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Ocasio's True Martial Arts Inc

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Ocasio's True Martial Arts Inc
Ocasio's True Martial Arts Inc
(2 Reviews)
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50 Merrimack St Haverhill, MA 01830
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Consumer Feedback

(2 Reviews)
Business Response from Ocasio's

I'de like the take a moment and thank you "Amy" for you comments. It demonstrates that you have noticed things we care about and what truly matters to us. I understand that your judgment comes from your standards and beliefs, its ok "Amy" we understand. Let me explain as you have since success leaves clues Contract is a commitment between two people or person and or organization. Contracts are for lessons not exams or passing of any ranks. Both parties must deliver and since we have graduated over 1000 black belts for the past 26 years, well we do not need to say any more about that. The running is a standard that we hold up high, just like the top colleges do with there standards, you have to do the work just like the 1000+ black belts have done. you may have noticed or know that there were many people testing for black belt and only small percentage do not make it the first time and they can always take it a second time with no additional cost. Mandatory, well, do you not wan the black belt with the standards we hold? That is the question, then you will do what you have to do or not, its okay, the results will speak for themselves. Fitness is something we believe strongly in, not everyone agrees. The owner does the fitness requirements, the owner lives the standards expected of his students, we are the examples of the lives we seek. Life gives you what you give it, you should know that. Not everyone can qualify for Harvard or Berkley. Broken bones, not sure what that is all about, just know it takes courage and determination to become a black belt. What doctor has received their credentials without passing an exam? Our team of professionals are dedicated and hard working who have committed their lives and future to help develop the lives of others. Now that is a conversation you can have with them and yes we require that level of commitment. Yes our standards are high. Yes, many have achieved them and some have not, all are welcome to try, not all can make it, but we try hard to help those who have a hard time, mainly helping them change their attitude about what life will give you. Since you get what you give. Success= God, family, work, friends, happiness, love, commitment, dedication, unwavering determination, giving, charity, health, nice things, and oh yes money, you need some of that to make some of these things work. Having money is important, is it not? Last I checked we lived in the wonderful world call the United States of America. PS If you would like, we are will to give you 6 months free to come back and take your black belt exam, if you were here before? If you like "Amy". Just like many academic schools, if you do not take the exam, you do not pass. If you do not pass the exams, you do not graduate, it only makes sense. That is why our successful parents and successful students who have passed and who believe in the standards they want in there lives and in their children's life are still here training. Those who moved on will say they deserve and are proud of their accomplishments here. PPS We are wishing you the very best in your life and hope that you place as much attention to your own life and your needs as you did in your comments, You say God himself can't say anything to Mr. Ocasio, What an honer, Thank You
by Business response xxx.xxx.222.235
August 08, 2012
Based on my experience, I wouldn't recommend them to my friends or family. They didn't help me as much as I was hoping and didn't answer all my questions. Their staff was friendly enough, but they didn't go out of their way to help me. DO NOT be fooled by this school. The prices are high and the genuine service is not there. VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW is if you are planning to go for your black belt you will need to be able to run 3 miles in 27 minute to qualify for your "recommended" black belt (which really just another way for the school to get more money out of you by not giving you a real black belt the first time and the test fee for recommended black belt is triple digits!). Then 6 months later you have to run it again to get your 1st degree!! And that fee is triple digits also! It does not matter what your health conditons may be....you MUST PASS THE RUN TEST to get your black belt even if you have the curriculum exact! And if you don't pay the triple digit fees you don't get a black belt. Then if you want a second degree you wait 2 years, pay another triple digit fee and then have to run more than 3 miles in a very short amount of time to qualify. Not to mention there are MANDATORY "Mid-Term Tests" every 6 months at huge triple digit fees that you must complete towards your next degree or you don't get your next belt. But then YOU ARE NOT TOLD THIS BEFORE YOU SIGN A 3 YEAR CONTRACT with them. Ask any of the students there if they were informed of this "mandatory qualification for black belt" before they signed a 3 year contract. 99% if not all of them will tell you they were not told that prior to signing or even in the first 6 months to a year after signing. Most don't find out until it's time for them to go for their black belt test. I understand the need for testing black belts frequently. But these fees are ridiculous and the run tests are insane. Because it all boils down to if you do not pass the run test you do not get the black belt. You can put years into dedicated training at this school, keep paying for black belt tests that you do not pass because you can't beat the qualifying time. The owner, Herman Ocasio, says that the run qualification is for fitness. That's bull. It's really a way to get more money out of you when you pay for your black belt testing then fail the run he keeps the money and you don't get a black belt. It's not right. There have been students with disabilities in that school that have gone all the way to the black belt test and had all the curriculum learned but didn't get a belt because their health issues kept them from passing the run test! Issues that have ranged from asthma, to broken bones, to COPD etc etc etc. Of course the school owner will tell you that is not the case. He will tell you those students just "gave up". Well hell I would give up too after paying triple digits a few times over only to not be able to get my black belt because of some mandatory run time! So in short, 3 year contract, wallet crunching fees, expensive uniform ($100), mandatory to pass a run test for black belt. If you saw the owners house you would understand why the tuition and belt test fees are so high.
Are any of you wondering who Happy Student is? One guess. Happy Student is the business owner. Of course the reviews and responses from that "person" are going to reflect nothing but the positive about the school. That alias was created right after it was noticed that bad reviews were being distributed on the internet about the Ocasio's True Martial Arts schools and business practices. The alias was created for damage control. Some of the other alias I'm sure are same. Or he cohersed people into writing good reviews. This business does not really care about it's students. No. Not really. It is all about the money. There is a smoke screen effect going on that the owner would like you to feel like you are cared for. The tuition is high for a reason. And not the reason of quality classes. It is greed. All greed. Just drive by his house sometime. Another down side is that the kids he has working for him now are too young to realize just what they have gotten themselves into.
Did they tell you upfront BEFORE you signed that 3 year contract what the qualifications for black belt are? They are mandatory run times regardless of health. And did they tell you how much it will actually cost you in "test fees" to get to black and to receive your black belt? Watch out down the road for those fees and that run time to hit you in the wallet. Work hard to get your black belt but even if you have all the curriculum perfect you won't get it if you don't pass the run or bike ride if you choose that instead which is just as difficult and DANGEROUS because you ride the bike in downtown Haverhill traffic. And the mandatory Saturday black belt classes during black belt phase time. If you miss more than 2 classes you get booted from phase and do not get your black belt or your money back. Doesn't matter if you get sick, if your child gets sick, if you have to work, there are no excused absences from the mandatory Saturday classes. God himself can tell Herman Ocasio that you cannot be there for good reason and you still will not get your black belt. So buyer beware. This school is in it for the money.
by Amy xxx.xxx.112.190
October 22, 2011
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50 Merrimack St, Haverhill, MA 01830