Reviews of USTMA - US Tae Kwon Do Marial Arts Academy

USTMA Taekwondo does a very good job of teaching students of all ages discipline, respect, and confidence. I have been training at USTMA for over 14 years, have been part of the competition team, and have grown up in this school. The instructors are well trained, caring, and understand that Taekwondo is not just a sport, but a way of life. I highly recommend this school as an exciting, safe environment to start/continue your taekwondo journey!

Yes, it is true. USTMA is hotter than sauna in summers, and colder than freezer in winters. There is not enough instructors to manage the students, and the school is only about making money. Thanks to little help, the staff is always over worked and cranky. If you want to learn about self defense, better luck somewhere else with better supervision, and structure. But, if you want to get belts, then hang around, pick your nose, and pay your way through to get black belt(s) with not much substance! Oh by the way, good luck if you sign a contract. You'll be stock until your contract is over. Don't sign a contract people. Just find another place, and do something better with your life.

No air conditioned and no heat at all. I guess Place was big so they wanted to save bucks.

What a contract system. We are still paying for this. Once you are hooked, You never get any chance to get out of it unless lawsuit against them through somehow.

The training of the instructors is second to none! Being a long time instructor and student (15+ years) I have had the pleasure to get to know all instructors, and the Grand Master. He is an excellent teacher and he depends upon the instructors to teach classes which is also a learning process for us. Tae Kwon Do is a lifestyle and a life long journey not just a kid sitting service, which many people take advantage of.

I have read some of the reviews and I totally disagree with them. These folks knowingly signed their family or children up for several years of instruction. They could have signed up for only 6 months had they wanted to.

As a business owner, one must have a knowledge of the future as to how many people might be in a class and one must also be able to budget forward to cover expenses and overhead. Sounds like someone is upset they did not read the contract.

Beware. Once you sign the contract, there is NO WAY to back out of the full payment - thousands of dollars overall. Master says it's all up to the billing company, the billing company says it's up to the Master, you get the run around.

Master insists on meeting with your kids if they don't want to come anymore. I'm not doing that to my kids - it is my decision whether or not to let them quit. My kids loved martial arts - but not at this place. So I won't force them just because I made a huge mistake.

Go somewhere else!

This is a fantastic, spacious facility (with an attached fitness center). USTMA teaches traditional style martial arts and also offers a variety of other classes for students and family members of all ages (even 60+). There are classes offered different times 6 days a week. Besides TaeKwonDo, there is advanced training and demo team (C-CREW) and "Rise-Up" which is group training with drills, weights and cardio for fitness and general sports skills. There is after school care, but it is not a "day care school" that only focuses on that. They have great events such as the Halloween party with the "Haunted Hallway" and the Christmas party "Winter Wonderland. " This is not the kind of school where kids run around wild and undisciplined. You can't "buy-a-belt" here: you have to really pass the skills required for each test. If you're looking for a school that will coddle your children, let them run amok and tell them they are excellent when they aren't even trying, this is probably not the school for you. But if you want a school that offers something to the whole family, inspires students to try hard and do their best, emphasized respect and discipline, expects a lot and provides the teaching necessary, then you will like USTMA. I have been a student for several years, having come from another area school. I am surprised to read comments about how angry parents who wanted to cancel the contract but couldn't. The definition of contract is: a legally binding commitment. Every school I've ever heard of operates the same way. The school can't plan for its infrastructure and budget needs if it has no idea who is going to be a member from one week to the next. I imagine there are emergencies in which exceptions are made and contracts can be broken, but to hate on a school because of the contract you signed voluntarily doesn't quite seem fair.

Beware. Once you sign the contract, there is NO WAY to back out of the full 3 year program - thousands of dollars overall. Master says it's all up to the billing company, the billing company says it's up to the Master, you get the run around.

Master insists on meeting with your kids if they don't want to come anymore. I'm not doing that to my kids - it is my decision whether or not to let them quit. My kids loved martial arts - but not at this place. So I won't force them just because I made a huge mistake.

I also have to say that testing and promotion here is a joke. My kids have been to a traditional Tae Kwon Do academy in a different state and if the kids didn't know their form or couldn't do their kicks or whatever, they were not allowed to progress. I have seen children who obviously did not know what they were doing, just get promoted because they had been to enough classes. Definitely a 'every kid deserves a trophy' kind of place.

I have spent the past 10 years of my life as a member of USTMA and CCrew, I have seen students around me change into well behaved kids, teens, and seen adults increase their physical abilities. The complaints about the school are the very reason why it is effective, it is traditional taekwondo.

its kinda funny to read some of the reviews about this school and realize how much time has changed people. its parents that complain about how hot it is or how cold it is to...in a way its too hard at ustma...excuse after excuse. ustma is all about 100%pure taekwondo and teaching/inspiring the students through taekwondo about what they will face in life. how life can be fun or boring, easy or hard, even hot or cold...teaching them the discipline to succeed no matter what is thrown at them. i applaud ustma for sticking to the "old school" way of discipline. you don't find discipline any more. its all about convenience and keeping things simple/easy....well not at ustma. its all about work to achieve and to never give up until you reach your goal.

you won't find video games at this facility...its all about staying in motion and staying fit. if you're looking for a daycare center or babysitting...this school is not the place for you. but if you're looking for a school that teaches students to rise up and work hard to achieve goals...to sweat to succeed...you have found the right place.

As some of the reviews may be true, the environment is established to cater to the teaching methods. The main purpose of the school is to teach discipline and confidence. I agree that not being able to watch your kids sucks but if they were able to focus on you rather then taekwondo, what is the point of enrolling them? My kids' attitudes have changed dramatically since their enrollment and they can now focus and pay attention which also helps their school work.

Although affordability is comparable to other after-school programs, be careful with this organization. I so far am not impressed. You will be unable to get out of the contract no matter your situation! The building is super hot and my kids complain. The waiting area has a nasty old big couch and old magazines falling apart. I can't even watch them practice except to go to their testing! Unorganized!! Seems like just trying to get as many kids in as possible but lack organization or communication between employees and Master. This may be our last stay here unless big improvements are made before the end of our contract.

While the training at this gym can be superior, the business management is not. I found out after signing up that the Grand Master sets a different tuition rate for each family. I am paying more than double for 2 members of my family than my friend is for all 3 members of her family. We pay $250 per month and they pay $125. I also found out that there is no way to break this contract unless you move more that 25 miles away from the school. Our family is facing a major hardship and now we are stuck with this bill that they tell us they will send to collections if we do not pay and we cannot continue to use the school. How can they charge me for something and tell me that I cannot attend!

What a rip off!!!

Be warned.