What If You Can't Afford The Rates?

Yes. I think alot of master will make exceptions, but they expect something in return.

For example, we have a student who wants to train, and trains 3 times a week. He is a cook in a kitchen for his main job and has a live in girlfriend and a newborn child, so he doesn't have much money.

He cleans the dojo thoroughly every Friday for about 3 hours and does other volunteer things.

He still pays some too, but not nearly what everyone else pays. Most people don't know about his arrangements.

James

I've only been an assistant instructor before.... but some day I do hope to be an instructor in a dojang.

As for my personal philosophy, No, I would never turn away a student who had been training with me who cannot afford it. Well, maybe that's not true. I would never turn away a hard working, dedicated student. A student that comes in once a week and goes through the motions just to stay in shape, I would probably suggest to pick up running.

For the dedicated student who practices at home and gives his/her all, I would allow them to keep training under me.

Yes and no. If the student is willing to exchange cleaning, answering phones, putting flyers up or other things then yes. I will not train a student for free because I never was given that with any Sensei I ever trained with and I was always poor but managed to pay for my lessons.

To me a student has not proven to be hard working until they have trained with me for at least 10 years. By then I know them personally and know if they are honest or not. I agree that hard working students make every day of struggling to pay the rent worth it but one of the primary goals of a hardworking and loyal student is to help pay the bills to insure the dojo will be around for many years. Giving them free training can lead to the same train of thought people have about how lessons should be cheap...

When I was teen my parents no longer wanted me to focus on Karate but rather other sports so they said if I wanted to go I had to pay for it myself. I had a feeble job as a cook but managed my funds to afford it. I personally feel that if a student truly wants to learn and it is a priority for them they can manage to cut out their video games or other stupid spending to afford classes.

When I first began teaching on my own in 1992 I thought as many of the people on here do that lessons need to be cheap, that the teachings were more important than money. When I almost lost my dojo because of this way of thinking I never went back to being cheap yet I have never charged big bucks either. I live my life according to what I have...not what I want. Most of the students I have given breaks to abused that and when they were told they had to start paying since they were not upholding to end of the deal they quit to go to another dojo that they could scam. I treat all my students equally including in how I charge at all times. Anything less is wrong and not right.

Part of being a hard working student means paying your way in every aspect. There's alway a way to afford training if it's important to you. What they're saying is that they're not willing to give up something else to train, which is absolutely fine, but there has to be a hard lesson taught -- You only get what you earn, and you earn through sacrifice.

Even when not in class, a student should be training. Isn't this just another lesson for them to learn, and another test for them to pass?

Fortunately at the school that I teach at all the bills are paid through one of our students who made an a ton of money gambling in Vegas. Now luckily we are able to make exceptions for students and work out payment agreements and what not. But even before this and I attended my instructors school I remember him never turning down a student, his philosophy is a Dojo is a place where people go to learn grow and prosper if you cant look on to one of your most respected mentors for help who can you.

Whenever we come across this we are willing to make an arrangement for the student to train at half-price or something. Our fees are not much ($75/month).

However, I'm certain that a few families have been told "Aww, that's too bad you can't afford it, but we understand," if their student was disruptive in class.

As for me, my finances have never been a problem. If it ever came down to that, I'm certain my Sensei would cut me some slack as well.

for me it was never about the money, the student is for more important, the children even more so. i would rather teach a child for free and keep him out of trouble then to join so gang and be in a worst predicament.

if he is having financial issues, then i usually work some thing out.

i teach out of several locations that pay me. one is a church they can't always afford much and some times it doesn't cover my gas, i have several black belts there and have no need to show up my self but i do anyway.

now sensei scandal has a really good setup which i like, but the weather by me does not always permit it, mostly in the winter

The simple answer to that is:

1)If you are in a McDojo-you're out of luck. The "sensei" there is only there to make money. Period.

2)If you are studying under a true Martial artist, then he/she will make exceptions for students who are dedicated, regardless of the financial state of the dojo or academy. Real masters thrive on teaching dedicated students.

It really depends on the instructor....I have heard of several places that allowed people to train during financial hardships, having them do some work around the school....cleaning, ect....

How old are you? What do you do for a living?