Testing Fees

[mal103]

If you can do everything yourself and your old instructor takes little interest or doesn't help you then its obvious you don't need to pay him anything.

Out of courtessy you may want to talk with the instructor to explain that as a business paying him for something you can do is not viable.

He may understand, he may offer to get more involved to help your business, he may get annoyed.

Either way, you may be doing this for love but it has to produce some money as well.

I mentioned to my Sensei that I was interested in training and hinted to the possibility of doing it as a full time job if possible, he was full of support and offered to help me in any way he could - I don't think he meant that he would be expecting 50% of my earnings! He was genuinely enthusiastic of promoting Karate in our area.

[still kicking]

Jassling wrote:

I have no issue paying for services or to be a member of his organization,

What has me confused is the meaning of "his organization". If he is a member of an umbrella organization, and you are "under" him in that hierarchy, then he should be overseeing the testing and ranking of your students, and signing off on it, to make it all hunky dory with the organization. If you are paying him money to cover fees to the organization, that is one thing. However, you mention he is "affiliated" with an organization, but does that mean he pays into it? Also, as sensei8 says, since at this point you are doing it all independently and not under your sensei's guidance at all, it would be more legit for you to just be a member of the organization directly, and "cut out the middle man". In my school's organization, my sensei can grade people through 1st kyu, and after that we go to the head dojo to be tested by a panel. Maybe you could work out something like that. Good luck!

[jassling]

Deleted.

Edited June 26, 2011 by jassling

[mal103]

I can only imagine that if I had trained someone for years and they had gone on to open a Dojo and train for themselves then in the true spirit of Karate I would be most proud and not looking to profit from it.

Good luck with your choices but most of all good luck with your Dojo.

[still kicking]

Wow, my sensei is godan, but we still have to go to the main dojo for any BB testing. I have a feeling our head honcho is unusually controlling, but I try to stay out of all that.

It's too bad there has to be a falling out with your sensei, that is always painful -- but based on what you've said, it sounds like his doing. I wonder if he feels in competition with you for students, and regrets helping you start up in the first place. Oh well, I guess all you can do is proceeds according to your own sense of ethics. Things will sort themselves out.

[JusticeZero]

I wonder if he feels in competition with you for students...

Something a Taiji teacher told me once.. "You get a good student, you nurture them, you teach them the best tricks, you help them along, and then.. you grab a pitchfork and a torch and you run them out of town. There's only room for one teacher there."

I'm sure the proximity is part of the strain. Nonetheless, it sounds like he has been less than completely up front. You should be in contact with your main organization. Make sure to speak well of your instructor, you are only contacting them to straighten out some "parts that have you confused", and "making sure you are doing everything properly and that everything is in order". But give them the whole story, and be helpful so that they can sort things out. The result will no doubt be the same, but you will not appear to be acting out of malice.

[jassling]

Deleted.

Edited June 26, 2011 by jassling

[bushido_man96]

I just opened my own dojo 18 months ago with the help of my instructor. Since then he has been taking 50% of my testing fees and I was wondering if this was standard practice? Any feedback would be appreciated.

This could be the practice depending on the set up of the organization that he is under, and that you are likely under. If it were me, I don't know that I would teach under those circumstances. That is, unless he is covering some of your expenses, as well.

[jassling]

Deleted.

Edited June 26, 2011 by jassling

[ashworth]

I would suggest speaking with the organisation before speaking to him, might be a way that you can run it without needing him