Coaches are requested to 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.