Getting Started

Some people like to watch a class before joining, others like to try one. Kids and adults are welcome to try a FREE class to see if they will like it or not. We do not have "special" introductory classes that included uniforms or special programs or packages. We are the United States Training Headquarters and our duty is to provide training opportunities for anyone interested, not to make a profit.

If you give us a call we can tell you what's going on so you can view or participate in the classes that interest you. Remember to leave your name and number when you call because we can't always get to the phone if we are in a class.

Registration for all new members is held during

the first week of the month

Payment

FREE Introductory Class
Shorin-Ryu Karate of Williamsburg offers FREE Introductory classes to individuals interested in learning martial arts. Call 220-2676 to make an appointment.  

Monthly Tuition
Tuition is due by the tenth day of each month.  There is a $10.00 charge for late payments.  Tuition is required regardless of attendance in order to maintain membership.  There is a $25.00 charge for all checks returned by the bank.  Members using Auto Pay (electronic draft payments) receive discounted tuition. 

Family Rates

Required for Class:

1)Uniform($30) and student handbook($10) both are purchased in our proshop at registration.

2)Annual Membership-An annual membership fee is due upon registration and is collected each January.   If attendance lapse for 60 days, the annual membership fee must be paid in order to re-enroll, even if re-enrollment occurs within the same year.  The annual membership fee is $25 per student.

Other costs

Everyone would like to know the bottom line about costs. None of our instructors depend on teaching karate as their livlihood so we try to to keep costs at a minimum. With the student in mind, we stagger equipment/uniform requirements over time. The following are costs that are for students only if they have successfully reached certain ranks:

Sparring equipment-Required only when promoted to Yellow belt/white stripe. The price of sparring safety equipment varies. Our dojo volunteers will help you find the most economical equipment that still offers the best possible safety.

International patch and dojo patch- Required only when promoted to Yellow belt. The international patch is $15 and the dojo patch is $18.

Testing-This is only on a case by case basis and students are nominated for testing only when they have demonstrated a high proficiency of the requirements for the next rank. This has nothing to do with how many classes they have attended or how long they have been their current rank. Rank in our dojo is earned and not paid for. The average testing fee for most ranks is around $35.

If you are checking other schools, look into these things:

• Ask if you will have to sign a contract. Try to figure out how in the world this is to your advantage.
• Ask if the school has a black belt club or masters club. Rest assured that you will be pressured to sign up (pay up) for these and buy the special uniform and equipment required. In the martial arts there are no guarantees that someone will get a black belt. These programs promise you a black belt but for a price and not neccesarily because you have earned the belt-it is because your pay for it through their "program".
  
  
• Many schools will test you for rank or stripes every ten or more classes for an additional fee. Martial arts are based on 100% proficiency of the requirements. With this sort of testing schedule, someone would receive a black belt in a year and a half. Even to someone who has had no martial arts experience, do you think that someone can truely be a black belt in this amount of time?
• In Japan and most of the orient, the minimum age for black belt is 14-16 years old. If you see a school that has black belts who are in elementary school, you should question why this rank is given to children. If the birthplace of the martial arts requires a minimum age requirement for such a high rank, why would a school in the US give it to an 8 year old. Do you think that this child will really be able to defend themselves in a fight against a larger person or child?

• Some schools will want you to buy a different color uniform when you get promoted (factor this in also).

• Ask what type of personal equipment you will need to buy. Schools often package equipment so that each rank promotion requires the purchase of new equipment or items.

• Many schools will not provide you with prices of classes and test fees over the phone and will pressure you into making an appointment with a salesperson. This will be under the guise of serving you by placing you into the right program. When you look at the schedule you will see that everyone joins same classes- there is no "right program", just different payment plans.
  
  

At our karate school, we keep it simple. Our personalized instruction, excellent facility, authentic martial arts and noncompetitive atmosphere make us confident in what we have to offer you. We feel that the best way to serve you is by letting you see whatever you want so that you can make an informed decision. No pressure, just straightforward answers.