testing fees?

[Aodhan]

Smells like a troll post to me as well, however...

Our colored belts range from $25 to $50 for testing fees.

1st degree is $150. Midterms between black belt ranks are $25.

I think our highest fee is $1500, and that is for the 6th degree Master level, and includes the nifty silk uniform.

Aodhan

[Sohan]

Wow. Had no idea so many schools charged to test.

We have no belt fees, no testing fees. Our monthly rate is a mere $30. We have trained for 19 years at the local community center, so our needs our few.

My karate training has been the best bargain I have ever received.

With respect,

Sohan

[NothingsShadow]

My karate training has been the best bargain I have ever received.

Sohan

I feel the same way. Although our dojo's do charge some grading fees in the lower grades and our training fees have slowly increased over the years (to keep up with our local council trying to bleed us try) but even with these things in place the rewards I have received from my training far out weigh the minimal cost.

[Aodhan]

I pay $100 a month for unlimited classes, including ongoing instructor classes (Got my black collar as a certified instructor last October). Every two months or so I pay $25 for a midterm. I have my 3rd degree testing coming in September, that will be about $300 I think.

So in a year that I don't test for a permanent rank, I pay about $1400 for classes and testings. I take class about 6 hours a week. So, I'm paying about $6 an hour for my classes. That's pretty reasonable, in my book.

Aodhan

[Holland]

Wow...due to the fact that I don't have a rent payment I only charge ten bucks a month per student. Test fee is six bucks...because that is what the belt cost me.

[Aodhan]

Wow...due to the fact that I don't have a rent payment I only charge ten bucks a month per student. Test fee is six bucks...because that is what the belt cost me.

Must be nice. We have 220+ students at our school, and we teach out of two different rooms. Rent is a serious chunk of overhead.

Aodhan

[patusai]

There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.

-Douglas Everett, American hockey player

I like the quote that you selected.

As for dues...some charge little some charge alot. I guess it depends on overhead and such things.

[dtstiachi]

ouch.

I thought my testing fee was high at $100. Yeesh.

[jaymac]

Aodhan, I am with you; however, some of the fees you pay seem alot too. We also have over 200 students and run 2 floors of training. It does cost alot to keep it in operation. It would be ridiculous to not have a fee. The costs of opening the place for belt testing would be quite expensive.

[Holland]

I see where you are coming from Jaymac...but how much does it really cost to open the building?

I am not saying people should not charge to test...but I think people use it as a money making device for a dojo. (not saying your school is...just an observation of other schools) This can lead to an instructor testing people early or undeservingly just because of the income it brings in.

As I have said, I have no rent....so when I test I charge six bucks a test, because that is what the belt costs me.

For black belt I personally buy the candidates heavy weight shureido belt out of my own pocket. It is a gift from me to the student. There is no fee to test for black belt at my dojo.