How much of a time and $$ commitment is taekwondo?

[Anonymous]

Wow this sounds way more expensive than I was expecting. Sounds like $30-40 for a 30 minute class, or $60-80 an hour, plus belt tests, uniforms, and meets? That's expensive for an elementary activity.

Just for the sake of comparison, our ballet classes come to $22 for a 50 minute class, swim is about $40/hr (and that's for indoor classes during the year, the costs of summer swim are way cheaper on a per swim basis), soccer is about $40/wk and that includes a practice and a game, and so on.

I recognize all of these activities get progressively more expensive as kids get older and specialize more, but we assume we won't do as many activities at that point and also I don't mind spending more money if my kid is committed and interested in getting better, instead of it just being something we're trying out to stay active and social.

Seems like there should be a way to one 45 minute class a week for like $100 a month to get a sense of it until they are at least 9 or 10 and can decide if they want to pursue it further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s hard to describe any physical activity as entirely useless but a 30 minute Tae Kwon Do lesson, even if conducted at breakneck pace is unlikely to impart much familiarity with the art. Martial arts is about ingraining physical techniques and responses to stimuli until they because more or less automatic. You’re not going to get that in 30 minutes or even an hour. Once upon a time, instruction ran two hours, three times a week.

My child learned a lot in 2x30 minutes sessions a week.

[Anonymous]

Music, language, a sport and now you want to add in another sport? That's too much for a 7 year old OP, my 7year old can do two activities.

[Anonymous]

You need to be careful at martial arts studios and really read the fine print. They lock you into long term contracts that auto renew and make it hard for you to leave.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? We love flying kick in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow this sounds way more expensive than I was expecting. Sounds like $30-40 for a 30 minute class, or $60-80 an hour, plus belt tests, uniforms, and meets? That's expensive for an elementary activity.

Just for the sake of comparison, our ballet classes come to $22 for a 50 minute class, swim is about $40/hr (and that's for indoor classes during the year, the costs of summer swim are way cheaper on a per swim basis), soccer is about $40/wk and that includes a practice and a game, and so on.

I recognize all of these activities get progressively more expensive as kids get older and specialize more, but we assume we won't do as many activities at that point and also I don't mind spending more money if my kid is committed and interested in getting better, instead of it just being something we're trying out to stay active and social.

Seems like there should be a way to one 45 minute class a week for like $100 a month to get a sense of it until they are at least 9 or 10 and can decide if they want to pursue it further.

No, meets are optional and most kids don't do them. Fwiw, different places charge very different amounts. Look around for a place with convenient times and location, with good instructors that are good with kids, and that have good pricing and contracts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow this sounds way more expensive than I was expecting. Sounds like $30-40 for a 30 minute class, or $60-80 an hour, plus belt tests, uniforms, and meets? That's expensive for an elementary activity.

Just for the sake of comparison, our ballet classes come to $22 for a 50 minute class, swim is about $40/hr (and that's for indoor classes during the year, the costs of summer swim are way cheaper on a per swim basis), soccer is about $40/wk and that includes a practice and a game, and so on.

I recognize all of these activities get progressively more expensive as kids get older and specialize more, but we assume we won't do as many activities at that point and also I don't mind spending more money if my kid is committed and interested in getting better, instead of it just being something we're trying out to stay active and social.

Seems like there should be a way to one 45 minute class a week for like $100 a month to get a sense of it until they are at least 9 or 10 and can decide if they want to pursue it further.

VERY expensive for an elementary sport. $160/month for 2-45 minute classes. Belt tests at $100 each. Sparring equipment for $250 and it needs replacing as the child grows. Uniform replacement as the child grows. Even still, we’re 2 years in and here for the long haul. My 7yo’s overall physical and mental development has been impressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Music, language, a sport and now you want to add in another sport? That's too much for a 7 year old OP, my 7year old can do two activities.

I think different kids thrive with different activity levels, just like adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Music, language, a sport and now you want to add in another sport? That's too much for a 7 year old OP, my 7year old can do two activities.

My 6 year old does 5 activities

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music, language, a sport and now you want to add in another sport? That's too much for a 7 year old OP, my 7year old can do two activities.

My 6 year old does 5 activities

Congrats! It's still a lot.

OP, I don't think your child will get much out of 30 minutes a week, and you'll pay a lot for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where are you located? We love flying kick in Bethesda

Min Bethesda

[Anonymous]

We went to Jhoon Rhee in Falls church. I don't remember the price, but they were great with kids that age!

[Anonymous]

My DD started when she was 3, and stopped when she was 10 due to an injury. OP, as others said, 2x a week is the minimum expectation, if you want your child to make progress.

Different studios do this differently, but at the one she went to, stripes really were earned (we have friends whose kids went to studios where they were promoted on a schedule), and that was directly correlated to the amount of time spent in the studio and at practice at home. The classes for higher belts were longer, so as she made progress, DD spent significantly more time at the studio. She also wanted to progress faster, so she took more lessons as well.

So depending on how much your child likes it, TKD can end up taking up a significant amount of their spare time, but the amount of time commitment is still much less than something like travel soccer.

[Anonymous]

Ours is $180 a month for 2x45 min sessions a week. It may not be the most strenuous, but my high functioning ASD kid tells me that he feels more relaxed after a session and that’s enough for me. It’s been amazing.

[Anonymous]

I went to a free lesson for mixed TKD martial arts and it was so… loud. Is this to be expected, or was this a particularly loud studio or bc it’s not traditional TKD? All the kids were screaming “Yes Sir!” My kid had a private trial lesson and he was encouraged to be yelling way louder than I’d like.

My memories of traditional TKD are from decades ago, but I feel like it was more calm quiet and structured.