Vision Martial Arts Raleigh - Closed

Class times are flexible, the instructors are well trained and very approachable, and everyone there is like one big family.

If you are looking into Vision Martial Arts, it’s a mixed bag, IMHO (see details below).



On the plus side --

The instruction is good (we had the chance to observe four different instructors at different times). The facility is safe and maintained well. The company offers seminars that actually do provide value to the community (such as an anti-bullying seminar, self-defense workshops, and the like). They also offer kids wholesome options for vacations, including some week-long and some day-long activities. For all of these things, I give kudos to Vision Martial Arts.



On the other side --

The sales attempts are relentless; the worst one is a recruiting technique in which Vision Martial Arts will host and publicize a party – and your child is not invited unless he/she brings a friend who’s never attended. The instructors obviously are given some heavy-duty sales training. I think it’s a really _bad_ idea for the instructors to serve as the salesmen. Obviously, every business is in business to make a buck – but this really goes over the top. Eugene Krabs said it best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol6fvLwL-OI



As far as leadership skill, the instructors don’t always practice what they preach. They are proud of the leadership and courtesy skills they teach, and yet our primary instructor did two things that were contrary to this culture. First, he mocked our child publicly (during class) for a speech impediment (for which the child is undergoing intensive therapy). Second, our child took some time and care in making a handmade gift for the instructor – and didn’t even get a “thank you” for it.



Basically, your child advances a belt in exchange for money that you pay for a certain number of classes. After the child completes the required number of classes, he/she will advance to the next belt. In our case, the instructor was in a hurry for us to purchase a more costly contract, so he said that our child could advance – even though that particular belt was at least five classes away. I’m not sure what message that was supposed to send – it didn’t seem to be in keeping with the perseverance clause of the ATA Taekwondo Oath: "I will Practice in the Spirit of Taekwondo with Courtesy for fellow student, Loyalty for my instructors and Respect for my juniors and seniors. I will live with Perseverance in the Spirit of Taekwondo having Honor with others, Integrity within myself, and Self Control of my actions."



If you ask whether the instructors have worked with children who have special needs, listen carefully to the reply, and question them carefully to determine whether they have worked with children with your child’s _specific_ special need – because they’ll tell you they’ve worked with children with “all kinds” of special needs.



If they are still offering the three free classes, please go to the three classes and really see if they’re a good fit for you, instead of opting for the free equipment if you sign up on the spot. Similar gear is available on the Internet and is inexpensive. You might not want to lock yourself into a contract without testing the waters first.