Complaint Review: ATA Karate America - Jacksonville Florida

What a Joke Karate is....Muay Thai is better because I have known practitioners who weren't even black belts beat those practitioners of Karate who were black belts.  What Karate practitioners practice is an absolute joke compared to what serious training in other artforms can produce.  Besides I am a practitioner of both Okinawan Karate-do and other martial arts forms and can tell you that the others are always one-up when it comes to defeating the watered down Karate system we have here in the West.

...Besides a real attack on the street Karate is no match at times....

P.S.  Mr. rik (our troll regular who has a tragedy called trolling that he actually thinks is a life) I have found my "her" already-I'm not as you claim I am-I'm a winner!

Trolls lose and I WIN!

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Here is a recent letter that we received from a grandparent of one of our students.....


Sir, I would like to pass on my appreciation for a remarkable and a class act by your professionals at the June Graduation ceremony.  I was amazed at all the variety of flawless exhibitions displayed by all the martial arts professionals.  I can only imagine how much training, self discipline, and guidance went into putting an event of this caliber together.  It sets the bar for a more intense exhibition next time.

As for my personal experience with Karate America, I have seen a great deal of improvement in my grandson's behavior to date.  His instructor and his highly experienced team have been instrumental in indoctrinating self control to my grandson.  In turn setting the foundation fro him to inspire becoming a black belt someday.  More importantly yet, instilling respect and courtesy for all that will carry through for his entire life.

Once again, I look forward to more graduations in the future and see martial arts experts do what they do best.



Thank you sir for taking the time to write us and look forward to your grandson reaching his goals.

are YOU doing here? Still no date? LOSER.

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I see Mrrik our ROR troll has found you all who does not have a life of his own of course.  Its a shame and a disgrace isn't it but it requires much more than an apology but restitution.

Perhaps you need to change over to Muay Thai Classes besides Karate is a joke when it comes to Muay Thai!

Learn another system of martial arts because any system that is American that takes from the East and desecrates such a system with poor ethics has brought shame to the East!  You all are indeed a disgrace and should apologize to the East for what they entrusted you all with in the first place!

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this monkeybusiness?

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We are saddened anyone could feel this way about Karate America.  Hopefully, I can help to clarify any misunderstandings.

 As far as graduation fees, it is stated in the membership that they are required to move up in rank.  They cover the national fees, the belt, the certificate, and any other expenses, such as venue rental, etc.

 We do make additional merchandise available, such as clothing, if students wish to buy it.  Certain classes/teams may require special uniforms or equipment.  It is the students/parents choice as to whether they will join these additional programs.

 If a student is unable to attend classes for any reason, as a courtesy to our students, Karate Americas policy is that the training time will be offered at a later date, essentially extending the expiration date of the membership.  Unfortunately, due to the volume of students enrolled (in the thousands), it is impossible for us to track each individual students attendance, calculate missed time, and adjust payments accordingly.  If a student would like to request a freeze of payment, they may submit their request in writing to the main office (fax number and mailing address are on the membership).

We are confident we can work through any concerns a student may have. We only ask that the student talk to us so that we may offer assistance wherever possible.

 
Thank you!

Karate America Employee

Karate america is a big joke. They just want your money. When you join, they hide things from you. They don't tell about belt promo fees and other expenses beforehand. Once you sign the contract, you face the shocking surprises. Also, they keep telling you to buy stuff (clothes) from them. Once you are in their basic program, then they literally compel you to go to leadership program which costs hell lot of money. If you do not register in that program, then they don't take interest in your kids. My son got sick and he did not attend classes for some time. But they still kept charging me. I can't wait for the year to be over and get rid of them.

Karate America empathizes with families having financial hardship. We understand it is a difficult economy right now, as it is for businesses as well.  We are willing to offer several methods to assist our students.  We offer to freeze a payment to allow the student to catch up on bills, the possibility of lowering the program and therefore the monthly payment, or transferring the membership to another family member.  It is unfortunate that none of these options will work for this student.

As far as the membership is concerned, our memberships clearly state the time commitment.  Both the expiration date and number of months of commitment are written in two different places.  This is to ensure that everyone is clear as to what the agreement is.

Within the membership, written in plain English, not legal jargon, it states the purchase of safety equipment will be necessary for certain activities in the classes.  This is for safety, and also required
by our insurance company.  Also, it is written in the membership that promotional rank examination fees are not included in the membership fees. This information is clearly written in order to ensure the student knows the terms and conditions up front.  We do not wish to trick anyone, but we also cannot force people to read that which they are signing.

We are not in this business just for the money.  There are many much less strenuous jobs that could earn our instructors a living, but they have chosen to dedicate their lives to the study of martial arts and to passing on that information to studentsin order to better those students lives.  We disagree that young children cannot make a commitment for achieving their black belts.  They may, however, need the help of their families to reach that goal.  This is why the membership is signed by the parent, not the child. 
Children learn commitment and follow through at a young age.  I would encourage anyone who reads this
to attend one of our Black Belt testings in June or December, and watch the ring with the youngest students, as young as 6.  These children have been training since 3 years old and now understand the concepts of commitment, goal setting, and perseverance.  If they learn to be successful at a young age, they will be successful their entire lives.

We are still willing to offer our assistance as noted above.  Please call, and we will do all that we can to help.

 
Sincerely,

Karate America Employee