Martial Arts School Check List
Beware the hidden costs - Get full disclosure before you sign any contract!
(Once the contract is signed, it is too late -- If there is any doubt contact your attorney)

Do you charge belt testing fees? ______Yes _______No. If yes:
    Do you have a price list showing each test fee? ______Yes ______No.
    What is the total charge for all belt/stripe fees - from White through 1^st Black! $_________.
    What is the belt test fee for (just) Black Belt? $___________.
Do you have written requirements for each belt/stripe test? _____Yes _____No
On the average how often is a person tested?_______________.
Am I expected to purchase a uniform for classes? ______Yes _____No. If yes:
    Must it be bought through the studio? ____Yes ____No. If no:
    What style and color must it be? ________.
Is sparring/freestyle required? ______Yes _____No. If yes:
    Total cost of all required sparring/safety equipment? $______________.
    Must all equipment be bought through the studio? _____Yes _____No.
    Is contact allowed in sparring? ______Yes ______No.
    Is kicking to the head allowed? ______Yes ______No.
    Is kicking to the head mandatory? _____Yes _____No.
Am I required to go to seminars? ___Yes ___No. If yes:
    How many? ______.
    What is their cost? $___________.
Am I required to go to tournaments? ___Yes ___No. If yes:
    How many? ______.
    Is kicking to the head in tournaments allowed ______? Required______?
Is breaking of boards required? ____Yes ____No. If yes:
    Required for testing? ____Yes ____No
Is the studio full time, professional _________? Part time___________?
    What are the hours _____________________?
How long has the studio been open _____________?
Must I sign a contract _____Yes ______ No. If yes:
    Can I get a copy to take to my attorney for review before I sign it? ____Yes ____No.
    Are payments made to a third party ? ____Yes ____No.
Are instructors Licensed to teach, through a recognized organization? ______Yes ______ No.
Does the basic course include:
Private instruction/Personal Trainer? ____Yes. If yes:
    Is it every week? ____Yes ___ No. If no:
    Is it bi-weekly? ____Yes ___ No. If no: When and how often? _____. If  ____ No:
Is private instruction available at an extra cost? _____Yes _____No. If yes:
    How much per hour? ____________.
Is the instruction: Group only? ____Yes. If yes: How many groups per week? ________.
Do I have to pay for extra groups? ____Yes ____No. How much? _________.
Do you use Youth for Instructors? _____Yes _____No.
Do you award Black Belts to Youths? ____Yes ____No. If yes: Starting at what age? _______.
What is the average time for a youth to get a Black Belt? _________. 

Do you teach primarily:
Modern Sport Karate? ____Yes ____ No. % of total? ____. If yes: What kind?
    TaeKwonDo ___ American Karate ___ Bushidokan ___ Kyokyushinkai ___ TangSooDo ___ 
    Kajukenbo ___ Kickboxing ___ Eclectic ___ Other __________.
Traditional Sport Karate? ____Yes ____ No. % of total? ____. If yes: What kind?
    Shotokan __ Shitoryu __ Wadoryu __ Shorinryu __ Goju ryu __ Isshinryu __ Other _______.
Self Defense Karate? ____Yes ____ No. % of total? ______.If yes: What kind?
    Traditional Okinawan? Tuite jutsu ___ Kyusho jutsu ___ Kenpo ___ Other______.
    Traditional Japanese? Jujutsu ___ Akijutsu ____ Kenpo ___ Other_________.
    Modern? Tracy's Kenpo ___ Krav Maga ___ American Kenpo ___ Jujutsu ___ Hapkido ___ 
    Hawaiian Kenpo ___ Eclectic ___ Other ________.
Health and Fitness? ____Yes ____ No. % of total? ______.If yes: What kind?
    Tai Chi ___ Aikido ___ Karate Aerobics ___ Eclectic ___.

How much class time is spent on physical fitness and exercising? _____. % of total? ______.
Number of techniques per belt?____. Number of Kata per belt?____.
Do you teach Weapons Kata? ____Yes ____ No. If yes:
    Which ones? _____. When? _____.
Do you teach Weapons Applications? ____Yes ____ No. If yes:
    When? _____.
Do you teach Bogu Kumite? ____Yes ____ No. If yes:
    When? _____.
Is the workout area matted for rolling and falling? ___Yes ___No.
Do you teach ground fighting/grappling? ____Yes ____No.
Can I reschedule or cancel my lessons if I am sick or go on vacation? ___Yes ___No.
Do I have to pay for lessons I cannot take due to illness or other unforeseen events such as school activities, sporting events, visiting relatives, and such? ___Yes ___No.

This Check List may be copied and distributed freely

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