ATA Black Belt Academy

Our four boys have all been involved at ATA in Powell beginning in 2003! We have been very pleased with both the instructors and the instruction they have received during that time. We drive about a half hour each way to attend this academy. There are obviously other options that are closer that we could have chosen but the instructors are worth the drive! We certainly wouldn’t have done it for as long as we have if we weren’t exceptionally pleased with all aspects of the academy. I would highly recommend Master Turner, Master Pekella and this studio to anyone.

My 6 year old son, Camden has been attending ATA Black Belt Academy in Powell, Ohio for over 6 months now. Every 6 weeks they offer «testing» for the next level belt.
Camden decided that he wanted to take a break & not renew his membership at this time and attend his final two sessions this past week. Testing just happened to be scheduled for the very next week (which happened to be originally scheduled for the week prior, but the Academy chose to move it back for some reason). So knowing that he had trained the past 6 weeks leading up to his next belt, my wife paid the $ 55 additional test fee online. The payment was processed on the 18^th & We never heard anything from the academy to notify us that he would not be able to participate in testing scheduled for the 21^st.
We show up, my wife takes the boys in while I park. They don’t say anything to her, & Camden joined the other kids on the floor. When I enter they approach me & proceed to tell me Camden can’t test b/​c he didn’t have an active membership.
We’ve been w/​them for 6 months (paid in full up front), they took our testing payment days before the testing, & not once ever mentioned this «policy». Now being a business owner that provides a service to the public, let alone a Tae kwon do academy that teaches honor, integrity, respect, dignity to CHILDREN, wouldn’t you make sure to take responsibility for your mistake and make it right. Furthermore, making extra certain not to embarrass the kid by having him removed from the floor in front of everyone?
AT NO TIME IS IT EVER EXCUSABLE FOR A CHILD TO BE PUT ON THE SPOT TO BE EMBARRASSED…
As a business owner myself that serves thousands of people, I’m extra sensitive to what one bad review or experience can do to a business, but I’m also a paying customer & father to an amazing young boy that has worked hard & been nothing short of an excellent student. I’m not asking for an exception, I’m expecting proper communication and applying effort to do what is Right when mistakes are made.
One thing for absolute certainty, Turner’s ATA BLACK Belt Academy, Powell has lost my respect & will not see our family return as a customer. #VeryDisappointed #BadBusinessPractice #PoorBehavior

We referred to ATA Powell by family friends, and parents of our kids’ friends. We have found it to be more that we expected. Instructors are terrific and really good with kids. Their programs teach kids discipline and good, practical life lessons. We couldn’t be happier with ATA and I highly recommend.

Total rip off. Instructors are fantastic however they nickel and dime you for everything. Addt’l charge for next belt testing, addt’l charge for ‘tools’, etc. They also advertise you can take a two month hiatus and although they still charge your credit card, you can get a refund if you decide not to come back after the two months. If you decide not to come back and ask for a refund of those two months, they say it is given with «time» not money. So as opposed to refunding your money, they ‘allow’ you to come in for two months of training.