At PowerKenpo, we do something differently from other karate studios in the area. Most places push for a contract - 1 year, 2 years, even, in the case of 1 local school - 4 years! At PowerKenpo, though, you can walk on the mat and start month to month. Our commitment comes when you move from one belt to another. You have the opportunity to commit to Black Belt. It’s a commitment that should not be made lightly - it’s a commitment to yourself, to the studio, to your faimly and to the other students training with you, to approach your training seriously and to make every effort to make it to Black Belt. More specifically, it’s a 12 month commitment to train with us. For students who choose to follow the path to black belt and to show that commitment by wearing the black stripe, there’s a two class a week minimum and tuition is due whether they attend or not. This commitment, of time and energy and money, will help the students who make it stay on track and move up in the belts over the months and years needed to make it to Black Belt.
After a year of pursuing our program of allowing students to voluntarily commit to Black Belt, the results are in. 75% of our Junior and Little Dragon students are wearing the black stripe. 90% of our adult students are wearing the black stripe. The art, and how we teach it, is clearly reaching our students and motivating them. I, personally, like this system. I like that students make the choice on their own to go to Black Belt. I like that every one of the students wearing the Black Belt could train without it, month to month, but have chosen to make a deeper commitment, and I and our staff are working hard to find ways to help every one of them make it to their destination.
