This "academy" is a belt factory. Just want to make sure that is loud and clear for anyone thinking of going here or enrolling their child. There are a tremendous number of rank test for superfluous belts and sub-ranks, pressure on everyone to participate in tournaments "because tournaments are expensive for the school to put on". Intermediate and advanced ranks lack core competencies like how to throw a proper punch or kick without flailing your arms all over. There is great focus on things like board breaking (which I've seen many kids get injured because of the aforementioned poor technique). The promotion ceremonies are a madhouse, analogous to when Oprah Winfrey gives out a free gift to the audience at the end of a show, completely lacking reverence or appreciation for the martial arts tradition. If your child is sedentary then this is better than sitting in front of the TV. If your main focus is proper technique, learning real self defense, and you don't want to feel like a dollar sign every time you walk through the door, please look somewhere else. As soon as my non-refundable year contract is over, I'm pulling my child out and going to a more traditional dojo, not one that is a cash-grab and under delivers.