My Story

[JusticeZero]

Yeah, well, i'd like some advice from a law and order type on this first. What Fang was describing is sort've serious, and I wouldn't want her to accidentally make it less clear cut.

[AdamKralic]

Can I ask how old you are? How old the people that are making your studies hell are?

[Lupin1]

Just get out. Don't pay the rest of the fees. Forget about the contract-- if he's letting that go on, he's breaching the contract, not you. Trust me, he won't take it to court because if he does and you bring out all that's going on, HE'S going to fry. Just stop going back.

Don't give up on martial arts, though. I know you love it and don't let one bad experience ruin that for you. There are good schools out there.

[yamesu]

I agree, get out now, even if it means losing money.

There is legal grounds for this kind of thing in Australia (particularly the sexual harassment), but I am not too sure about Mexico.... And at the end of the day, if you are not part of the local peoples, it may be better all-in-all (for your life as a whole, so as not to be harassed outside of the dojo) to stay under the radar...

I really feel for you. I would never let this fly in my dojo. If I caught anyone doing this they would be leaving without a smile on their face.

The dojo is a place where people need to come together, not create boundaries.

Go and find somewhere better.

I wish you luck.

[FangPwnsAll7]

I'm 15, and the Mexican students are all 10-13. I just paid $60 for the belt test but they're I'm not paying anymore...

[JusticeZero]

She's American, this is American law. Tell the parents. I'd tell the police too, personally, and i'm hoping that one of the resident LEO's or people with a lot of knowledge on the relevant laws will put in their advice on the situation. Partly because i'd like to know what to tell people if I hear about this sort of thing happening again.

[Wastelander]

I would leave now, despite what the contract might say.

If you do decide to stay until November, definitely keep every note they leave you. I also recommend making an incident journal--write down the date and time (or as close to the time as you can remember) of everything they say/do that is hurtful and offensive, and write down what they said/did. I would also try to get someone to write a letter that they have witnessed these things happening.

Once you have that, take all of it to your instructor's organization and his teacher, if at all possible, in addition to filing a report with the police.

[FangPwnsAll7]

Ok I can do that. I'll leave after the belt test and promotion. I already paid. I only have a week.

[CredoTe]

Absolutely...get out now. If your location really is Philly, then, besides the hard disrespect from a dojo-/art-perspective, all local and state governments in the USA have laws against assault, battery, and sexual harassment. As was mentioned in a previous post here, save any and all documents (electronic or hard copy) you receive from perpetrators in this school. I'm no lawyer or LEO, but as a business owner and United States Citizen, I can make some suggestions:

1. As others have said here, LEAVE THAT PLACE. Even if you have to settle the contract, no amount of $$$ is worth abuse like that. Most likely, if your case is proven in court, you'll get your $$$ back plus a lot more.

2. Since what you've posted on this thread implies a) you're a minor or b) you're a young adult living with your parents, talk with your parents extensively about this. Do not be afraid or ashamed to tell your parents what's going on. They should know and need to know (if they don't already).

3. Consult with police and obtain an attorney (your parents will be a big help here). Get official investigation going into your case. If what you allege is true, that place shouldn't be operating and the folks involved should be charged.

4. Call your local news media. A scoop regarding a small business, a "karate dojo" (one of many places that have bad raps for disreputable behavior -- most unfounded), with male and / or female members that get preferential treatment and whom verbally assault and verbally and physically sexually harass a female member? The media would be all over that like flies on ______

Please, please, please keep us posted... If anything, to know that you're OK...

[CredoTe]

2. Since what you've posted on this thread implies a) you're a minor or b) you're a young adult living with your parents, talk with your parents extensively about this. Do not be afraid or ashamed to tell your parents what's going on. They should know and need to know (if they don't already).

Oops....lol.... I was in the middle of typing my post when you posted your age...lol