maxercise to contracts - alternatives?

[zippo]

ive been a long time reader of this forum, but havent really been motivated to write...until now. the bjj club in which ive loyally been training for the past number of years has for some mysterious reason decided to go to a contract-based membership. after february 2002, those that wish to train at maxercise, a relson association in philly, will have to commit to at least 2 classes per week for 6 months at $115 per month. that works out to $1380 a year for the most basic contract. these rates arent unreasonably high on a per class basis, but the problem lies within the fact that people with demanding and irregular schedules, ie: college students, people with families and kids, and others with career demands, will have a hard time making such a substantial time & financial commitment. concurrently, there seems to be a disturbing shift in school philosophy. when i first came to the school, we trained primarily with real world self-defense techniques. today, we train almost exclusively with sport jujitsu moves. in my opinion, its moved from training individuals to protect themselves to developing a 'successful competition team' for maxercise.

now that i've vented, the real reason for this thread is to ask if the forum readers know of some other local (philly/suburbs) schools, their rates and their contractual requirements. has anyone had a positive contract experience, and if so, how does this one sound? my preference is to train weekday evenings or weekends once a week (regular class + open mat), twice when my schedule allows. flexibility is a plus. i'm curious to hear from students of local schools with their experiences there. thanks.

[Arrgh]

Try these places:

Rickson Gracie Ju-Jitsu/Muay Thai Center
Center City Dojo
43 N 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-923-8700


Gracie Ju-Jitsu Training Academy
(Between 6000-7000 Frankford Ave. in N.E. Philly, don't have phone number)

I can't give you any additional info. on these places, as I've only passed by them a few times. But check them out. Hope this helps.

[Karlinhos]

with forced contracts like that, they're definitely gonna loose a lot of business. not a good business decision at all.

[Arrgh]

Yeah, we used to have a number of guys who cross-trained at Maxersize. But quite a number left after a while. Supposedly, (I don't know myself, this is just what I've heard) if you don't "buy into" the whole Gracie thing (attending seminars, buying videos, etc...) they tend to pay less attention to you. This isn't a slam on the Maxwells, I've met Steve and Dee Dee a number of times and they seem like really nice people, but I can't understand that rationale. This is martial arts, not Scientology. (By the way, I'm not knocking you Scientologists either, so no need to post hate mail for me.)

[zippo]

thanks arrgh...i'll check them out. i had recently tried to view the center city dojo's web site (themartialartshouse.com i think) and it seems defunct...so i wasn't sure what their status was.

anybody out there have any experience with hatfield martial arts academy(renzo), modern combat academy in landsdale or phila jui-jitsu assoc?

[phillyman]

Hey i live in philly and use to train at maxercise a long time ago
here is what i know
http://www.bodyartsgym.com/
body arts teach nhb submission grapling and thai
also in bristal pa there a club called bristal karate club Tom mcgonigal is a black belt under Machado 215-785-1090 they also teach Savate

the jujitsu assoc (Damon) on 2222 cherry street is cheap from what i can remember $60 unlimited (check to see if different) the add is usually in city paper Damon use to train at maxercise a while ago let me know what you find out and how it goes

[zippo]

very helpful post...i hadn't known about the machado black belt before. the little research i've done so far has found a number of places that offer unlimited classes at much lower rates on a monthly basis. i'll let you know where i finally end up.

[kuroshio]

(quote from Zippo)

"very helpful post...i hadn't known about the machado black belt before. the little research i've done so far has found a number of places that offer unlimited classes at much lower rates on a monthly basis. i'll let you know where i finally end up."


Zippo, please let the rest of us know where those unlimited classes for less money are located. I am a newbie who has observed/trained with Maxercise, Joe Diamond and Ricardo Almeida, and I am interested in training on a regular basis with anyone between Phila, S. Jersey, Central Jersey (Trenton/Princeton area) or Philly north suburbs (especially Bucks Cty.)

[Triangle]

Yamasaki Academy in Oaks... www.grappling.com

[phillyman]

Hey you mentioned the Princeton area i couldnt handle the drive but you can try the Princeton Academy of Martial art Rick Tucci is and instructor under Dan Inosanto in jkd/kali/silat he also has a mixed grappling class as well www.pamausa.com

[kuroshio]

Yeah, I'm gonna look into the Princeton Academy......Anyone have any idea how much that costs per class? I called them for info, but they wouldn't discuss that aspect......Methinks it might be kinda expensive?

[phillyman]

hey kuro to start off with you have to get equipment depends on which styles you take and i think there is a new registration fee. Once all that happens for about three classes a week per month i believe it averages out to $100.00 per month you have to have the quarter paid in advance so say every three months its $300.00 there is no contract though just 3 months paid in advance it depends on how may classes you take per week you can go there and take a free intro class Hope that helps

[Zhoozhitsu]

6 month contracts? What a crock! I would run from any place that forces contracts.

[zippo]

kuroshio-

if bucks county is a possibility, i've found that hatfield martial arts academy offers unlimited classes for $60 a month. they have 4 classes per week-2 gi & 2 no-go and their head instructor is a brown belt under renzo. i had a chance to observe a class and the instruction seemed very good and the organization's customer service was excellent. the little things go a long way. there are no contracts and payments are by the month.

in the same area, modern combat academy is or was offering classes at similar rates. the person who told me this had visited a year or two ago so i'm not sure of the exact price now. i believe their head instructor is a brown belt under royler.

both of these places are somewhat far from downtown philly...slightly less than an hour drive. i personally like to choose schools that are located as close as possible to home. the only reason i can consider them is because i travel in that area a lot for work.

phillyman also posted that the philadelphia jujitsu assoc had at one time offered unlimited classes for $60 month. i haven't had a chance to check that out yet, but sounds promising.

[zippo]

in a related story, i was talking to someone whos been studying judo for a few years in our area. the school's instructor is financially secure with his day job and teaches judo on the side for the art's sake and not necessarily as a business. he charges about $50 every 3 months+small mat fees. i shouldn't really say anything more about this school until i check out the instructor's skills, credentials, etc., but the point is that its refreshing to know that schools do exist in which teaching is the primary goal, not just making a buck.