Frequently Asked Questions

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www.bakersfieldelitemartialarts.com

A: Yes! Absolutely! Everyone learns at their own pace. Since Fighting Dragons is a personalized training system, it is suitable for everyone. It is important to know that no matter what shape you are in, if you use your body correctly anyone can become an effective fighter.

Q: Can I use my old uniform?

A: Yes! If you have a uniform already there's no need to buy a new one.  Even if your uniform advertises some other school, that's fine.  We do encourage you to support our school by purchasing a new uniform from us, but it's not required.  We do require that you have a uniform of some sort however, as the training involved grabbing and pulling the uniform (your regular clothes would rip)

Q: Do you offer private lessons?

A: Yes! Although it is more expensive per lesson, you also get a lot more out of one private lesson than a regular class because you are one on one with the instructor. If interested, please call to make arrangements.

Q: What kind of a belt system do you use?

A: For the kung fu adults, you start with white, then yellow, green, green 2, brown, brown 2, black. There are eight degrees of black, the eighth is given the title of Master.

For the kung fu kids, the same belts are there, with several additional colors. The added ranks are made to promote self esteem and motivation, and to indicate progress.

Brazilian JiuJitsu Adult system: White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black

Q: How do you get promoted?

A: There are no tests for adult classes (as of now). Traditionally, there have not been tests for belt ranking. The instructors see the students' abilities every night and are able to judge from this whether or not a student is worthy of being promoted.

Q: Are there other fees (besides standard tuition)?

A: No! I do not charge for anything except monthly tuition. There are service charges if you wish to buy a uniform, gloves or other products, but that only applies if you want to buy something.  Some classes require certain items which you can buy from us for a very reasonable cost, or you can shop around to find whatever you need.

Q: How much is a uniform?

A: Standard uniform is $35 for Kung Fu or $50 for tougher Judo uniform.  You can upgrade to better uniforms if you like for $100+ (ask Dave about other options)

Q: When is the best time to start a class?

A: Right now! Classes are ongoing. Thanks to the well developed year round lesson plans at the school, any time is a good time to start!

Q: I want to learn Kung Fu, but I am very shy... how can I overcome this? What should I do?

A: The relatively easy answer is private lessons. I have had many students start as private students until they felt comfortable; then they joined the regular class.
The other answer is this; it is ok to be shy... you will still learn! Many students come in shy, but the atmosphere at Fighting Dragons is one of respect and kindness. Everyone (current students) remembers when they first started, and so are very friendly and willing to help with newcomers. Furthermore, I usually work one-on-one with newcomers to help them feel comfortable and, obviously, to learn the first basic moves. You won't feel lost when you start. There is a lot of stuff to learn on the first night, but you don't have to learn it all at once. You will learn at your own pace and an instructor will always be there to help you! :)
Finally, if you have doubts or fears, just call me! You can also come in and talk to me or another instructor any time.

661-472-1884

2415 Chester Ave Bakersfield, CA 93301