Hello A mate of mine has been looking for a Shotokan school in the UK, so he's been emailing around for prices. This is what he got quoted by the SSKA; Lessons are £5 per lesson and the cost to join the Association is £80.00 ( This includes, Membership, Insurance, licence, Karate suit and Club embroidery) and £25 a year renewal. It also says in the small print on their site that pregrading lessons are compulsory or you can be stripped of your previous grade. Is this all a bit ridiculous or the norm for karate?
I pay £6 per lesson (90+minutes) for Enshin, membership/insurance was £20-30 (can't remember) but I have to buy my own gi so that's similar. Gradings are £10. Mitch
I am not sure what £ means, but I'm guessing them ain't $ . In which case, I have NO idea about if your club is too expensive or not.
Great British Pounds Sterling my colonial cousin, Great British Pounds Sterling. I believe our former foreign territories have some sort of immitative arrangement these days, though their attempts are generally worth much less than ours. Mitch
We recently changed what we charge to £20. a month to train once a week or £30.00 a month for twice a week (each session is 2 x 1 hour) and £30.00 a year licence.
My new association charges £4 a lesson (1hr 45), insurance is £5 a year, gradings I believe are £10 for kyus and £20 for dans, but I may be wrong on this. My old association was the SSKA which charged, well, um... Oh look, a bird!
Hi 'TonyMC', It's not expensive for the lessons... As for gradings and pregrading lessons that's where I think they are being a bit naughty... But that said, I charge £7 for a session 1Hr 15mins but do not charge membership or for gradings - so I suspect it's all about the same???
My multiple (don't get me started) black belt gradings with them cost me over £100 each. More than a little naughty. They also charged a 'pass fee' when I was there.
How do you handle insurance Robert? Do you pay that for them? I only ask as "Membership" normally covers both a yearly insurance policy and association membership. Mitch
Hi Mitch, Exactly that - I insure myself and my students via Martins - and I absorb the cost. Mind you, having just moved to near Gloucester and built a new Dojo, I calculate it will be about 7 to 10 years before I break even. I'm glad I have a day job
Used to be about 2-1 exchange ratio and now only about 1.62-1 ..... Makes holidays here much cheaper and attractive to colonials who need a friendly place to visit :' ) (Ex-pat Canuck) LFD
