Need help from other Tae Kwon Do parents...

[Ariel Wanna-be]

I scheduled our May 2007 DW vacation last September, and I miscalculated and scheduled it over a TKD "testing" weekend. Flights paid for, deposits made, etc, so I can't reschedule our trip.

Long story short, DS's TKD school will not test him on another day. My only option (other than having him sit out an entire belt cycle) is to find a TKD school near WDW and take him there to test on May 19th. Supposedly, all ITA schools test on the same day.

Has anyone had any experince testing while on vacation? Or can anyone in the Orlando area tell me of an ITA TKD school that's near WDW? And how to get there? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Why will they not let him have a private test? At our school (ATA) you can pay for a private test. I think they are being unreasonable and I would speak to someone higher up. Why should the kid miss out a whole testing cycle because of a family vacation?

 

[barbmouse]

Our TKD school will generally work around a scheduled vacation too. They would let you test a day early or when you returned. Not sure about testing in Orlando.

 

[Oliquig]

At my niece's TKD thay they are very understanding about testing conflicts. She took the test a day early due to attending a party for her grandfather's 80th birthday. Other kids in her class have had special time tests too.

 

[bumbershoot]

No Tae Kwon Do for the kiddo yet, and not for several years (DH is hardcore about being serious about martial arts and doesn't get into teaching little ones), BUT DH is a black belt who helped his master run the school.

He says:

Testing is arbitary. A good school would have a test every month. It makes it hard to test outside of regular testing times because you have to set up at least 2 other masters to witness and grade the test.

I would suggest on having the DS sit out and try to make up the test from the same master because you never know how the other master in the other town may test. He maybe much more harsh.

Also if she really wants to test near WDW she should ask the master if he knows any ITA schools in the area.



So there ya go, DH's blackbelt-y opinion.

 

[java]

I have a black belt son and a red belt daughter. Our school allows excusable misses and provides for an early testing for you. (for example when my dd was making her First Holy Communion-) This is available up until you are a red belt- then you miss tough luck. However, we test 4 times a year. (UTA school)What belt level is he? I think they are being extremely unreasonable if they are not offering you an alternative. Family time comes before Martial Arts. I reminded our school owner- that there are more children in my family than just the 2 that take taekwondo. I would be looking for a new school if that was the way I was being treated. Oh and there is also an alternate testing about a month after "regular" testing- for those students that needed some more time.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Update:

DS's TKD school sent me a list of all ITA schools in Florida, and all of them are in the panhandle except for three. The nearest one is in Tampa, which is what, and hour and a half away?

So, we'll have to rent a car, and leave very early Saturday morning. Also, we'll be up very late Friday night because we're seeing Fantasmic. We'll also have to bring all of his sparring gear, etc. and hope that the airline doesn't lose it on the way down.

The logistics of testing at a different school are so aggravating, but what's really making me nervous is the fact that DS will not know anyone at the new school, or any of their policies. He gets nervous before testings at his own school, so I'm afraid he'll be extra nervous. And when you add the fact that he will undoubtedly be tired from the night before...well, I'm sure you see why I'm worried.

And God forbid, if he busts his test, he will be crushed, and I'm sure it will put a damper on the rest of the week (we're staying until the following Saturday).

He'll be testing for his senior blue belt, btw. I'm going to talk to his instructor again, and explain all my concerns. AND offer more money if they will test him on his own.

 

[Merriwind]

Update:

DS's TKD school sent me a list of all ITA schools in Florida, and all of them are in the panhandle except for three. The nearest one is in Tampa, which is what, and hour and a half away?

So, we'll have to rent a car, and leave very early Saturday morning. Also, we'll be up very late Friday night because we're seeing Fantasmic. We'll also have to bring all of his sparring gear, etc. and hope that the airline doesn't lose it on the way down.

The logistics of testing at a different school are so aggravating, but what's really making me nervous is the fact that DS will not know anyone at the new school, or any of their policies. He gets nervous before testings at his own school, so I'm afraid he'll be extra nervous. And when you add the fact that he will undoubtedly be tired from the night before...well, I'm sure you see why I'm worried.

And God forbid, if he busts his test, he will be crushed, and I'm sure it will put a damper on the rest of the week (we're staying until the following Saturday).

He'll be testing for his senior blue belt, btw. I'm going to talk to his instructor again, and explain all my concerns. AND offer more money if they will test him on his own.

That sort of testing scenario sounds less than ideal for many reasons. I do hope you can work it out with DS's school. If not, from the comments here, it seems that many schools are more understanding about family conflicts and either allow alternate testing dates and/or test fairly frequently. Might be time to shop around. Good luck!

 

[Nanu57v]

How old is DS?

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

How old is DS?

He's nine.

 

[jiminy]

Honestly, I think that is crazy that they won't test him on another day. Dh and I are black belts in WTA (world tae kwon do assoc) and I've never heard of anything like this. I know he's probably too high up in ranking to consider switching schools, but personally I wouldn't want to be at a place that was so inflexible. Testing in our style is very personal and subjective.

I hope his instructor changes his mind and works it out for you ds to test on another date!

 

[Gillian]

I hope you can work that out! Testing is the last thing I'd think about when planning a trip. It's a shame that they aren't a little more flexible, although I'm sure there are issues we're not aware of.

Our school has policies similar to Java's - pre-testing on a weekday if you can't do the weekend, and a repeat testing one month later (which I think is if you don't pass but probably also for kids who miss).

Good luck with finding a place in Florida!