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Reply to "price for Tae Kwon Do lessons - is this reasonable?"
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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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.[/quote] 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.[/quote]
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