The Benefits of Month-to-Month Martial Arts Memberships

If you have looked into martial arts programs for your child or family, you have probably encountered the industry's most common practice: the long-term contract. Many martial arts schools require families to sign 6-month, 12-month, or even 24-month agreements, often with hefty early cancellation fees. At Ohana Martial Arts Academy in Firestone, Colorado, we take a fundamentally different approach.

We offer month-to-month memberships only. No long-term contracts. No cancellation penalties. No hidden fees. Here is why we believe this is better for your family — and why it actually makes us a better school.

Why We Do Not Require Contracts

The answer is simple: we believe we should earn your family's continued membership every single month. A contract locks a family in regardless of whether the school is delivering value. It removes the school's incentive to maintain high standards because the revenue is guaranteed whether the student is happy, learning, and growing — or not.

At Ohana, our approach is the opposite. Because you can leave at any time, we know that every family who stays is choosing to be here. This keeps us accountable. It motivates us to deliver the best possible instruction, maintain a welcoming environment, and ensure that every student is progressing and enjoying their training.

Our retention rate speaks to the success of this approach. The vast majority of our families stay with us for years — not because they are locked into a contract, but because they see real results in their children and genuinely enjoy being part of the Ohana family.

Financial Flexibility for Families

Life is unpredictable, especially for families with children. Job changes, school activities, sports seasons, vacations, medical situations, and shifting interests are all realities of family life. A long-term martial arts contract does not accommodate any of these changes.

With Ohana's month-to-month membership, you have complete financial flexibility:

• No upfront commitment: You do not need to pay thousands of dollars in advance or commit to monthly payments for a year or more before your child has even tried a class
• No cancellation fees: If your family's circumstances change, you can cancel at the end of any month without penalty
• No guilt: If your child decides martial arts is not for them after a few months, you have not wasted money on remaining contract months
• Budget predictability: You know exactly what you will pay each month with no surprises

For families in Carbon Valley — where many households are managing the costs of growing families, multiple extracurricular activities, and the general expenses of raising children in Colorado — this financial flexibility is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

Family Discounts That Multiply the Value

Martial arts is often most effective as a family activity. When siblings train together, they motivate each other, practice at home, and share a common language of discipline and respect. When parents train alongside their children, the bond deepens even further.

Ohana offers family discounts that make it affordable for multiple family members to train together. Combined with our month-to-month flexibility, this means your family can explore martial arts together without the risk of a massive multi-person contract commitment.

We also offer teacher and first responder discounts as our way of supporting the community members who serve Carbon Valley families every day. If you teach at a local school or serve as a first responder, ask us about our special pricing.

Unlimited Training Included

One of the most important aspects of our membership structure is that every membership includes unlimited class attendance. This means your child can attend every class available for their age group — not just one or two per week.

This is a significant advantage over many martial arts schools that offer tiered pricing where you pay more for additional classes. At Ohana, a student who wants to train four times per week pays the same monthly rate as a student who trains twice per week. This encourages regular attendance and faster progress without any additional cost to your family.

For families with busy schedules, unlimited attendance also means flexibility in when you attend. If you miss Monday's class, you can make it up on Tuesday or Thursday. There is no penalty for missing a class and no need to schedule makeups. Simply come whenever your schedule allows.

Join Anytime — No Falling Behind

A common concern parents have about month-to-month memberships is: "If we start mid-year, will my child be behind?" At Ohana, the answer is absolutely not.

Our curriculum uses a rotating cycle that covers all required material over a series of class sessions. This means there is no "beginning" or "end" to the curriculum — a student who starts in January covers the same material as a student who starts in June, just in a different order. Both students will be fully prepared when it is time to test for their next belt.

This design eliminates the pressure to enroll at a specific time and ensures that your child can start their martial arts journey whenever the family is ready. Combined with our month-to-month membership, it means you can truly start and stop on your own terms.

Warning Signs: When Contracts Are Used to Trap Families

While we respect that some businesses use contracts for legitimate reasons, in the martial arts industry, long-term contracts are often used to compensate for poor retention. Here are some warning signs to watch for when evaluating other schools:

• High-pressure sales tactics: "This special pricing is only available if you sign up today" — quality schools do not need to pressure you into a decision
• Contracts with automatic renewal: Some contracts automatically renew for another term unless you cancel within a narrow window
• Testing fees not disclosed upfront: Belt testing fees, equipment costs, and special event charges that add up over time should be transparent from the beginning
• Significant upfront payments: Being asked to pay several months in advance, especially before your child has even tried a class
• Difficult cancellation processes: Requiring written notices, in-person cancellation, or multiple steps to leave

At Ohana, we are transparent about all costs from day one. Our belt testing fees are reasonable and disclosed upfront, there are no mandatory equipment purchases beyond a basic uniform, and cancellation is straightforward — just let us know by the end of the month.

How Month-to-Month Makes Us Better

The most important benefit of our no-contract approach is one that directly affects your child's experience: it makes us a better school.

Because we know that every family is choosing to be here each month, we are motivated to:

• Continually improve our curriculum and teaching methods
• Maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming facility
• Provide individualized attention to every student
• Communicate openly with parents about their child's progress
• Create a community that families genuinely want to be part of
• Address concerns promptly and professionally

This accountability loop — where our quality directly determines our retention — keeps us honest and ensures that we never become complacent. When a school is guaranteed your payments for 12 months regardless of performance, the incentive to maintain excellence diminishes. When every month is an opportunity for a family to vote with their feet, excellence becomes non-negotiable.

Experience the Ohana Difference

If you have been hesitant to start martial arts because of concerns about long-term commitments, Ohana removes that barrier entirely. Our month-to-month membership, unlimited class attendance, family discounts, and rotating curriculum mean you can start with confidence and continue for as long as it serves your family.

We invite you to schedule a free trial class — no commitment, no pressure, no obligation. Come see why families throughout Firestone, Frederick, Dacono, and Carbon Valley choose Ohana for their martial arts training.

Call us at (720) 353-4557 or visit us at 8196 Colorado Blvd, Firestone, CO 80520. We look forward to welcoming your family.