FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Tae Kwon Do is just for kids, right?
Not at all!  Students of all ages can practice Tae Kwon Do.  While it might be easier for younger people to
kick higher and jump farther, everyone can benefit from the mental and physical conditioning, flexibility
training, and practical self-defense skills Tae Kwon Do offers.  Chang's offers age specific classes for
children, families and for adults.


Will practicing martial arts will make my child more aggressive?
It is unlikely.  The hard work, repetition and focus required in the martial arts generally help a child control
his aggressiveness or channel it in a positive direction.  From day one children learn that the martial arts
start and end with courtesy.  They will learn that fighting is hard work and it hurts.  Furthermore they will
come to realize that there will always be somebody bigger, faster, stronger, better or more experienced.  
Self-control and respect may be difficult to stomach sometimes but they are physically much easier.


Isn't it expensive?  It's cheaper for me to join a health club.
You get what you pay for.  My business is strictly martial arts.  While I cannot provide daycare, exercise
machines, a whirlpool or racquetball courts, health clubs cannot offer the same daily schedule, martial arts
experience, individual attention and commitment to excellence a martial arts school, like mine, can.  When
comparing services be sure you are comparing the same thing.  Who teaches the classes?  How many
classes per month do you get...four or 30?  What are promotion costs?  What is the curriculum?  Will my
black belt rank be internationally certified?  Will I be learning a real martial art?

Choosing quality is always a bargain.


Do you offer tuition discounts for multiple family members?
Absolutely!  Martial arts training is important and should be affordable for families who want to train
together.  At Chang's the first family member pays full tuition and each additional member of the same
family who enrolls receives a progressively larger discount.


Do I have to work out with a class?
Not necessarily, but I encourage students to work with as many training partners as possible.  This builds
experience and allows students to experience how people of different sizes and builds move, strike and
react.  However, private lessons are available.  If you wish to train privately or add an occasional private
lesson to you training regimen, it's no problem.  (Private lesson rate applies to private training)


Will I get injured?
If you are careful, probably not.  If you are a knucklehead, almost certainly.  Serious injuries are extremely
rare and great efforts are taken to help students avoid injury.  Sore muscles, the occasional strain and a
few bumps and bruises are all part of training a martial art.  However, injury rates are much higher for
weekend sports.  If you warm up properly, condition your body, listen to your instructor and follow safety
rules, you can train smart and avoid almost all serious injuries.


How long before I get a black belt?
I think you mean, "How long before I can earn a black belt".  If you just want a quick black belt, Chang's
probably isn't for you.  All promotions here are based on performance and effort.  Like a high school diploma
or a college degree, if you do the work, you will earn a black belt.  However, time until black belt varies from
student to student and from art to art.  With regular, diligent practice you might be able to achieve black
belt in Taekwondo in about 3 to 4 years.  It takes between 4 and 5 years to earn black belt rank in Arnis.

Keep in mind that a black belt is only a master of the basics.  Study of the martial arts is a lifelong pursuit
and true learning can begin only after you have mastered the basics.
CHANG'S MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY
6447 North Cicero Avenue  Lincolnwood, Illinois 60712
(847) 568-0952