Having a beef with testing fees

[bushido_man96]

I am pretty sure I know what the fees cover......the inside of his pockets!

I had heard that once, a while back (before my time with the organization) that the GM had a fall-out with one of his students. This student was an instructor, and had a lot of students. Well, he left the organization, and took all of his students with him. After that happened, I heard that the testing fees all went up.

I'll tell you, I have learned a lot about organized martial arts.

[Shotokan-kez]

It's such a shame when it's like this. It's a bit of a let down, when someone wants to be the best they can be by testing, but then finding the fee's being very high. I can honestly say i could never afford those kind of fee's, i struggle now just to pay for ours.

When it's like this i can imagine kinda losing a little faith in the system.

[bushido_man96]

It's such a shame when it's like this. It's a bit of a let down, when someone wants to be the best they can be by testing, but then finding the fee's being very high. I can honestly say i could never afford those kind of fee's, i struggle now just to pay for ours.

When it's like this i can imagine kinda losing a little faith in the system.

Yeah, Kez, it is kind of depressing. I just keep my head down, and keep working hard and moving forward, and try to avoid the politics. If anyone high up asks me why I won't test, then I'll tell them why, and what I think.

[Shotokan-kez]

Bushido, what grade are you now?

Do you know hun i have the upper-most respect for you. The way you take things like this in your stride and keep working hard to reach yopur full potential. I think you should tell yourself that because you deserve a pat on the back matey!

Kez xx

[bushido_man96]

Thanks for that, Kez. Makes me feel good! I am a 2nd dan right now. Looks like it may stay that way for some time, too!

[Shotokan-kez]

So how long is it required to wait between dans? Is that in your TKD?

[bushido_man96]

Once you get your 1st dan, you have to wait a year and a half before you are eligible to test for 2nd dan. Then, once you do test, you are promoted to 2nd dan recommended (if you pass). Then, within the next 6 months, you have to test for 2nd dan decided, or go back to 1st dan. After you get your 2nd dan, you have to wait for 2 and a half years before you are eligible to test for 3rd dan. Then it is the rec/decided dance again. Then you have to wait 3 and a half years before you are eligible to test for 4th dan. There is no recommended at 4th dan, unless the GM thinks you are a slacker. However, my instructor is going to be testing for his 6th dan in February, I think, and I don't even want to know how much that testing is going to cost him.

[Shotokan-kez]

Yeah i see where your coming from hun, well listen beat of luck with it all hun!

[srv]

Sounds very dodgy to me. Apart from the high fees and the grading and fees for "Ho" ranks, the fact that if you grade for a ho rank and then don't do the full dan grading you go back to nidan. Another excuse to take another $400 for a grading for Sandan-Ho. What happens if you get injured or get ill. What if something untoward happens in your life that affects you training? Are there any provisions for these circumstances or is it just bad luck - back to nidan and retest and repay for the recommended rank.

By the way, our $100 test fees are Aussie dollars so thats more like $60 US. That covers everything - no extra fees for certificates or anything like that.

[bushido_man96]

What happens if you get injured or get ill. What if something untoward happens in your life that affects you training? Are there any provisions for these circumstances or is it just bad luck - back to nidan and retest and repay for the recommended rank.

If you get injured or ill, and cannot test within the six months time, then they will cut you a break, and let you test as soon as you can after you are healthy. If you fail, you back track.