sherral bell
I’ve been bringing my son here for about a year, and unfortunately, my experience has been very inconsistent. Over time, there have been ongoing issues with communication and organization, including: * Schedule changes with little to no notice * Lack of clarity about Parent Night Out events * Confusion around belting ceremonies — what they mean, who they’re for, and what skills the kids need to demonstrate * Mixed messages about tape on belts and what is being taught on certain days * No clear information about what gear my son needs — for example, being asked where his gloves were when no one ever told me he needed gloves or sold us a complete starter package The final straw was the uniform situation. As my son has grown, I noticed his uniform pants were getting too small. When I asked about getting a new uniform, I was told to check back in three weeks. Months went by, and despite me asking repeatedly, I was either told there were no uniforms, or they had run out. Meanwhile, I started seeing new kids getting uniforms — even kids about the same age and size as my son. When I politely asked about this, the coach who handles uniforms had an attitude and told me they didn’t have my son’s size, then added that the first uniform was free, as if I was trying to get one without paying. For the record, we never received a free uniform when we started, and our tuition and uniform fees are covered by Alta Regional — which I confirmed through email. It made me feel like he assumed I couldn’t afford it or was trying to take advantage of something, which was hurtful and unnecessary. I want my son to show up looking clean, professional, and ready to learn — not in pants that are clearly too small. It was embarrassing for both of us. To make matters worse, Saturday classes often start late. There was one day when my son and **seven other families** were ready for class at 9:00 a.m., but the coach didn’t show up until 9:21. My son has autism, and waiting like that caused a meltdown, so we had to leave early. This late start was a consistent problem, and no one ever called back when I left messages or DMs to ask if class was happening. I’ve always been polite when asking questions and showing respect, even though I’ve been embarrassed and frustrated by these situations. I genuinely believed that, as a Black woman working with a team of Black men, there would be mutual understanding and support. Instead, I’ve felt overlooked and mistreated. It’s been four months of asking about a uniform with no clear answer — either they are truly out of stock, or my son has been passed over. At this point, it feels like we’re being treated differently because our classes are paid for through Alta Regional, which is incredibly disappointing. I’m writing this review not out of anger, but in hopes that this feedback leads to changes in communication, organization, and respect for all families — so that no one else has to go through this same experience.
