[quote]on edge wrote:
Hey guys, I got the sales pitch last night, it’s pretty darn expensive and a big commitment. It’s basically 100 per month with a 10% finance charge and a 100 dollar enrollment fee for a one year membership. If we pay the full 1200 up front, the finance charge and the enrollment fee are dropped.
The school has a quarterly “theme” and each theme requires a purchase of equipment. If we buy all the equipment required for the whole year it’s 280 bucks. More if we buy it as needed.
The instructor works great with the kids and prioritises character development and self discipline. These are big pluses for me. The negative for me, other than cost, is the lengthly commitment. It pretty much precludes getting him involved in gymnastics, which, based on my son’s personallity, he would really like. It also will make life very busy when he gets involved in baseball & soccer etc in the warmer months.
As of right now I’m leaning toward not doing it, but still undecided. On Monday I’m going to watch one of the 4-6 year old classes to help make up my mind. My son, by the way, likes it quite a bit.[/quote]
I’d look for another school if I were you. I’ve been doing martial arts for 15 years and have never paid even remotely that much for a school. As I said yesterday, be wary of schools requiring contracts (I’ve never even heard of a school charging a finance fee. Are you paying for karate lessons or buying a used car?).
Just for comparison’s sake, there’s a school/gym in my town, 10,000sq feet, full boxing ring, full gym, all the equipment you could ever ask for, classes in boxing, BJJ, Krav Maga, and other guest classes regularly, and pro trainers, and they only charge 75 bucks a month for complete and total access to all classes and equipment whenever you want. There’s really no need to spend 100 bucks a month on a child’s martial arts class.
As far as the themed equipment thing goes, it’s bullshit. At that young an age students should really be concentrating on learning how to use their bodies and increasing basic motor skills, not swinging weapons around or sparring in full gear.
I’m sure your son is enjoying himself, but I’d really consider looking around for a better school if I were you. Check out martialartsplanet.com, there’s a lot of great people on that forum, maybe someone from your area who can recommend a good school.
Good luck,
Jay