesitate to fail them if they are not serious about the sparring.  The examiners will not caution them.  They will just fail the candidates if they play the fool. 

Members holding 1^st poom may apply for their grade to be converted to 1^st dan on reaching the age of 15, 2^nd dan one year after they obtained their 1^st dan and 3^rd dan two years after they receive their 2^nd dan.  They are encouraged to do so when the conversion is due as the next grade will be granted only when the time frame is met – for example, if a poom belt holder coverts his grade when he is 20 years old, he can only take his grading or convert his next grade when is 21.

Coaches should remind their poom belt holders that the conversion is not automatic.   

Poom belt holders have to continue training to qualify for conversion.  If they stop training after obtaining their grade, they will have to re-join the club and train at least six months before they can apply for conversion. 

The six-month training requirement is for the coaches to assess the suitability of their poom belt holders for the conversion.  If the coaches are not satisfied, they have the right to prescribe a longer training period for their trainees before endorsing the applications for conversion.

Coaches should not support conversion applications from poom belt holders who obtain their grades under another club unless clearance has been given by the club or the Singapore Taekwondo Federation.

Coaches must make sure that all poom belt holders and their parents are aware of the conversion guidelines.