Reviews of Nick Tarpein's School-Karate

I have been all over the USA training at many different academy's. I have been here for 6 years and seen many students come and go. I personally train in Bettendorf and Moline locations 4 or 5 days a week. Not sure what Nick does but his son runs a tight ship and is close to black belt(brown belt) level under Carlson Gracie Team of Chicago. As far as I can tell he is honest and up front on all business aspects of memberships and cost of goods. I went to MFS and I can say that place was a joke and let's not get started on how the place was un-kept like a bunch of savages in a barn. If you want staph and other fun items such as ring worm that's the place to be. Tarpeins in Moline and Bettendorf are clean and well kept. So if you are looking to train I did all the research and you owe it to yourself to look around at different places. Anyone with a half of brain will ask question and know that Tarpeins in Moline and Bettendorf are the right choice.

Upon first beginning martial arts training at this dojo, I was under the impression that i was learning muaythai as well as bjj. it was good until i trained at a real muaythai gym. I quickly realized that the instruction at tarpeins was generic at best. It's a hybrid technique of nick's karate and limited amount of bjj he knows. He doesn't hold a black belt in bjj nor does he have the authority to bring up any bjj black belts. Also, he will try to give his students a belt in muaythai which is a business tactic he uses to get money from his students during his belt promotion ceremonies. There are no belts in muaythai! Be aware of hidden costs (equipment, belt promotions, uniforms) as well as his tricky contracts / garaunteed belt programs. If you are looking for real muaythai, look elsewhere. If you want to be an mma fighter, go to miletich fighting system. If you want to learn karate, Nick may be the place to go to once you understand to deal with his tricky business tactics.