The Singapore Taekwondo Federation will be introducing a new grading system for participants 12 years old and below (based on year) with effect from the October 2016 grading season.  July 2016 grading season will be the last time students (12 years old and below) will start at White 10.

Coaches who wish to introduce the Foundation Levels to their students earlier may do so.

What’s new?

The Singapore Taekwondo Federation will be introducing 3 foundation levels for participants (12 years old and below) and an intermediate poom belt stage for juniors (15 years old and below). 

What is the primary objectives of the change?

The primary objectives of the change are to ensure that participants are ready for the challenges of the sport and enhance their standard and to support coaches in their effort to guide their students.

How students may complete the 3 foundation levels?

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

           Option 4

The coaches will have full discretion to decide on the Option and the time-frame for the 1^st foundation test.

Is there a possibility for double promotion?

Yes, candidates who do reasonably well in Foundation 3 will be given a double promotion.

What is the grading fees for the various options?

$50 for all three foundation stages payable when the candidate takes the first level. The fee allocation between the Federation and the club will remain unchanged.  The club may give discounts from its share to support its students.

What are the requirements for each of the foundation level?

For candidates 5 years old (based on year) and younger, coaches do not have to send them for formal testing for foundations 1 & 2.  Their assessment may be based on the observation of their competency and recommendation by their coaches.  And the grading card shall be endorsed by the coach and countersigned by the examiner assigned to the club.  If the coaches so wish, they may send their 5-year old and younger candidates for foundations 1 & 2 assessment under the examiners.

For candidates taking two or three foundation levels at the same time, the examiner will decide on the performance items.  It can be all if the examiner so desire.

Will students 5 years old (based on year) and below be allowed to take Foundation 3 or all the Foundations at the same time?

Yes, the decision shall be made by their respective coaches.

What belts will the foundation level students be wearing?

They will all start wearing white belt.  On obtaining their first foundation level, they will wear a white belt with one star.  Two stars will adorn their belts for foundation two and three stars for foundation three (that is, White 10).

Explain the intermediate poom belt stage.   

All candidates going for the poom belt, except those who are exceptional or perform poorly, will be awarded a provisional grade.  The examiners will inform the coaches the areas of improvement required for each candidate.  6 months later, the candidates will be required to go for a confirmation test.  They will be tested only on the areas that they have to improve – for example candidates who are weak at poomsae will be required to do poomsae for their confirmation.  Only confirmed candidates will obtain their 1^st poom certification.

What is the time frame required for 1^st to 2^nd poom?

Confirmed 1^st poom candidates may take the grading six months after confirmation.

How much must the candidates pay for the confirmation test?

It will be $25 per candidate.  The standard fee allocation will apply.

Please note the following information which is useful to candidates.  Coaches who have ideas for the improvement of any aspect of grading are requested to submit their suggestions to stkdf@mail.com for consideration by the Grading Committee. 

Unarmed Combat

The Board of Examiners would like to remind candidates requiring to perform unarmed combat as part of their promotion requirements to use only taekwondo techniques.  If candidates have to use techniques from other martial arts like Judo, Brizilian Juitsu, Krav Maga, etc, our examiners will assume that they (the candidates) do not know any taekwondo unarmed combat techniques or are able to perform the skills.  Under the circumstances, the candidates will fail the test.

Taekwondo is an excellent form of unarmed combat.  It is rich with effective and powerful techniques.  Therefore, there is no reason for using techniques from other martial arts. 

Interview

During the recent grading, one candidate was completely silent during the interview segment.  It was later discovered that she could not understand English.  She spoke only Mandarin.  Candidates or their coaches must inform the examiners if the candidates wish to respond in any other language.  Candidates who are dumbfounded by any question may also ask for clarifications.  If they feel like a nervous wreck, they may ask for time out.

With immediate effect, both single and double round belts are allowed.

The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) intends to include in the new grading syllabus the requirement for candidates to tie their own belts.  Therefore, single round belt is encouraged for children as it will be easier for them to learn the tying skill with it. 

Many coaches have found that double round belt is difficult for children to handle without help.  However, the STF will leave it to the coaches to decide what is best for their students.