Ninja School

The response you provided isn’t accurate. Master Eddie did say he was there to train assassins, although it may have been in jest. The conversation did not happen during class but afterwards.
Also, the timeline you mentioned for our communications doesn’t line up with the time and date stamps on my text messages, which is how we communicated. Also, the reference to a waste of your time to message instead of a waste of time in training would be a hard case to prove in the context of the message. You also said my son was not welcome back which was a shock as I had intended to give him a break and try again later.
The idea of a gym membership is an interesting comparison but doesn’t reflect how your business is run. This doesn’t matter to me anymore but a gym membership allows you to visit anytime you want for the number of days you pay for. Your business offers a number of lessons. Any time I have signed up for lessons, if we miss one due to closure or instructor illness, there is a refund as there is no guarantee that people will be available alternate times to make up a lesson. Your business runs differently, which is your prerogative. I simply wrote my feelings on that practice.
I don’t appreciate the letter you sent to this account bullying me into taking down or changing my review under threat of legal action. I’m am disappointed in that choice of conflict resolution.
According to Webster’s dictionary, defamation is the act of saying FALSE things in order to make people have a bad opinion of someone or something. My review was accurate and true. It was meant to describe my experience. Webster defines bullying as to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force. I don’t appreciate being bullied, especially by those who profess respectfulness as an ideal. As disappointing as a negative review may be to you, the experience and your reaction was much more disappointing.

This is an updated review
My response via email:
Ms. Arnold,
This was my experience, it is not false by any means. You don’t remember communicating with me per your response to my review on my Unilocal profile? I picked up and dropped off Bobby, my son, several times. I stayed several times in your «waiting area» as well. You may have communicated primarily with my dad, that doesnt mean I was not involved or did not understand your policies– I’m a single mother who worked late and at times could not transport Bobby to NE Portland. I spoke with you directly about our transportation issues. You said get there as soon as we could. Our negative experience was not about late fees, it was about the business closing with little to no warning, and not being able to make those days up ever. Also, what kind of martial arts training passes children doing belt tests when they’re unprepared? That teaches my child nothing. This was our ACTUAL experience. My son trains with professionals now, completely different experience. You do not have to agree, but I have the right to my review whether negative or positive. I feel both of you were rude at times and it made me feel uncomfortable — especially when another parent and I were talking in the back (Angela) and Eddie abruptly interrupted us. She and I had not seen each other in years, Eddie ruined the moment with his «greater-​than-​thou» attitude stating her child was late, no uniform… ect…big deal, doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk about it. That’s life, things don’t always go as planned. Lord knows there is room for improvement in your customer service attitude. If you want people to give good reviews, try better customer service, appreciate where your income is coming from, and don’t treat people like their business doesn’t matter and that you can do whatever you want as a small business owner. You have no right to sue. I’ll post your message about defamation on Unilocal too, so folks can see how you really are– intimidating, cold and controlling. When you attempt to take away the right of freedom of speech, you cross a line of disrespect. Nothing I said was a lie, don’t ever try to intimidate me into removing my experience because it’s not in your favor. I hope that you can understand that the way you made my family feel was not okay as a business owner and member of the community, we do not respect how your business is ran. I was aware of your policies, by the way, you don’t have your facts straight.
Peace be with you.
Now, the private Unilocal message received from Ms. Arnold, dated October 26, 2015
Dear Recipient,
It has recently come to our attention that you and a relative (Bobby’s Mother) referring to herself as «Miss B.» online, have written defamatory reviews about our business on Unilocal.
The grandparents Barbara and James signed up «Miss B’s» son, Bobby. Mrs Arnold talked to James in person about the training options and also communicated via email with him and Barbara. «Miss B» has no understanding of our business policies or how we operate our dojang, Ninja School. Therefore her review is libel, which is illegal.
Both of the «reviews» posted on Unilocal are defamation toward our business.
We are giving both of you the opportunity to take down the reviews before we bring our lawyer in to resolve this. We do not have «Miss B’s» information as she never registered her child. We are including the grandparents as a contact in this letter.
A timeline of seven days will be given to both of you to it take down from Unilocal or rewrite the reviews posted on Unilocal on March 25^th and 26^th, 2015. If you do not comply we will move forward with our lawyer.
We thank you for your promptness in resolving this matter.
Sincerely,
Alexis & Eddie Arnold
Owners of Ninja School
——
Ms. Arnold also responded to my review (please see my profile) stating she never communicated with me –which is false. The school isn’t that big to where you would forget a parent you met several times-​unless the parent was of no value to you.
Belle

I love this martial arts school, I love the atmosphere and most importantly the skills that are taught. My husband, myself and my two children have been training at ninja school for almost 3 years. My husband is now a black belt and my children and I are red belts. The classes are a combination of fun and discipline. I highly recommend ninja school because I witness first hand the impact it has on my family and myself.

We have a kid who has been training at the Ninja School for almost one year. The instructors are consistently positive. They point out what the kids are doing well and are encouraging. I have never heard anything but positive words and support for the kids who try their best. When a kid tries to kick high and falls down that is supported, as reaching beyond their current abilities. In a few classes the high kicks are solid.
Some of the skills are tough handstands and cartwheels took along time for my kid to get. With perseverance and coaching the the skills were learned.
The skills of listening, working hard and focusing are not often emphasized these days. They are at the Ninja School. I don’t think It would correct focus or behavior issues with a kid. However if a kid wants to participate and excel, working on developing their own self control is the way they will move ahead.
Amazing physical education training. Our school did not have a regular PE program and the training has been great. There are lighthearted competitive games that the kids love and gets them running.
The kids are only invited to belt test once they have shown the required skills for the next belt. Once they are invited they have passed to the next level. There is no pressure on there performance on the belt test if the break a board or not. If the show exceptional skill they may earn a high belt rank. There is no failing on test day, kids invited have shown their abilities.
Weather a person stays with the program for a long time or a few months they will gain some positives and see what is possible with hard work and commitment.

My son has been enrolled at ninja school for over 3 years. In that time he has learned how to defend himself, gained confidence, improved focus, improved his physical and inner strength, become more helpful around the house, and learned to be respectful to others in a way that isn’t taught anymore. It is a positive discipline and teaches kids to persevere and that if you work towards a goal you can reach it. Master Eddie is nothing short of a role model and mentor to him and to many other kids. We are so lucky to have ninja school in our neighborhood. I highly recommend it.