Question 101: Promotion fees

Finding a martial art school is similar to finding a doctor, dentist, car mechanic, plumber, or any other type of service; you shop around for a school with for the best quality of service, with employees you like, and with a price you think is reasonable, and then you stay with the school until one of those things changes enough for you to want to change schools.

Martial art “masters” are nothing special; just as in other professions, they are business people who offer certain services that people may or may not be willing to pay to receive. You do not “worship” your teacher, doctor, or plumber because of his or her skills, you just respect them for what they do, rely on their expert opinion, and pay for the services they offer. There are crooked, fraudulent, and criminal teachers, doctors, plumbers, and martial art schools in the world; be aware of them and avoid them.