Having a beef with testing fees

[bushido_man96]

Ok, I was all pumped up because I am going to be elligible to test in April. However, I found out that the testing fees are not what I thought they were. I thought I was going to be able to test for 3rd dan recommended and decided for around $500 total. I found out yesterday that each testing is going to cost $400 a piece!!!!!!!!

$800 to get to 3rd dan! Does this sound unreasonable to anyone else, or is it just me? How much have any of you paid for a testing?

[A_Train]

Sounds pretty hefty to me, btu I have no comparision. I don't know what it costs in my club, as I am no where near that level.

[lordtariel]

I would think that there would be one fee per time you rank. If you rank twice in one go, you should only be charged once. $800 seems on the pricey side to me.

[Orion]

Wow..... omg and any other three letter acronym you can think of. Personally I think that is a LOT of money. But maybe im just being tight.

[bushido_man96]

Wow..... omg and any other three letter acronym you can think of. Personally I think that is a LOT of money. But maybe im just being tight.

I am tight, and I KNOW this is a lot of money!

[ninjanurse]

It seems like a lot of money... what is involved in the testing? Is this akin to double testing or is it two separate tests? I have double ranked at the dan levels and have had to pay 50% of the fee for the skipped rank in addition to the other fee. It was worth it to me to achieve my current goals.

[srv]

Definitely sounds like a lot. All our adult dan ranks are about $100 for each dan rank. Is 3rd dan recommended like Sandan-Ho? We don't have to grade or pay for ho ranks - they are awarded as an indicator that you are ready to prepare for the next dan grading. I've never seen anyone double grade in dan ranks.

Anyway, yes $800 for a full dan rank, let alone having a $400 fee for a Sandan-Ho rank seems ridiculous to me.

[bushido_man96]

It seems like a lot of money... what is involved in the testing? Is this akin to double testing or is it two separate tests? I have double ranked at the dan levels and have had to pay 50% of the fee for the skipped rank in addition to the other fee. It was worth it to me to achieve my current goals.

It is not a double test, it is more like what srv is talking about; a recommended rank, then I test for the decided rank in 6 months or less. The kicker is, if I don't test for the decided rank within 6 months, I go back to 2nd dan decided! I feel like I am going to get ripped.

[Rateh]

I agree, that's definitly expencive. As far as I am aware, in our dojo anything about 1st degree is free. As well as having no tuition fees after 1st degree. 1st degree tests btw were I think about 200 dollars, and that included a ceramony with a sword.

[bushido_man96]

I agree, that's definitly expencive. As far as I am aware, in our dojo anything about 1st degree is free. As well as having no tuition fees after 1st degree. 1st degree tests btw were I think about 200 dollars, and that included a ceramony with a sword.

Man, that sounds like a deal!