price for Tae Kwon Do lessons - is this reasonable?
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Anonymous
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If you want to get an idea of the belt test fees you should ask how long it takes a student who goes x number of times a week to reach black belt. There are 10 colored belts before black.
FWIW if they say a year or two than the place is just a "belt factory". It should take at least 3 or more years for dedicated students. |
Anonymous
well the Master at our TKD studio refers to TKD as Korean Karate. He means the Korean version of karate. Can't see where anything I said makes me an "idiot."
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Anonymous
yep! |
Anonymous
| I am a school owner, this is the problem with people with know knowledge of what it takes to operate a school making comments about what a program should cost. When you pay rent of $4-5000.00 per month, payroll, for two to four employees, plus utilities and more. if you want to get cheap taekwondo or any other martial art, go to the YMCA or your local rec center, then the price will range from $25-$45.00 per month, they have no overhead. However if you want a qualified and professional program with Master Level Instruction , not an entry level black belt,you must pay accordingly. The price range for this type of program will range from $150.00 to $225.00 per month. Remember do your homework , it takes many more years to become a master instructor than to get a masters degree from a university and they should earn accordingly. |
Anonymous
But what I think you don't understand is that most people are looking for an activity for their young child...not a lifetime commitment. They don't even know if their child will enjoy it. Also, most people don't care about master professional level instruction for a child under age 7 or so. They want someone who is capable of working with kids and doing so in a way where the kids learn and are engaged. |
Anonymous
| Black Belt here (not a master). Tae Kwon Do is a martial art and in this area it is often confused with an after school program for kids to kick, punch, roll around, and quickly get new colored belts. If they don't do that, the kids get bored and parents get mad that they are paying for something they aren't getting. People who truly want to learn how to defend themselves and learn discipline can't earn a Black Belt in a year or even two. It just can't be done. You can learn the steps but not the defense techniques you need to really defend yourself. If you are looking to entertain your kids, and not self defense or discipline, but exercise and fun, look for one kind of program. If you are looking for true self defense, expect to pay more and spend much more time between belt levels. Know what you want and what you are paying for so you don't pay more for a belt factory. That's not fair to you. |
Anonymous
| In Fairfax I just paid 900$ for a 6 month commitment, 2x/week, 45 minutes. By paying in full I saved 150$ rather than paying monthly. By committing to 2x for 6 months, I also saved 150$ over the 1x/week for 1 year program (they don't like that one b/c of the slow progress, but I don't care about that). I believe the belts are 40$, don't know much else. We got half the sparring equipment and uniform with that 900$. What I also like about our place is you can take off 2 weeks and add it to the end of your 6 months. We are doing that now for 3 weeks and then will do it again for 2 weeks in August when gone. |
Anonymous
| Anyone have an update on what tae kwon do is costing these days? Specifically Mt. Kim in Vienna? |
Anonymous
| anyone? |
Anonymous
| I just signed my son up for tae kwon do in fairfax county, burke. I signed up for 6 month contract at $200/month. I paid in full and got a 10% discount. He has unlimited sessions. I am striving to get him there 3Xs a week. But more than that is hard because i have a kid in soccer this season. But totally intend to send him four or more in the summer. The little guy got a new uniform. Not sure about belt tests because he just started and he is no belt right now. But honestly for unlimited sessions, I really think per hour this is fine. My son took the little ninja course at parktakes last year. So he had a general idea of what martial arts was and asked to take this course. i think it is commitment but I really like it. It stresses discipline and self confidence. I think county programs are great for the preschoolers and for introductions. But if your kid wants more than an intro they need to take anything to the next level. Plus one drawback to county programs is they are short and they don't really enforce discipline well. I think that is true for any course. They just don't care or don;t think it iw worth their time. When you take them to a true dojang, they are going to emphasize discipline. |
Anonymous
| I hate to say it, but most of the people posting here are getting fleeced, big time. Has anyone bothered to Google these schools, the training styles, or the credentials of the instructors? If not, please take 15 minutes and do so. A good resource is www.bullshido.net; it's basically the Consumer Reports of the martial arts world. Also Google Tom Callos, who is a longtime martial artist and well-known in the world of running schols the right way--the guy has quite a bit to say about the practices of some of these schools when it comes to how they handle their financial practices and a lot of it is very eye-opening. |
Anonymous
This makes me laugh. When I took TKD in Montgomery County years ago (before the invention of "belt factories"), getting a black belt took at least 5-7 years. My kids have done Mountain Kim, and my friends kids have done Jhoon Rhee. These are both "belt-factories". If you can't see this, it is because you've never taken TKD at a good school. Mt. Kim was good for my kids until about age 10. The truly sad part about our experience there, is that they have GREAT instructors. Truly competent TKD martial artists who are also good with kids. They "could" teach really well. But they have all bought into the belt factory business model. The costs aren't that high, because they supplement the teaching costs with belt tests ($40 for white belt, but it goes up to $80 or 90$ for the higher belts, and I think it is $600 or something for black belt). You are basically BUYING the next belt level. They need the income to stay in business, so the focus is not on technique -- it is on memorizing the next form, kick, etc. to be ready for the next test in 2-3 months. I can guarantee you if the instructors were teaching in Korea, there would not be all these silly belts. It really infuriates me that they dumb it down for American kids (and their parents) who want instant success and a black belt in 3 years. A good tip for those of you who don't know what to look for: 1) If you see multiple 10-12 year olds running around the black belts -- look elsewhere. Every blue moon, there is a kid that age who can really have the technique that is deserving of that belt, but it is truly rare. 2) Ask them how often their belt tests are and whether most kids are prepared for each test? 2-3 times a year might be OK, but if your kid is getting 3 new belts per year, I'd say he isn't spending enough time working on his technique. 3) Ask them the pricing of their belt tests, and why the costs are what they are. A black belt only costs $8. If they're charging lots, its probably because they rely on the belt tests to make more money. I really wish some of these places would charge MORE for instruction, and make the belt tests free. Then you're assured that the teacher's focus is where it should be -- the instruction -- not the belt color. My kids eventually washed out of Mt. Kim because the belt tests had become meaningless, and they knew it. There is no pride or satisfaction in passing a test when EVERYONE passes every time -- and the kid standing next to you who forgot his form, slopped through his kicks, and didn't study his vocabulary passes -- just like you. What a shame. I think TKD (and martial arts in general) can be such a great sport, and can develop so much. But I haven't found a good school near me. |
Anonymous
| We just started this month. My older brother did Judo when I was a child. He did not become a black belt till he was a later teen and he was considered nerdy young to get a black belt. But I think TKD has this concept of a junior black belt and an adult black belt. I don't have a problem with these junior belts if that is what keeps them in business they are still maintaining the integrity of the adult black belt. Yeah the testing fees do seem to be high. I think $60 a test but in the end I think it is worth it. My son is learning so much discipline and self control. He is so motivated. Right now he is a no belt but he works hard each class his motivation seems to be internal and not motivated by this junior belt system. |