Factors to Consider

School Business Procedures

Personally, I feel the best Taekwondo dojang is one with a good instructor who is affiliated with a "traditional" organization and operates a non-commercial dojang that is affiliated with a college, YMCA/YWCA, or other community organization. A commercial Taekwondo dojang is a business and must make money to stay in business.

At a minimum, commercial dojang owners must pay the lease, energy costs, insurance, etc. If they are full time owners, they also must make a decent salary. If they are part-time owners, they must make enough salary for the effort to be worth their time. There is nothing wrong with a commercial dojang, but, if the owner is to cover the expenses of business, the monthly student payments must be much higher than for a non-commercial dojang.

Most of the expenses of a non-commercial dojang are covered by the organization under which it operates, such as a college. A good instructor does not necessarily need a commercial dojang to train quality students. If you do not mind paying for the "extras" of a commercial dojang, then by all means do so. However, do not feel you are getting less than the best if the instructor does not operate a commercial dojang.