Did anyone have to pay any money for their blackbelt?

Question

At my karate school we have to pay a fee of $300 for our blackbelt. Our senseis give us our blackbelt, a certificate, and an instructional book and dvd with all of the forms and self defense. I was wondering if this is just my money hungry school or if this is a national fee that must be paid by the person who is about to recieve their blackbelt.

Answer 1

just make one at home.

Answer 2

Yes, I had to pay for all my belts ($35 for each colored belt and $250 for my 1st degree black and $350 for my 2nd degree black).

If you are only getting a certificate from your instructor not getting a certificate from a national/international agency then your instructor is charging a huge fee. Each black belt even embroidered with your name on it costs him about $10-$25 depending on how many he orders at a time, plus his testing fee and that DVD and book.

If you are getting a national or international certificate as well then it's about right. For 1st degree I had to pay $100 to my instructor for the belt and his certificate and an additional $150 to get the international Kukkiwon certificate.

If you think you are at a money hungry school then leave and find a different one. I went to one school for 4 years and found out all he cared about is money, a few of us left and have joined another school and love it. Our instructor there cares about the martial arts not so much the money! Good Luck in your martial arts career!

Answer 3

The Tracy system of Kenpo in which I am a student and teacher of has never had or never will have belt testing fees even for black belt. Their philosophy has always been you have already paid for the instructor's time and knowledge, why should you have to pay again just to display what you learned.

Most schools that charge are "money hungry" or don't have enough students to make the bills.  I know of some schools that have fund raisers with manditory sales in addition to belt test fees.

Answer 4

Im not even close to testing for my black belt but im pretty sure my school you had to pay like 30 to test and then like 30 for the belt its self because my school gets them engraved/personalized (example, Nick Martin 1st don) so its only like a 60$ fee

Answer 5

i just had to pay for the belt itself. not the test, not the graduation ceremony, not the certificate.. those belts are getting expensive. 50 bucks for the belt and some embroidery.  

Answer 6

Yes, you have to pay some money to get your blackbelt. it's not that your school is craving for the money. I have my cousin who is going to take her black belt soon and she had to pay as well.

Answer 7

Many schools have charges for their rank especially black belts.

I haven't been charged. We don't stress rank in our school. It is earned but slowly earned. Once you have your rank you know you have earned it. We have seen many that have rank that was just paid for and not earned.

Paying for rank is not a national thing it varies from school to school.

Answer 8

Yes, it is typical for to pay for belt tests.

Some schools don't charge at all, others charge more than $1000.

Charging for a belt test does not mean your school is bad or a "McDojo".

Typically, 1/2 the fee will go towards the governing organization of your school.  In theory, this allows standards to be kept and allows record of your black belt certification to be kept.  

Schools that don't charge anything for a black belt are fine, but your black belt may not be recognized by other organizations, how do they know you didnt just go to a martial arts shop and buy it?  

For example, if you got a black belt in Tae Kwon Do from ABC school of Tae Kwon Do and they didnt charge you for it and they are not/were not affiliated with any recognized TKD governing body, and then you wanted to enter a national tournament (mean USA Tae Kwon Do Olympic style tournament), you would not be allowed to fight as a black belt because your certificate would not be on file with the Kukkiwon in Korea or with USA Tae Kwon Do.

James

Answer 9

Did you earn all the belts that come before the blackbelt?  It sounds like a money hungry school.

Answer 10

What good is a certificate, if you have not "earned"

the right to wear a black belt. You cold not defend

yourself to keep it, or to save your life.

You better save that money, for your gas. <}:-})

Answer 11

At our school we pay 75.00 for our black belt testing, but this includes a certificate, a Belt embroidered with our name and the club name. the organization we belong to does not get any of this fee, yet they back the rank.

It varies depending on school and organization.

Answer 12

Hate to say this but your school is a piece of c**p.

You shouldn't ever have to pay a fee for a black belt, as it can only be earned through years of work, as in probably more than a decade of training.

Run far FAR away from the McDojo, and tell everyone else about it being a fraud.

Answer 13

At our school you have to pay $25 to test for colored belts  and you might not pass (I am the only one in my class who hasn't failed a test but I know I will fail my blackbelt) Blackbelt is $350 but you still might not pass.