Is $500 excessive for a T.K.D. Black Belt Test?

Question

Based on my experience in a previous martial art, and my research on the Internet, it sure seems like $500 is WAY too much for a 2 part black belt test (especially when the existing black belts aren't all that impressive). I get the sense that I'm just getting pumped for profit.....

Anyone feel the same way?

Answer 1

Ya way too much.
It depends though on who is grading and where it is. If there is a panel of 4-6 people and it is out of town. The venue has t be paid for. Some of the money goes into the state, province or city governing body. Maybe they pay the judges. In Judo, In the provence of Ontario Canada. It is $100 for your black belt. Some goes to Judo Ontario some to the venue and so on. They also gie you a black belt with your name stiched on it in english and Japanes.
Then price goes up as you go through the different black belt ranks... But that's based on a limited amount of people available to grade you as there aren't too many people over 3rd dan in most martial arts.
If it is your own dojo and it is just your sensei grading you. It seems like a money grab...

Answer 2

You should not be testing for black belt - or any other belt. You are young, and it is a subject of debate as to whether someone your age should get a black belt. But you have a bigger problem, and that is of trust. You did not have the trust in your instructor to ask about what you should be doing. You found it easier to go out on the internet and ask a bunch of anonymous people who don't know you. It also means, s/he did not communicate to you about what your responsibilities are, and that is shameful on his/her part. Over the last few years, didn't you watch (and participate in) other promotion tests - color belt and black belt? Don't you think you would be doing the same things? As a black belt, you will be demonstrating a mastery, of sorts, of all of the techniques you have learned. There are over a dozen blocks, 2 dozen kicks, and over 4 dozen hand strikes. If you don't know them, and can't do them well, you are not ready. Of the 6 dozen kicks and hand techniques, you will probably use a few to break something. If you can't, you are not ready. You should have been practicing them during class. You have been taught 9 or 10 poomsae/hyung/tul (forms), so as an expert in techniques, you will have to demonstrate them. If you don't or can't, you are not ready - and worse, you won't be able to teach the underbelts, since you don't know them. You should found out what it means to be a black belt - by way of an essay, oral questioning, or by your character. If you can't answer this question, your are not ready. When you take your test, you will be given an award that, from all outward appearances, you are an expert. Imagine what would happen if you got your black belt, and you couldn't teach others their forms, or that you couldn't break a board using any of the 6 dozen strikes you have been taught, or that you did not know how to spar, or that you did not know how to break out of a chokehold. If this happens, you will not be taken seriously, you could be challanged and be hurt. You will be laughed at - as will your school. You would be a disgrace to your school and instructor - and in the art in general. There are too many people who have paid a dear price of sweat, blood, and years of hard endurance for you to spoil the ideals of black belt because you didn't have the decency to ask these questions the moment you were given the go-ahead to test. I know I am sounding harsh, but this is nothing compared to the training and preparation you should have gone through years ago. I wish you luck. But you should be more prepared. Don't even think of asking a question like this 2 days before a final exam, or 2 days before your doctoral thesis is due.

Answer 3

does a fish swim in water?
It seems that in many martial arts, that if you pay enough money, you'll be able to pass the test. you can pretty much just pay yourself through the belts.

That is why in my Aikido Dojo I dont charge for testing that is why you pay the monthly fee, that is more than enough to cover any certificates, belts ect... The only thing I charge for is there Gi, and weapons. wooden Bokken ,Jo-staff, and the carrying case. total cost $65.00 I know that you have to make money some how. But dont let the money come between technique and your next rank.Meaning buy your way to the next rank.Because that is all you are doing. If the student doesn't know the techniques required for the next rank, then the instructor shouldn't test them for the next rank. If he/she does then they are a Bad instructor or sell out or what have you. There are plenty of ways to make money while teaching martial arts.( i.e. sell T-shirts,have a bake sale, go on trips,have a seminar,sell team jackets ) Those are just a few things that an instructor can do to make alittle pocket money. But for the sake of martial arts dont be a sell out. You will only be cheating your self and the instructor is only cheating the style that they are teaching.

P.S.
If this makes any Instructor mad then so be it you damn sell out

This ? really gets my blood flowing for an Instructor to charge that much for rank or charge for any rank for that matter. That is why my students really know there stuff. I woudn't care to bet you a $100.00 to a can of soda pop that my blue belt students could take 80% of TKD Black Belt or 1st Dan students any day of the week. My Blue belts have at least 1- 1 1/2 years of training. The ranks go
5th Gokyu White , 4th Yonkyu Yellow,3rd Sankyu Blue, Nikyu 2nd Brown,Ikkyu 1st Brown, Black Belts are 1st Shodan ,2nd Nidan,3rd Sandan,4th Yandan,and so on

Answer 4

I think it is pretty standard but I also think it's very excessive. My 1st degreee test cost about $100 but that was 20 years ago. My 2nd degree was 10 years ago and it cost about $300. It is absolutely ludicous to charge that much. I live in Europe now and people pretty much pay the cost of the belt and a few extra bucks for the location and the judges time. MOst things in Europe cost more than the US but martial arts lessons and tests are far more reasonable here than the US.

Answer 5

I didn't have to pay anything for TKD testing in the ITF.

$500 is WAY too much. If you know your stuff, you can go to a martial arts supply store and buy a black belt for about $7.
.

Answer 6

I can't believe some of you are spending hundreds of dollars for a belt testing. The first sash test I had I just paid $10 for the sash and nothing else. The second sash I paid $40 for the private lesson and another $10 for the sash. Personally, I think the test itself should be free. There is NO WAY I would spend 500 bucks for any belt test. That's nothing but a rip-off.

Answer 7

All belt tests should be free. The first sign of a McDojo is charging for belt tests. And yes, your blackbelts aren't going to be very good, because it's a McDojang. Were I in TKD, I'd still be a white belt. A. I can't kick a foot above my head, B. I can't not grab a slow lunging high kick in sparring, and C. I won't pay for a ranking I've earned. Either I'm earning the rank, or I'm paying (bribing) for it. It can't be both ways. Say to him, "hey, if I throw in another 1000, can we make it a 2nd degree test," and when he says "yes," kick him in the testicles, and lament the money you threw away on bad martial instruction.

Answer 8

Our test is also around $500 dollars, its true that most of the money is for a profit, only some of it will go to buying the actual belt and certificate, but our fees are fairy cheep compared to other places and the classes are great so i dont mind paying, especially if im going for my black belt, oh and our black belts gets our name writen in japanese on it, its kind of like paying heaps of money to get your jersy of jacket or whatever you guys get when you finish high school

Answer 9

My son is a 4th degree black belt TKD INSTRUCTOR.... it is VERY VERY expensive (starting from day one), but all of his black belt tests have cost $300 each!!! The last time he TOOK a black belt test (for the 4th degree), was several years ago (he is 29 and has been taking TKD for 20 YEARS)...and I remember that test costing $300 because I PAID for it.... It is sad to say but due to the ever rising popularity of martial arts, schools have become a bit more "GREED ORIENTED" then they were back about 15 years ago...back then, a "Master" thought more about teaching his students and having students who excelled in the art... NOW, it seems all they care about in a LOT of schools (not all of them) is MONEY!!!!!

Answer 10

umm yes, i believe they should all be free unless to pay for the belt itself, and it brings up another point, what if you paid 500 and failed, getting a belt would now cost 1000. most teachers (i hope) wouldn't do that, and so they are almost obligated to pass you. with money like that you are almost buying the belt and that is one of the problems with most american martial arts and probably a reason why the black belts you've seen aren't that impressive.