Hi there, My 10-year old son just finished his first week of classes. We live in a kind of rural area with few choices of dojos and ended up picking one that is close to our home. I was told tonight that he needed to buy gear to spar (tonight they loaned him some school gear). They want $170 for the set. Money is really not that much of an issue but that seemed like it might be a bit steep considering the stuff is all foam so I asked the sensei if he HAD to buy it through the dojo or could get it somewhere else. He told me that his insurance requires that we buy it from them. As it happens, I am in insurance and that did not strike me as truthful. Granted, I have never sold a policy to a dojo, so I can't be certain. So my question is: Has anyone ever encountered a dojo that REQUIRED that you buy their sparring gear if you are going to spar? (Further, has anyone ever seen such a requirement on an insurance policy? Now, I don't expect to find insurance experts here, so that's why I asked this particular question of an agency that specializes in dojo insurance. BUT, I figured as long as I am here I might catch a break and find a dojo owner who has seen exactly that requirement on a policy.) Thank you in advance.
