FearlessFreep
Senior Master
It was once explained to me basically that as you advance in rank, that your responsibiity and expectations also rise. Part of the motivation behind having a fee in the first place is to make sure you take the responsibility seriously and can make the commitment.
Granted, some places use the fees as a money-maker and charge more than probably should and award people belts that should not get them, just to get the fee
However, the fee doesn't bother me in itself, it's rather small to pay an occasional fee, compared to the monthly cost and the cost of safety gear and the time and money I put into just being there.
My instructor said "I'm not into belt fees to make money; I try to set them low enough to be reasonable but high enough that you take it seriously"
Granted, some places use the fees as a money-maker and charge more than probably should and award people belts that should not get them, just to get the fee
However, the fee doesn't bother me in itself, it's rather small to pay an occasional fee, compared to the monthly cost and the cost of safety gear and the time and money I put into just being there.
My instructor said "I'm not into belt fees to make money; I try to set them low enough to be reasonable but high enough that you take it seriously"