Gradings are held every three months at SHINBOKU.

Topics from the syllabus are assessed in a friendly and considerate manner.

As students become more proficient the examinations reflect the enhanced level of skill required.  Below is the set of standards that we adhere to...

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The following criteria should be met when grading an KSK student:


1) Attendance: Three quarters of all the lessons during the period between gradings should have been attended.  If a student trains only once a week then seventy five per cent of those lessons should have been completed. 

The period between grading is normally three to four months.

2) Development: Personal progress, measured during class time, is taken into consideration during an assessment.    

3) The Syllabus: All candidates should have a working knowledge of their particular syllabus.  These are available from the secretary or instructor.

4) Appearance: Personal hygiene, a clean dogi with obi tied and worn correctly are all factors.

5) Kata: All previous kata to those required for the grading should be known by the candidate.

6) Licence: A current signed licence with a photograph should be presented at the time of the grading. This will be stamped and endorsed as appropriate.

7) Marks Awarded: A scale from 0 to 4 is used and is explained below.

    0 - Absolute fail (this mark is such that the conduct of the student is abhorrently bad).  Such a                    score demands a formal report to the chief instructor and means the student immediately fails            the grading.

    1 - Bad fail

    2 - Fail

    3 - Pass

    4 - Excellent pass

The scores of each of the components are tallied up at the end.

Personal scores are made available on request.  Marks are given for each of the four categories:        
                         i)   Basics (kihon)                                
                         ii)  Sparring (kumite)
                         iii) Forms (kata)
                         iv) Application (bunkei)

8) Results:     

Pass - a mark of 12/16 is the minimum required to pass (compensatory marking is permitted if one domain scores 2.  i.e. 3:3:4:2).

Temporary - a mark of 11/16 (e.g. 3:3:3:2).  A temporary will be arrived at if any domain is scored as one, with otherwise compensatory marks (e.g. 4:4:4:1).  Additionally, if more than one domain is marked as a 2 then a temporary is the best overall result achievable (e.g. 4:4:2:2). No temporary passes will be awarded at 3rd kyu or above.
                      
Double grade - this will be considered if a score of 15/16 or higher is achieved and the candidate can demonstrate the next grades kata and application satisfactorily. The highest double grade possible is from 5th kyu to 3rd kyu.
                       
Fail - Any score below 11/16, any domain scored as 0.

9) Temporary Pass: Although handicapped, this does not disqualify a student from attempting his or her next grading at the discretion of the examiner.

10) Independent Assessor: An independent grader should be invited to grade students at least once a year to ensure standards are maintained.

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