Karate price for my son. Am I being ripped off?

ButtonF1Fan

Hello,
I won't name the place my son goes. But he's nearly finished a 3 month trial.
To carry on IMO is realllllly expensive. We were quoted £2600 for "blackbelt" course. We would have to pay this in monthly amounts, based on an average child/adult taking about 3 years to work up to that level. We would STILL have to keep paying, even if damon quits in a year. To me, that seems barely legal. My son WANTS to do karate though, but i know this is more than we can afford, and i'd have to borrow.

When i mentioned this I was told i could pay £1800 in one lump at the begining, but thats still 2thousand in debt!! for a hobby!!

Everything in me says this is wrong, but my son wants karate. Anyone who goes to karate, or whose children do, please let me know what you paid?

We live in gloucester, and am particularlly interested to hear of cheaper local clubs. Preferablly on more pay as you go terms. I do NOT like the tie-in with the karate club my son attends. then its also the kit. Punching gloves, uniforms, belts which must all be bought from the club directly and a £20 pound per belt change "grading" fee. Thats alot on top of what they want upfront!

shazrobo

my sons karate club charged 4.50 per child per weekly lesson, here is a list of contacts for the club, there is one in gloucestershire, not sure if that is the same as gloucester, as i am not goo good on geography, hope this helps

http://www.ilovegkr.com/pages/contacts/contactsf.html

MrsTinks

Both Dh and I have practiced martial arts through our youth at various clubs depending on moving etc and we've never heard of up front fees before!!
I'd definitely look around and see what else is on offer! That just sounds like a total rip off to me!

sooz

:eek: :eek: How much:eek: :eek:
Is that full time Karate boarding school????
Have you tried your local council run sports centres? Mine do lots of classes, all PAYG, all for about £3-£5 per session.

ButtonF1Fan

THANK YOU!! thought I was right about up front being rude!

For those of you on 4 pounds-ish pay as you go clubs, what about uniforms? are you forced to buy from your club only? also are there extra charges for belt grading/exams?? any other hidden fees?

Smashing

That is a total rip-off, and not the kind of commitment to get into with a child. No doubt the free trial was to suck you in before stinging you for such a massive outlay.
What if he gets bored? What if your circumstances change and he is no longer able to attend? What if he just enjoys it and has no desire to be pushed to achieve a black belt?

Sod that. OUr local club charges £4 for a child's lesson, £4.50 for an adult. No strings, you don't go, you don't pay.

exup

from what I have been told by my brother who is an assistant instructor . if you have a black belt before 18 - you lose it when you turn 18 and have to be graded for it again anyway

Smashing

JulieJesta wrote: »

THANK YOU!! thought I was right about up front being rude!

For those of you on 4 pounds-ish pay as you go clubs, what about uniforms? are you forced to buy from your club only? also are there extra charges for belt grading/exams?? any other hidden fees?

You can buy your uniform from wherever you want - there is not pressure to be kitted out immediately. People are advised to turn up in loose clothing and see how they go.

It is £10 a year membership for the club (you don't have to be a member to join lessons, you just get them cheaper if you do and they have social events for members) and £20 a year to the JKAE (Japan Karate Association England) for the grading book and insurance.

ButtonF1Fan

Smashing,

can you show me a link to your clubs website?
i like the sound of this one

stardoman

I live in the North East and think my club is very cheap. I pay £3 a lesson (which lasats for 2 hours). I do have to pay one month up front. Each year I pay £10 for insurance and I think it was £5 last time I graded plus the price of the belt (the belt itself was not very much, can't remember the exact figure though).

My club don't do belt changes at every grade anyway. For some grades we get some black tape and put it on the belt!

There is no way I would pay £2000 up front for my children to do something unless they were showing real potential. They get bored too easily. My friend has just pulled her daughter out of dancing after they wanted £100 up front as she couldn't afford that!

Do they have many people at this club?

Mandy.

ButtonF1Fan

classes vary each time i've been in. smallest was 3, largest was 12. several classes a day.

I'm so glad i typed up this question now!!