Frequently Asked Questions

You can find a detailed list of prices for classes and any other expenses, that could occur when taking classes. I don't hide any cost or wait until you come in to tell you the expense. I do sliding scale for retirees though and that is dependent on the situation.

I do not do memberships or contracts, nor do I do billing. I do not charge for test fee's either. You only pay a flat rate every four weeks. If you decide to stop attending classes I do not charge a penalty fee, I do appreciate a one month notice though. 

I offer three different types of course for Tai Chi, this is dependent on the needs of the person. I also teach Shuai Chiao and its combat sports. You can find detailed information on the Page with the header for the system you have interest in. 

I do not do billing, nor do I take cards. A person can pay with check or cash. At the begging of the 4-week session. It's not when you want to come to a class you pay or after a session has started. My rates are reasonable, and I just like anyone else offering a service, need to be paid. On going students, sometimes we have things that come up an unforeseen bill, not everyone has a lot of additional income. I will work with people in those situations. But anyone after an initial consultation, need to pay before participating in any classes. And for the 4-week session.  

I primarily teach ages 21 through 80 years of age. Those of course are different classes and interest levels. Those between 16 and 20 I will teach if they can understand the expectations and follow through.

I do not, People pay to come and train, I use to feel it was important to bring perspective students into a class and let them do a free class or week of classes or let them come and observe. I stopped doing this for various reasons. The most important the other students are paying for that class time. I feel it takes away from the class time for them and new students can easily come to my no-cost consultation, and I can explain to them without affecting the actual classes. I have nothing to hide per-say But I do feel it disturbs the class especially when I teach small numbers at a time. Also, others just like to go and take free classes and nothing wrong with that, but I am not interested in using my time or my students time for those that have no real interest in becoming a student, but just wanting to take advantage of a free offer. 

I do not use uniforms per-say. I prefer people to wear comfortable clothing and specific to the training they are doing. I do require people to wear modest clothing with no logo's I also require people to have a pair of shoes specific for the classes (flat soled) You are welcome to purchase martial art pants or shorts and I do offer school shirts for those that would like to purchase one. Shuai Chiao uses a 3 belts system, these are not worn except when wearing a jacket. 

 I have taken people to compete in Europe, Asia and various states here in the U.S. At this time, I do not have a competition group, but if I have enough interest and people want to put in the effort and travel to compete, I would do so again. 

That is somewhat dependent on the individual, I feel it takes about 8 to 12 weeks to understand the foundation of what a person is learning and from there they can start to develop and work towards real attainable goals. It's really not about getting a belt or a certificate. It's about learning skills for self-defense or physical development. And along the way develop some better understanding of ourselves and attributes like self-discipline, concertation, focus, and seeing things through to make overall improvements to ourselves. 

I have class times 6 days a week. I do not require more than a day a week. Meaning some can only afford to attend a class a week or they just don't have time based on family obligations or work. I feel an average class attendance should be 2 to 3 days a week. And home practice the same. Training should be an aspect of your life, when we look at the concept of wellness. Getting in enough sleep, right foods, proper social connections, exercise etc. Martial arts should be one of these aspects not the whole of what you do outside of work. Someone competing should be training 4 plus days a week. But as a aspect of your life, go out and enjoy other things with friends or family make it apart not the only thing that drives you.

If you are attending privates or group classes. I provide pdf documents of the material you are working on and also from my YouTube channel you can see the material you are working on or that you will need to learn as you move forward. I do provide additional material for those taking private classes from me.

My rates are in-line with most of the commercial martial art schools/clubs in the Longview area. And at the same time, I limit the class size to a very small number most do not do this. When you are in a 60-minute class with 12 to 18 people, how much time do you really think the instructor has for you? My private rates are very reasonable also 25 is the most someone would pay, I have 28 years teaching experience and 7 years of personal training experience working for World's and Gold's Gym's. Most personal trainers at local gyms will cost around 50 a hour and they may or may not have experience, beyond a trainer's certificate. My rates for what someone learn from me or for that matter from any other instructor in town is really a good price when you look at what the training will do for you. And when you look at the rates for most services you may pay for as examples a mechanic 100 an hour plumber 150 or that 5 dollars plus coffee when you add that up for a month it cost less to train in something that may help you to save your life Also I do not do billing, contracts or memberships or for that matter test fee's, My prices are very reasonable. 

You need to ask yourself this question and also ask it of the schools, gyms, clubs etc. you contact. Some focus on competition, some on belts and patches, some on cultish behavior or unbelievable skills. Some are schools for kids primarily others for competition fighters some on combat centric stuff that falls outside of day-to-day physical conflict. I use the systems I teach to teach practical self-defense or every day functional fitness. I do teach the systems in their entirety, but I use them in a way to fit the needs of those I teach. I don't try and encourage a 45-year-old man to become a full contact fighter, but I will encourage him to spar or wrestle in the shuai chiao classes to develop some skills for a possible physical altercation. Likewise, I don't press the 60-year-old woman or man to do deep postures or pivots or other balance components that they may not be able to do in Tai Chi, but I will give them a progressive approach to developing the strength and balance needed to do these things. I can do this because I teach small formal classes with the student in mind.