VIP International Krav Maga & Martial Arts Academy — Local services in Starkey Ranch

My review is not about their training. Personally, I was very happy with it. My review is about their business ethics and customer service.

My husband wanted to try a few classes and didnt realize he was roped into signing a 6 month contract at 89$ a month. He thought he was signing a liability waiver. When we addressed it Mike said their system "couldnt refund" our money and that my husband "signed a contract". But, that he "would work with us" and at the end of the six months give us the overage credit towards our son's future lessons. Ok- fair enough. Assuming of course that my son even wanted to keep going beyond his own six month contract at $149/ month. But having trust, I rolled with it and let VIP keep charging us for my husband, even though he wasn’t going past the first 3 lessons.

At the end of the six months, the only way Mike would refund our over charges they already collected was if we signed an ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR CONTRACT. Because again, "their system can’t do refunds". Trying to reach a compromise, I asked that they prorate our $445, let my son use up that credit over the next few extra months but.... he said "their policy doesn’t allow for proration." But he'd "do me a favor" by giving me a discount on aAN ADDITIONAL contract (which I saw on the scratch paper he inflated the price, then took the "discount" off, so it wasn’t a discount, it was car sales-man number scribbles on a paper). So, the "favor", was he'd give me my money back only as a credit IF I rolled the overage into another YEAR contract! And as he kept wording it, this favor he was doing us by giving us our money back, would only have me owing an additional $1200, paying for the ENTIRE YEARLY CONTRACT IN FULL UP FRONT....oh and I had to sign the contract and pay it, THAT SAME DAY. So to get my credit they already owed me, I had to sign and pay for another YEAR up front. That was the favor.

The facility itself and training was great, but their customer service, price gouging, transparency and business ethics are very poor.

On other occasions, they collected $15 for "parents night out" from us as well, then ultimately, they cancel the parent events due to "lack of interest" and instead of ever refunding our money, they said, "you can just apply it for the next time". Which ultimately, "next time" was also cancelled, so there's no refund on those, either.

I really wanted to work out a solution, but their only solutions benefited THEM..and meant me giving them...even MORE MONEY and me committing to more contracts. Why not just let my child attend another few months and apply the money you already collected from me?

Why on earth should anyone have to sign a child into an annual agreement?! Why not let your service speak for itself to keep people coming back, not that they are stuck in a contract that most likely, didn’t know they even signed. If you go here, demand that EVERYTHING is in writing. READ IT. Don't have them scribble prices on a piece of scratch paper and assume that is the same information as what you are signing. If you give them ANY money for extra events, like a parents night out, get a receipt.

And if they advance your child in belts know that you can buy all of the SAME gear they require him or her to have and sell you, for 66% less, online.

It's unfortunate that the $450 (more if you count my Parents Night Out money) was more important to them, than building a long term customer and student. At least in my family's situation.

I’ve been in sales, customer service and in business myself for over 20 years, so I appreciate what it takes to run your own business & working with fair compromises to all parties. Honestly, if your service and ethics come first, and were 100% transparent, you wouldn’t have to keep pushing people into contracts.

People would come back because of the entire positive experience...

After 3 years it was a sad downhill spiral. Unfortunately the owner takes little consideration to better the program. Speaking of children's classes, they are only 30 minutes of which 8-11 minutes is warm up. Not too horrible when there are a few kids however; in the past year the classes have grown to 20+ kids. They get maybe on a good night 10 minutes of actual instruction or practice. One instructor, sometimes two, but they cannot keep an eye on 20+ kids to instruct correct form and moves. Spent $400 on mandatory sparring gear and it got used for literally 1-2 minutes once a month. Their main instructor left and neither parents nor kids were notified and some of the kids were very close to this person after having been instructed by him for several years. It was a total lack of respect for everyone. Upon speaking with other parents, the price range was 85-170 with no one paying the same amount despite being in the exact same age group class. No rhyme or reason as to the discrepancies. No written policies or rules so they were constantly changing with no communication. In the last two months there the kids would sit and watch other kids for half the class! Lastly, the belt promotions are a joke. They "test" but it is not a real test and everyone just moves up without any real skill. lastly, you are required to sign a one year contract. This is ridiculous. We were very unhappy for at least 6 months but could not leave. Tried discussing the lack of instruction and way too big classes and got completely blown off. We have since moved on to another dojo and see what real instruction and testing looks like with longer classes, multiple instructors, no year long contracts and...

I started taking Krav Mags class at VIP International 5 months ago. I had been retired for the last 3.5 years and had not been exercising on a regular basis and now at the age of 52 I had gained weight and my physical fitness level had declined. I also had a few injuries over the years and was unsure if I could train in a martial art again. The first class was a challenge physically for me to finish. As I continued to take classes I noticed my physical fitness level was increasing rapidly. I attribute this to the intensity level of the training and the way these classes are structured. Part of the class is physical conditioning while the other part is learning and drilling the self defense techniques that make up the system of Krav Maga. I had Bern a Police Officer for 25 years and studied other Martial Art systems while serving as a Police Officer. In real life defense situations I found techniques from these systems to be ineffective. The Krav Maga techniques taught at this school and the instructors teaching them make this the most effective self defense system I have encountered. I have found the students to be very supportive and the instructors Top Notch. If you want to learn Real Self Defense this is the place to...