Business ProfileforPremier Martial Arts Paducah

My son has gone here for over 3 years. We have paid for all belts, monthly classes, and even paid $300 just for him to get his black belt test. He studied and worked hard for months for this test. Tonight was the big test, they allowed a larger really aggressive boy to fight him after his 1 1/2 hr. of physical workout. That boy was out of hand and punched him in the stomach so hard that he threw up by our car. He could not continue in the timeframe they gave after this awful thing happened and then was denied to get his black belt. This is beyond frustrating and down right wrong and upsetting. What does this teach a child? That no matter how hard he works, if he fights someone bigger, meaner, and stronger than him that is allowed to hurt him than all his hard work is for nothing. I will NEVER step a foot in that place again. I would STRONGLY suggest you do not either. Find a more caring place to teach your child martial arts that actually cares about them as people and teaches them the skills you are paying for. I am still beside myself at how this supposedly joyful night to celebrate turned into a night full of regret for continuing to go to this facility.

Thank you for your feedback. Like all complaints.. there is more than one side to the story. You all had not prepared for the test. The student did not pass the Black belt test. The student quit the test. And... yes the student was punched during the sparring portion of the test. The student was not able to continue. The family making the complaint re-scheduled the test 3 times. They showed up to the this test unprepared. They forgot to bring the running shoes and then they were 30 minutes late to the prpoer testing time. We made every attempt to do our part to help but they never did their part to engage properly. We have a ninety five percentage suuccess rate at black belt test. But it does require proper preparation. I wish you all the best in your future.

There is several incorrect information with the response from the owner. First, our student was prepared for the test and completed all the community service, written essay, and endurance that the test required. He practiced hard and went to classes each week for 3 years to take the test. The issue is that we made the owner aware that after the test we would be going to another facility due to the concerns we had there with how the classes were being ran. As soon as the team members were aware that we would be leaving and no longer paying the month fee and belt test fees, we were treated differently. The 95% success rate mentioned above is an exception made for those students that are going to continue classes at their facility. Our son was treated differently due to them knowing he was leaving one way or another. There is NO excuse for anyone to be expected to recover in 3min. from a punch in the gut that was so hard a 12 yr. boy physically got sick. This expectations was unrealistic and the team members were not caring or concerned with my son’s wellbeing. Second, We only rescheduled the test twice. The first time we gave over a month notice, this was due to it being holiday and due to myself and my husbands demanding jobs at that time, we did not have the time to invest supporting our child to be prepared for the test. The second time was the weekend before the test was taken. Our son had a stomach bug and had missed 4 days of school due to the illness. We informed the facility as soon as we were aware that he would not recover in time which was a couple of days in advance. The third time the owner is referring to was their choice. Our area received snow and they canceled and rescheduled - we did not, but we fully understood and were kind about the choice they were making. Thirdly, We did forget the shoes, I am sorry. This was our mistake. As soon as we arrived the sensei asked if we had them and I immediately RAN to our house and got them. It took me a total of 18min, so the test did start 18min late. I asked if he could please start all his punches, kicks, and blocks while I ran home, but we were told no. If the team members would have been a little willing to do things in a different order that we wouldn’t have held anyone up. Again we apologized profusely for our mistake here and felt awful. It was my fault as we rushed out of the house with our children and picking up family members and left them by the door. This does not warrant for our child to be treated the way that he was during his test. This school currently has 2 teens running its business. The owner lives in another city and works classes at his 2nd facility, not this one. There is a 19 yr. old sensi here making decisions and running classes and another sensei that is still in high school. They are trying their best, but they are kids and make bad decisions regularly with the lack of control during classes and the lack of understanding and acceptance needed when a child is hurt. The owner was not at the black belt test, so he is telling all this information 2nd hand. He is not fully aware of how things happened on this day and he is taking the word of a couple of teens worried they are going to scolded over a grown family full of adults that were there to watch my son complete his black belt test. At this point the owner is concerned of repercussions of the decisions that were made that day and will put my son and us down to try and save face. This martial arts school is badly ran and others should be made ware before they sign a 3 yr. contact and are forced to spend over $5,000 in 3 years.