Does it seem strange when...

**JMSJedi** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 12:22pm

... you call martial arts school and they say you can take a free lesson but you can't observe a class? I called the guy from this place http://www.americankickboxing.com/ The conversation went like this:
Me- Hi I'm interested in taking martial art lessons, can you tell me the days of beggining classes?

Instructor- You can take a free lesson on mondays at 7 or 9 or tuesdays, etc. (I don't remember the rest of the days)

Me- Yeah you know I'm looking for a place to go to for about a year, I need to work on my footwork and punching.

Instructor- We do alot of fighting in here I don't know if that's what you're looking for

Me- Actually that exactly what I'm looking for, I'm not interested in competitions or anything.

Instructor (long pause)

Me- (realizing he's not really listening to me)

Instructor- You can take a free class though

me- uh ok thanks (hang up)

Then I realized "Hey, that ass never answered my question" So my friend calls him up and asks the same question, the instructor says the same bullshit "you can take a free class blah blah". So my friend asks him again and he flat out says "no, you'll have to take the free class". He never said why we couldn't observe a class or anything. So here's my question:

What is your opinion on MA schools disallowing observation of classes? Is this normal?

**Kempocos** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 12:35pm

I have never seen a school that does not allow it. I would not give him a choice just show up. I do this so I do not give them a chance to prepare a sales pitch.

Ever been punched in the mouth for talking too much : Xander ( vin diesal )in the movie TRIPLE X

**The Wastrel** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 12:49pm

Bizarre. My school allows people to watch all sessions, to take part in them, and even to come in every once in awhile and train without paying, as long as they don't take that to an extreme.

"If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - for ever."

**Palm Strike** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 12:52pm

That's how I would run it if I were an instructor- you could come in once a week for free. That way, the student can pretty much get the feel for the class and what it's like while at the same time not becoming good enough to satisfy them- which would encourage them to buy the full class.

**cyrijl** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 12:53pm

yeah, you didn't ask to observe. You asked when the beginning classes are. I probably would have said the same thing. (but i hopefully would have been a little more open to conversation).

If he said flat out "NO, YOU CANNOT OBSERVE A CLASS," i'd leave it alone. But that is not what happened. In BJJ and Krav i was given the opportunity to train before paying out. An aikido Dojo that i wanted to train at made me join then train....well i still do krav and bjj (separate locations) but don't do aikido.

________________________________________________

'Cuz it's a Khomeini-meini world after all

**JMSJedi** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 12:58pm

Oh yeah, I forgot to say I asked about observing after I asked about beggining classes.

**Kuroneko** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 1:08pm

the guy probably got kicked in the head to many times...

**Palm Strike** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 1:16pm

You never know, Osiris. Even if they don't 'throw you out,' they can be very hostile towards a person who tries to game the system in that manner. That happened at a Krav Maga school I went to. After the 3rd day of watching, I could tell the guy was getting rather ticked at my presence.

**cyrijl** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 2:46pm

Palm Strike,
You should let the Krav Maga people know where that school was (preferably in a private e-mail, though the forum would be interesting too). John and Darren really do care about bad schools. Our instructors let people come for up to two weeks before joining (or not). He has invited people who were planning on just watching to jump in for a class if they wished (provided they were dressed for it).

JMSJedi, if you asked to observe and he either ignored oyu or declined....for me, that is a bad sign.

________________________________________________

'Cuz it's a Khomeini-meini world after all

**deus ex machina** · Posted On: 6/18/2003 2:50pm

After the 3rd day of watching, I could tell the guy was getting rather ticked at my presence.

What the...? Why did you have to watch for 2 days, let alone 3?

~
danny

"All this talk about 'newbies' is making me a little nervous. You guys don't have any sort of secret hazing initiation involving wooden paddles and me screaming 'Thank you sir, may I have another?!' do you?"