It has come to the Management Committee’s attention that some affiliates holding supplementary grading have fewer than the minimum number of candidates required for such grading – that is 250 candidates. Although the number has dropped over the years, the affiliates continue to host the grading despite not meeting the requirements.

With effect from the April 2010 grading, all affiliates organizing supplementary grading must have at least 200 candidates. The number has been reduced to make it easier for some affiliates to meet the target.

Affiliates with fewer than 200 candidates can still organize the grading but payment will still be for 200 candidates.

Affiliates are to note that approval for supplementary grading is given subject to the affiliates meeting the number required and the obligations to ensure that the venue is suitable for the activity and all arrangements are made to facilitate the grading including according the examiners proper respect and recognition.

The STF will bar an affiliate from holding further supplementary grading if it fails to fulfill any of the criteria or obligations.

Here are some pieces of information which Clubs will do well to note.

Interview

For the interview segment, the grading assistant or ‘commander’ shall instruct the candidates to queue up in a straight line about 1.5 meters away from the examiner’s table. They shall stand in order of their numbers – that is, the number one candidate first followed by the rest.

When the examiner is ready, he shall signal the first candidate to approach him. The candidate called will bow, walk towards the examiner and stand at ease about 0.2 meters away from the table.

The candidate shall answer the questions clearly and concisely. On completion of the interview, he shall take a step back, bow and move off.

Candidates should conduct themselves well at all times as their demeanor will be taken into consideration when the examiner assesses them.

Grading Assistants

Black belt assistants who are involved in sparring during the grading are required to wear groin guards. They should not spar if they do not wear the equipment for safety reasons.  

Armed Combat Requirement

For 2^nd to 3^rd dan and 3^rd to 4^th dan grading,  candidates may use short stick or rubber knife. The examiners will assess candidates on their ability to execute their techniques accurately, smoothly and realistically.

Reporting Time

Coaches who ask their students to report early should be present to guide them. In the absence of coaches, most students and their parents will be anxious as they do not know what to do. While anxious parents will be upset and angry, anxious candidates cannot perform to be best of their ability.