is this too much???

[Soundtrackzz]

Is $110 too much to pay for a month of eskrima classes. class meets 3 times a week for an hour and a half each time.

Thanks

[Soundtrackzz]

well for most MA's its much lower. but this is one of only like 2 FMA schools in my area. what im honestly looking for is a garage guro, if you know what i mean

[JBrainard]

...Is the guy you're looking at any good? If so, then yeah, the price is fair...

I have to echo the sentiment above. I pay $109 a month for two 1-2 hour classes a week, but as my instructor is an 8th degree black in kombatan (and it shows), I think that it is WELL worth it.

[sikal]

Is $110 too much to pay for a month of eskrima classes. class meets 3 times a week for an hour and a half each time.

Thanks

I don't know where you're located but that's about what the school were I teach charges - for that price students can attend as many classes as they want / week in a variety of systems (Kali & Silat class I teach, BJJ, Karate, Wing Tzun, Tai Chi) that are taught at the school by different instructors. I haven't looked into the surrounding schools personally but I've heard from several people that other schools (mostly TKD is what's available here) in the area charge $75 - $100 / month for 2 - 3 classes / week.

And, the bottom line, is it worth it to you?

When I started training in Sikal, my instructor was charging $65 / month (this was nearly 13+ years ago). For most of the class (there were only 6 of us at the time) they could train in any/all of the classes on the schedule at that time (which was, if memory serves, 5 or 6).

I, however, didn't live in the area. In fact, I lived 2.5 hours away. Once I'd been exposed to the material, though, I knew it was what I wanted ... period. And it was worth just about anything to me.

Every weekend for a year, I would get off work at midnight (working 2nd shift) and drive 2 hours to my friend's house. I'd get in at 2 or 3 AM on Saturday morning and at 11 AM we'd be in class training. There were 2 Saturday classes. We'd train 11 - 12:30, break for lunch, then train 3 - 4:30 PM (again, if memory serves).

In order to keep up with the rest of the class (who were all training 3 - 6 times / week) I would take a private lesson on Sunday (1 private / month was all I could afford but it was also enough to keep up with the rest of the class). If I remember correctly, privates were ~$75 / hour (again, this was 13+ years ago) and I would do 2 hours once a month.

Consequently, I was paying somewhere in the neighborhood of $140 / month (+ gas so about $150 / month), driving ~25 hours / month to get to/from class and getting ~25 hours of in-class training / month. Then, also to keep up with the rest of the class, I did 10 - 15 hours of solo training each week at home because I didn't know anyone else within a couple hours drive that could act as a training partner for me.

I did that for a year and never missed a class. Then I quit my job, sold the trailer I was living in and moved so that I was only about 30 min. from my instructor's school.

Was it worth it? YES ... at twice the price/inconvenience it would still have been a bargain. In fact, given that the training I received has literally saved my life a couple of times the money/inconvenience were completely inconsequential.

So if you really want FMA and that's what it costs then it's totally worth it.

Mike

[lionleo]

I teach Kali in the Southwest side of Houston....i charge privates at
$50.00/hour...i am what you can say a garage guro (teacher)..i have students who stayed fr reasons that they feel their efforts are worth it...but this is my challenge to anyone whose looing for trainiing...i show them what i can offer..i go straight to the point that it is not as easy as it looks..and have them decide after a free class or two.....ask the hard questions...after all we train to be protected...just my two cents..

[lionleo]

your giving me a good idea..he,he...thanks Mike..

[danjuandesiga]

Man, I only charge chump-change in comparison to you guys! 15 bucks per group session. Private lesson rates are negotiable depending on time and travel because I also do drive out to teach, but it dosen't go anymore than over 40 bucks. I teach out of the fact that it's a personal passion of mine, and I am semi-selective over who I share my lesson with. I have my reasons for charging at such a cheap range and no, it does not bring me alot of students either. I'll still weed out those who are wanting to train with me and see if they're willing to last long enough to make it a part of them if it fits their own lifestyle.

[MasterKaliSilat]

Paying too much, within the cultural it's free.

Someone once accused me of charging too much, and told one student all Greg cares about is the money. This student then asked me, "How much do you charge?" $10. for four hours I replied. "$10. four hours, am I allowed to ask questions?" He inquired. "Yes" I replied. That was 20 years ago, more or less, and now the class is $15.00 for non-members, and it's still four hours, and I want you to learn as fast as you can, then practice for the rest of your life. The faster you learn the material, the more you work it. It's simple, investigate how else can you do it? What can you do that's different? Can you make it your own? Develop your own form? These are the principles that set you apart form everyone else.

In the Philippines teachers taught young students for a few pasos, some coffee, or a meal. This idea of paying for martial arts training was introduced by the Japanese and Korean cultures as they developed programs in America. Yet the students often learned little in the way of real expertise. Class fees are never going to make a good martial artist instructor rich. Those that care often don't charge. Like my advance students, they pay for the first and second year, after that dedicated students don't pay. Those are the ones that never miss a class and begin to help others to learn, that's what sharing is all about. Why not check us out, every Saturday / Sunday morning Columbus Park Chinatown, NYC Mulberry & Bayard Street..

[Sonny.Mejia]

My Advocacy

I'm based in the Philippines and i study martial Arts as a hobby. i have to admit that i have never paid a single cent for any of the instructions that i have received. That is, i have not paid my master's directly for their instructions. It may seem primeval but i have "paid" my masters by showing respect, loyalty, serving, and caring for him and by extension, his family. This may be the reason why i have always shared what little i know to people i think are willing to learn and embrace the discipline of the martial arts. My Teacher has always seen this as my advocacy. I have been able to continue with this advocacy due to the fact that i have a regular job. Master Buena told me that we should continue with this advocacy but at the same time earn from it. he has a point, but i have not completely crossed that bridge yet as I am perfectly happy with what i am doing at the moment. I'm lucky enough to have learned from Master Lema (LSAI),Master Ybanez (LESKAS), and Master Buena (BMS). All of them are great FMA artists and they have taught me more than martial arts...they have taught me about life. I guess the answer to your question as to what instructions are worth financially can only be answered by you... ask yourself two questions:

1. What do I want to learn? (this will tell you the kind of school you want to go to and whom you want to teach you)

2. Are they teaching what i want to learn? (if the answer is yes, then its well worth your time and money)

That is my two cents worth.

Sonny Mejia

[MasterKaliSilat]

You are correct.

Thank you, you are correct, it is worth more then we can pay at any time. As my teacher once said to me, "If it saves your live just once, how much is it worth?"

Although in America we place value on something that costs money, be it training or whatever. I've always given to my teacher the same, respect, loyalty to him and his family. When I have, sometimes a few dollars, sometimes a meal, sometimes the sweat to promote these arts and sciences. Although I too don't have much, and by the grace of my Filipino wife, I survive by our choice to be together, always give back, that's why I encourage travel to the Philippines, I've been a dozen time, and worked briefly with Great Grand Master Ben Lema, and recently give is autographed book to his relatives in Las Vegas last year.

I'm also planning a trip to Manila and Cebu arriving May 7th we'll be staying in Makati for one week while my wife visits her father. Hope we get to meet then. regards, Greg

[danjuandesiga]

Back home I had the good fortune to have seniors that were open for me to learn under other masters. That priveledge alone is few and far between!
I just used to bring them beer, San Miguel gin, a chiken, food from a feast or the morning's slaughter or other misc. gifts from stateside that they appreciated greatly and that also included tobbacco and ciggarettes! And boy do they love their smoke!

[Liberty]

Hey man, love that background on your website:

DAMAG-INC Kali Combatives : Home

from "The Warriors." One of my all time favorites.

Never would've thought to use that one, but yeah, "Swan" and his crew were definetely like those kali warriors of old - nice!

[Sonny.Mejia]

Trip to manila

Hi Greg,

I work for one of the BPO's in Makati. It will be a pleasure to meet with you on your trip to manila.

[danjuandesiga]

Hey man, love that background on your website:

DAMAG-INC Kali Combatives : Home

from "The Warriors." One of my all time favorites.

Never would've thought to use that one, but yeah, "Swan" and his crew were definetely like those kali warriors of old - nice!

I'm glad you DIG IT!
It's one of my most favorite flicks also.

[JBolton]

your giving me a good idea..he,he...thanks Mike..

Leo, thanks for pulling this out of the vault. Is that 1986?