How to ask my dad for swordplay classes?

I have always had a fascination (well, perhaps more of a fanaticism) with swords and swordplay. I have collected many and learned a great deal of them. My dad was recently laid off, but in actuality, it was great, because he got six checks, putting him at roughly 5.2 grand, and he has so many job offers and people who want him, he will be back in a better business by Tuesday. So that is where opportunity comes in. I have taken some swordplay classes, but they were far too commercial, and didn't even offer adequate equipment. Classes are very cheap on average, since they are traditionally taught by masters as volunteer work - not their real occupation. The equipment however, is not (let's say a bogu (armor) to start with, at roughly $650, that being the major obstacle). So, given this, how would I go about asking to start formal training?