I quit

[brokenelbow]

Sounds like you've found something you like Shaolin Warrior. We're not knocking what your school has to offer just the outrageous rates for testing.

BTW Is it one of Fred Villari's or a USSD school? I have some experience with Villari's schools back in their expansion period and learned about the business end of martial arts from them.

[kuk sool won]

I suppose alternatively they could give testings for free and charge slightly more for class fees, would that be a better idea? Or in reality would it cost just as much?

Unfortunately without seeing some financial evidence we cant really make any comment on the price of the testings.

Oh and thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it

[DickHardman]

I suppose alternatively they could give testings for free and charge slightly more for class fees, would that be a better idea? Or in reality would it cost just as much?

Unfortunately without seeing some financial evidence we cant really make any comment on the price of the testings.

Oh and thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it

i pay $130 a month for two disciplines, muay thai and bjj. i paid 120 to enroll, and i got free gloves and a free gi. i dont have to pay for anything else other than my own sparring gear. our bjj instructor pulls people out in front of everyone else when he feels they have earned a belt and gives it them free of charge.

the muay thai training doesnt really have any belts or ranks, you just train hard and spar like boxing.

and i know that my training is legit because the ufc features fighters from our gym in just about every one of its shows.

[brokenelbow]

I suppose alternatively they could give testings for free and charge slightly more for class fees, would that be a better idea? Or in reality would it cost just as much?

Unfortunately without seeing some financial evidence we cant really make any comment on the price of the testings.

A business should charge at least what they need to survive, and enough to make a profit while still being reasonable enough to keep people coming back. The problem with the belt fees, and the testing ritual, is that the first can seem punitive while the second shouldn't be necessary if the person has trained under the guidance of the guy giving the test. I've had several school owners tell me that the testing was nothing more than a ritual or right of passage. That's fine but why then also tag to person with a financial hit. If the school really needed that cash to survive they wouldn't wait until black belt to collect it. High testing fees are just another rip off of someone who has worked their ass off to get that rank and will do anything to get it.

[GranFire]

Can you guys stop whining about cost already?!


Nothing in life is for free! You go to a facility other than your school for testing, it won't be free! A new belt is not free. a certificate to hang on your wall cost money...

can we go back to the issue please?!

The quality of instruction.....


(OK, Gran is in a particularly bad mood tonight...)

[Hardball]

I had to test for every belt I ever got. Yellow belt test only lasted about 30 minutes, Purple belt test lasted a hour, 1st brown and Black belt test lasted 6 hours. The only testing fee I paid was for Black.

[GranFire]

*headdesk*


AUGH!!!

Can we get back to something with substance?

I mean, the school has to be paid for. If they charge you 200-300 bucks a month, they can throw in a piece of paper and a 5$ belt (hell, add a couple of bucks for embroidery) if you pay 50$ it doesn't kill,ya to shell out 50 more every two month for a test where you get to see others maybe, at least my school does it so. The testing facilities need paying for as well....

can we leave the whining behind now and get back to the quality of work out?

[brokenelbow]

Can you guys stop whining about cost already?!


Nothing in life is for free! You go to a facility other than your school for testing, it won't be free! A new belt is not free. a certificate to hang on your wall cost money...

can we go back to the issue please?!

The quality of instruction.....


(OK, Gran is in a particularly bad mood tonight...)

I think that charging exorbitant testing fees does reflect on the quality of the instruction. How many times do I have to shell out $50 for testing? How many belts do I have to "earn" before I can test for black? If the testing is the determining factor why don't these schools publish the test criteria for each belt rank, have an unbiased panel to judge the applicant for rank and allow anybody to walk in and just test without the shakedown every few months?

[GranFire]

I think that charging exorbitant testing fees does reflect on the quality of the instruction. How many times do I have to shell out $50 for testing? How many belts do I have to "earn" before I can test for black? If the testing is the determining factor why don't these schools publish the test criteria for each belt rank, have an unbiased panel to judge the applicant for rank and allow anybody to walk in and just test without the shakedown every few months?

BS. Front to back.

How much you pay depends largly on where you live. Let's face it, 50$ don't get you far in NYC...here in Bama, you are nearly king!

That still has no influence on the instruction. Even with the requirements printed out (which many schools have BTW) You suck as an instructor, you suck, no matter what you charge. And not to knock anybody's trainer, but WTF, 'Here, I think you earned your new belt' ??? Sorry. not exactly earth shaking.

Anyhow....I am just a bit tired of this macho crap, only a full contact gym will teach you right etc....
You can cater to the not so hardcore crowd while maintaining the more serious student's desire to learn! And it has nothing to do with money!

But for those who only take classes, and don't own a business: It takes money to stay in business! If you want your school to be accessible and in a halfway decent location where you can let the women in your family go to without fear or your kids, it won't be cheap. If a larger facility is needed to test everybody, exceeding usual class size and school capacity, it will cost some money, that has to come from somewhere! If you want locker rooms and showers, guess what...


I have come to terms with the fact that most folks here would categorize my school as McDojo. But I do get quality instruction and in turn instruct the kids I work with to the best of my ability. It's a matter of pride, not bucks!

[brokenelbow]

BS right back at cha.

But for those who only take classes, and don't own a business: It takes money to stay in business! If you want your school to be accessible and in a halfway decent location where you can let the women in your family go to without fear or your kids, it won't be cheap. If a larger facility is needed to test everybody, exceeding usual class size and school capacity, it will cost some money, that has to come from somewhere! If you want locker rooms and showers, guess what...

I've heard those excuses for charging large fees for testing before. The gym I belong to is open 24 hours a day, in a good part of town, women train there all the time, has locker rooms & showers (which is something not used much in martial arts schools) and a staff on duty. $32 a month. Why is a martial arts school different?
Here's what a friend who is a school owner does during larger than normal tests. He does the kids with the parents in attendance at one time, the adult color belt ranks another time usually after an adult class and the black belts have their own testing. No need for extra expenses. Another way he makes money as business is by renting out time to other styles. Right now he rents time to a BJJ school and an Aikido school. Another local fellow does the same. The renters get a nice space without the headaches of managing them, the owner of the primary school gets to funnel the money earned from what would be dead floor time back into his school keeping costs down and putting a few extra bucks in his pocket.
Let's face facts, those large testing fee's are only to put some free cash into someones pockets.

[GranFire]

He still is making money off of it...

Our school has no down time to rent out the space...

[brokenelbow]

Never said it was bad to make a profit, just bad to take advantage of people.

So if you're school is so booked up that means there must be a steady revenue stream coming in. If so why charge for testing at all?

[GranFire]

Never said it was bad to make a profit, just bad to take advantage of people.

So if you're school is so booked up that means there must be a steady revenue stream coming in. If so why charge for testing at all?

You pay for the convinience of flexible training hours....

In any case I am not getting into a pissing match with you.

I just wish that all those tough guys stopped bitching about the price of their hobby. You either get your money's worth or you don't! You either stick with the school and the instructor, or you hit the road. Simple as that.

Go on out and smell the coffee, what other activities cost you! Be prepared to be flabbergasted...

[Tom Yum]

Go on out and smell the coffee, what other activities cost you! Be prepared to be flabbergasted...

Jogging/Running = the cost of the clothes you are wearing + water you drink. Cheap-cheap

Calisthenics = same as above.

Swimming = cost of pool/gym membership (neighborhood rec center is usually pretty cheap) + swimsuit + goggles. A little more expensive, but you can find good deals. Relatively Cheap

Cost of Boxing gym membership < Cost MA membership. Boxing gyms are usually run more spartan than MA gyms, so they are cheaper. Not bad.

[GranFire]

Jogging/Running = the cost of the clothes you are wearing + water you drink. Cheap-cheap

Calisthenics = same as above.

Swimming = cost of pool/gym membership (neighborhood rec center is usually pretty cheap) + swimsuit + goggles. A little more expensive, but you can find good deals. Relatively Cheap

Cost of Boxing gym membership < Cost MA membership. Boxing gyms are usually run more spartan than MA gyms, so they are cheaper. Not bad.

LOL! Have you an Idea what good shoes cost?! (Or good support equipment for the well endowed female?!)


OK, How about Gymnastics: Cha-ching every time you walk through the doors
Cheerleading - ought to be cheap, no?
Baseball - camp after camp....but mileage may vary, youth baseball is like a religion around here...

Horseback riding, one lesson can cost you 60$ and up, and you don't always get a a full hour...not even to mention the helmet, the footwear and clothes. Or getting into horse ownership, figure 300$ barest minimum on housing your equipment, hoping nothing goes wrong...

Bike riding...LOL I guess one could go out with a bike from Wally World, but you still need someone following you to keep you from getting creamed in the road...


So we have to pay a little extra every so often...big deal. If what we get is worth it to us....

(I have the choice of 8 classes I can work out at, or all if I can crawl to the Dojang, I get to test with and be judged by people other than the ones I train with - the facilities are nice but need to be paid by the school. Our school is finally expanding and will be offering more amenities to the students, that too does not come cheap. Let's face it, if the school is financially stable we stand a chance to work out there over time. The city has seen many schools open and close, ours has been around for a while and promises to stay...)

If this is what you want to do, if this is what you set out to learn, then the price is right to persute your passion....