A JKA 6^th and 7^th dan grading can only be conducted by the JKA World Federation Headquarters. The highest grading that can be attempted by a candidate is 7^th dan. Gradings of 8^th dan and above are purely by invitation from the JKA headquarters. SA JKA conducts National Black Belt gradings locally twice a year. Grading panels consist of qualified high graded SA JKA examiners.

The Senior Technical Board is comprised of the Senior Karate-Ka in SA JKA and they are responsible for maintaining the high technical standard of karate in SA JKA and for making decisions for the good of the organisation as a whole. Once a year the Senior Technical Board gathers for training and a meeting; this usually happens at the end of the year. This is in addition to our annual Standardisation Seminar which is a seminar for all SA JKA black belts and takes place in February every year.