catalysis

Thanks for the great discussion, it is good to have experienced opinions. I definitely want to pick a school where I will get good value for my money and be confident training with them for the long term. The school I am looking at charges $100/mo, then after you get your green belt it goes up to $135/mo, then a little higher after black belt. This is for about 2-3 1h classes per week. I am also looking at things like whether or not they have weight equipment and so forth. This is important because I won't be able to afford my gym membership once I start. I totally understand they need to make money to stay in business, but from my perspective it's a pretty hefty cost for most people, right up there with a car payment. There are other places in the area that charge about $80/mo for much more class time, however I don't like their syllabus as much. I guess I will just have to weigh my options. Like I said though, the one thing that really has me hesitating is the fact that the cost increases as you go up in rank. This seems like a scheme to get people in the door then basically give them the option of quitting or paying the higher price after they invest their time.

First, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I'm thinking of starting to train at a school near me which seems to be a well respected art and school, however it is a little pricey. I took a couple classes and I like it though. He showed me the cost of the "green belt program" and right away I knew what that meant so I asked how much is the "black belt program" that comes after that. Of course the cost was higher. Now, all students are allowed to attend any class and they address your level well. I understand that higher ranks require more training but I can't help but be bothered a little by this. My question is, is this a common practice among schools? Forgive me for saying, I can't help but feel this is a little cult-like. You get a higher rank and then are faced with the choice of paying more or leaving. I would really like to train here but there is a little voice in my head that just needs reassurance that this is the right way to go. thanks.