Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  04/14/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  From: ****** ******* Date: February 5, 2023 at 4:58:18 PM CST To: ******** ******  Subject: Fwd: Taekwondo Date: 02/05/2023 4:56 PM Subject: Fwd: Taekwondo To Whom It may Concern: RE: Abuse of my grandchildren ages 6 and 8 years old I have BBB complaints against Sharp's Taek Won Do. located at Hickory Point mall; Forsyth, Illinois My main concern is with the way the school's owner ****** ***** uses the "duck walk" and other methods as punishment for kids who fail to correctly follow instruction. The following are a list of observed disciplinary actions taken against my grandson Henderix who is six years old. 1) I have seen this boy arms pulled, and jerked around by a female 3rd degree black during class. Sharp's Taek won Do school of Martial Arts Decatur Illinois ******** **** ******* ***** **** ******** ******** ******* ************** ****** ******** ********* ******** ** I recently observer this same 3rd degree female blackbelt kick my grandson to the floor when she was supposed to showing them what to do. I was very upset about this and brought this to Master Sharp attention. He said that he would take care of it. Since that time this 3rd degree black belt has not worked with my grandson. 3) last week I observed this 3rd degree blackbelt's nephew who is older and bigger than my grandson "get" in his face and tried to pick on him by calling him dirty. I can only assume that he is being told to do this by his 3rd degree aunt for retaliation for me complaining to her boss Grand Master Sharp. 4 This same 3rd degree blackbelt said that my grandson did not quality to test for the next higher belt (greenbelt on 12/20/2022 because he did not know:1) yellow belt form 1-10, 2) 1-5 hapkido (rights side) and 6-10 1st steps both sides. My point here is; I am paying this school $120.00 a month to teach my two grandkids self-discipline. If there is anything that they are not doing incorrectly, it is their job to work with that student until they understand without kicking the child to the floor of rough handling the child. I call this kind of treatment intimidation and my Grandson is confused. Every time he goes into this class, he ends up being made to "duckwalk" as the other kids continue training. Each class is 45 minutes long and I have observed him being made to duckwalk (4) times, which means I am paying for him to duck walk not train. 5) I am not going to say my Grandson is perfect. He is a shy child. But when I observe other kids doing the same things and more than my grandson, yet my grandson is the only one being made an example of with excessive duckwalk punishment It is time for me to point that out. : ****** ** ******* ***** * ******** ****** ************** (cell) PS (Please keep my wife **** in your prayers)

  Business response

  04/17/2023

  I am responding to the complaint filed by *** *******. As you can probably guess martial arts is a physical program. We do many exercises (push ups, sit ups, squats, duck walks, etc.). When kids fail to follow instructions often times they will get exercises to reinforce the rules and let them know they need to focus or try harder. *** ******* specifically told myself to give his boys extra exercises when they don't pay attention or don't work hard. He stated that he liked the way I did things and the way I ran my classes. He allowed his boys to stay and train with me for 11 months with no complaints. *** ******* even signed his grandsons up for another 12 month agreement membership because he had liked our program. The accusations by *** ******* are just that, accusations. I have not seen any of the behavior in my studio. I talked to him about it personally and told him the same. I even went so far as to not have certain individuals work with his boys to avoid any possible issues. I feel that *** ******* is just trying to get out of his agreement that he signed. I have even stopped collections against him for the amount left owed just to try to keep the peace and hope that he would stop with the harassment.. I have several witnesses that can verify my information if needed be.  Thank you,  ****** *****

  Customer response

  04/17/2023

   I am rejecting this response because:  I do not accept.  Sharp's statement as accurate. This grown man allowed a 3rd degree black to kick with force a 6yr old kid to the floor. That goes beyond discipline and training. As for his excuse for using different forms of duck walks to get the class to pay attention.  He needs to go back to school and learn how to properly teach children. I found that he uses favoritism. and he selectively pick which child to punish with his excessive duck walks. Usually minority kids. Yes, I sign up for a one-year contract because as an ex-student of taekwondo - that trained under a much better teacher. I never saw my old instructor punish a six-year-old student for failing to understand.  All this guy is all about is money.  All he wants to do is delay a child's advancement so that when it comes time to test for the next belt, he can delay and get more money out of the parent,. He expects a six  year old kind to ask for help.  This instructor is a poor example of a teacher and he does not the best interest of the students.   He once told me that he does not give belts away. And I told him I don't give money away for poor training.  He is paid to train the students, not use them to line his pockets. This guy is a joke.  All he cares about is sucking money out of the kids parents, My point is this: I am paying him to get my grandkids ready. I am not paying him to bully and intimidate them.  Most of the time the kids are not told why they have to duck walk, all they hear is ------ go duck walk. This man is not doing me any favors by resending his fake unilateral contract. He knows that if we go to court; I will win. I am not the only person who knows how Sharp's pick and chooses who gets to be punished with extra work while the other students watch.
  

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