Junior grades (white/10th kup through to green belt blue tag/5th kup) are available to take at three monthly intervals; senior grades (blue/4th kup to red belt black tag/1st kup) are available to take at 6 month intervals. The only exceptions to this time scale are students who have received an 'A' level pass mark at their previous grading, in which case grading times can be halved if the student wishes.

Eligibility to grade depends on a number of factors. A student must have gained the required minimum credits in the 3 or 6 months previous to their grading. The minimum requirements are 50 credits for junior grades and 100 credits senior coloured belt grades of 4th kup and above. This equates to roughly twice weekly training with a few days off in the three/six month period and is easily achievable.

Note: These requirements are a minimum, not an average and most students should easily achieve in access of this number.

Furthermore: All students should be aware that they can fail, as well as pass gradings. They are not a rite of passageg and must be earned and all students should ensure they fully understand what will be required of them before grading.

Students grading will be expected to perform and demonstrate everything at their required level to a good standard, plus anything from previous gradings (which must also be of a good standard). Students will furthermore be expected to know all required terminology for their current grade and all previous terminology learnt.

With regards to gradings that require destruction techniques to be demonstrated, the following should be noted:

1.Students at green belt level or above will have three attempts to break, failure to do so will result in a failed grading. Grading examiners have the power to issue further attempts only if they deem it appropriate or stop breaking if a student looks as though he/she could be injured due to insufficient technique in measuring up or a mis-judged break (this will also result in a failed grading).

2.Yellow belt grades are required to break, but if they fail to break, it will reflect on their pass mark but not automatically fail their grading. They will however be required to repeat the technique at their next grading.

3.All students will attempt to break on boards considered proper to their age and grade.

4.Students over 8 will break with training shoes on and demonstrate hand techniques on training pads for safety.

5.Students over 16 will be required to break with both hand and foot techniques, to boards, without any padding.

"No student will be allowed to wear apparel they may add an advantage to their destruction (i.e. Ankle supports), this includes medical items, in which case a student should decide whether it is safe to break without it or wait until it is to grade. Students should not take risks with healing injuries and as such the instructor may stop them grading if they try!

On completion of a grading, students will be told if they have passed or failed when all the results have been collated. Please note this can take up to a week.

The following pass marks are awarded following a grading:
F - Fail. A student may grade again at the next available grading
L - Low Level pass. A students performance is deemed below average
O - This is an average level pass, which most students obtain
O+ - this is an above average pass
A - This is an exceptional pass and very rare at the academy

It should be noted that students who manage to pass a grading with an 'L' level pass MUST pass their next grading at 'O' level or higher and failure to do so will mean a failure. No students are allowed to receive two 'L' level passes as consecutive gradings. In many cases, an 'L' pass is indictive of a specific area, such as breaking 3rd attempt or slightly low theory, rather than a low level across the whole grading (which would cause a failure in most instances)

If a student has successfully passed a grading they will receive their certificate, license and new belt or tag at their next class.

All gradings results are final and no discussion will be entered into with regards to changing the results. Students will however be informed on major areas they may need to improve on as well as fed back during the grading itself.