The Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) is concerned that ‘senior’ members especially coaches are holding grades that do not commensurate with their experiences, knowledge and skills. They have been in the art for tens of years and were, for some reasons, unable to take their grading regularly. Now many their juniors or, in some cases, their students are holding higher grades.

In a recent survey among some of the senior members, the STF found a need to take care of their interests by encouraging them to upgrade themselves.

A first ‘dan’ promotion course comprising lectures, training and exclusive promotion tests will be conducted specially for them. The details are as follows.

Dates                          :           21 & 28 March 2010 (Tentative)

Time                           :           6.00 to 9.00 pm

Venue                         :           STF National Training Centre

Dress Code               :           ‘Dobok’

Course Fees            :           1^st dan to 2^nd Dan   – $200

2^nd dan to 3^rd Dan   – $250

3^rd dan to 4^th Dan   – $300

4^th dan to 5^th Dan   – $350

5^th dan to 6^th Dan   – $400

6^th dan to 7^th Dan   – $500

Test                             :           According to the normal grading requirements.

Registration              :           Same procedure adopted for ‘dan’ applicants in

                                                the centralized grading.

Closing Date             :           6 March 2010 (Tentative)        

Candidates may apply for a maximum of a two-dan promotion if they meet the following time-frame for the grades.

The fee payable will be for both grades.

All applications are subjected to recommendations by the Chairman of the Board of Examiners in consultation with the other senior examiners and approval by STF President. Applicants may also be asked to attend an interview, if required.

With effect from 2010, all clubs shall be required to provide poomsae referees to qualify for participation in poomsae competitions organized by the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF). These competitions include the National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships which have been scheduled to be held at the end of April 2010 for B and C Divisions and end of May 2010 for A Division.

To assist clubs to build a pool of poomsae referees, the STF will be organizing a national poomsae referee course on 5, 6 and 12 December 2009. The details of the course are attached.

All clubs planning to participate in the various poomsae competitions are encouraged to send participants for the course. Otherwise, they may have to ‘borrow’ referees just for participation. And this may be difficult as some clubs may not have enough referees for their own use.

The results of the following courses are attached.

– Poomsae Coach Upgrading Course

– Unarmed Combat Course (Level 1) – Poom Belts & Dan Holders

– Poomsae Coach Course Retest

The delay in the release of the official results of the Poomsae Coach Upgrading Course was caused by the need to give some candidates more time to prepare for their tests.

The Singapore Taekwondo Federation would like to thank coaches who had taken their tests much much earlier for their patience and support of their fellow coaches.

To those who have successfully passed their courses, congratulations and welcome aboard!

If you do not know what to expect for your important promotion test and want to find out, you should attend the next grading preparation workshop which will be held as follows.

The workshop is open to red belts (senior and junior), poom belts and black belts.

The primary objective of the course is to point out to participants their performance flaws and the areas they should work on from the examiners’ perspective. This will give the candidates a better chance of passing.

Coaches may use the information acquired by their students at the workshop as a basis to guide them for their grading.

During the workshop, participants will be briefed on the grading guidelines and the expectations of the examiners.The application form is attached.