Classic McDojo. The "instructors" here know FAR more about making money than any legitimate martial art. Their business model is the same as the USA Karate schools they broke away from; first offering new students a cheap month, usually 15-20 bucks, throwing in a free uniform, but with no mention of costs afterward, usually saying something like "we'll use the month to assess you and recommend a program at the end". Only after your trial month will you be told about the costs of continuing.
You'll be summoned into an office and the door will close behind you. You'll be told about your "options for continuing on" but really there are no options. The next step will be their "Starter's Program", which contractually locks you into an 18 month program and costs about $1,700. They'll give you 3 payment options. 1: pay in full and receive a 5% discount, 2: pay in three equal payments or 3: automatic bank transfers usually for 18 months, with some interest. They'll usually demand a few hundred bucks at signing, which is also precisely when they'll tell you about equipment requirements and belt testing fees. You'll need new hand and foot guards which cost about $80/set, and every new colored belt will run you $35.
This manner of doing business is wrong.
Hiding your standardized prices is anti-consumer, but they've convinced themselves it's okay to do business this way.
You're cut off if you hit red belt, regardless of how much time or payments you have left on your Starter's contract.
If you move, get sick, get injured, lose your employment, etc, there is no stopping the contract.
There are other programs beyond Starter's, they are longer and more expensive. Much more expensive. Think five digits expensive. Of course you won't be told about these programs or costs until you're further along. Far enough along to be in a habit of attendance, made a few friends, already given your bank account details, etc.
As for instruction... Well it's a mixed bag. Some of the teachers are people you could respect (were it not for their business practices) , some of them are very rude, sarcastic and arrogant. The primary problem with instruction really isn't the teachers' methods or attitudes, it's what they're teaching.
They're called Dojo Karate (those are Japanese words), and they claim to be teaching Taekwondo (a Korean art, and obviously NOT Karate) and they teach neither. Instead they end up running sort of low-intensity kickboxing classes. Using the word "Karate" is literally an advertising holdover from the 1980's when the Karate Kid was popularizing marital arts in the USA, and the McDojos started popping up. These people do not know Karate. They largely do not understand Taekwondo, but can at least show enough skill so as to appear knowledgeable to a layman. Some of their "self defense" methods involve attempting to KICK a knife out of an attacker's hand (obviously don't do that).
I'm not saying they've got nothing to offer. Learning very basic techniques like punching and kicking are extremely important to any martial artist and physically learning about your center of gravity is key to controlling your body. Fortunately you learn those things at almost any other martial art.
I will say that if you like what they do, you would probably be better served at a kickboxing studio. If you're looking for a legitimate martial art, look elsewhere. If you're looking for a really expensive babysitter, they're perfect.
Scummy anti-consumer business practices and fake Karate make this an easy 0 star. read more
