When did ATA add all of these different belts, and incorporate nunchuks & staff as requirements for belt advancement? If taekwondo roughly means "the way of the hand and foot", why an emphasis on weapons? If my memory serves me correctly, the belts in 1979 were white (which you automatically were from the 1st class), yellow, green, blue, brown, black, but now there are a bunch more, with starting with EARNING your white belt, then move through orange, yellow, camo, green, purple, blue, brown, red, and finally black. Seriously??? Why???

Back when I was a kid living in San Diego, CA in the late 70's (1977 - 1979), I was a member of the American Tae Kwon Do Association, even advanced as far as brown belt 1st recommended (brown belt with 1 black stripe). I am thinking about getting back into it after 45 years (I only stopped because my military father was transferred to TN, and there wasn't anywhere close to train), but am curious about the old schools that were around and my instructor from back then. I contacted the ATA headquarters, but after 1981 they have no record of my instructor, William "Pete" Johnson, 4th Degree Black Belt. They also had me listed under school 48, run by Scott Cescolini, but I never met him, let alone trained under him.

There was a large school in the San Diego area where the belt advancement tests were held (unfortunately, I can neither remember its name or the name of the owner), but it appears to be gone.

Can anyone help with filling in the blanks on what became of Mr. Johnson or the school I am referring to? What about Mr. Scott Cescolini? Maybe he could provide me with information on how I was listed under him? Yeah, I know, with the time and the age of anyone who was active back then, it's a longshot at best.

Thanks In Advance!

I would love to know how they decide the rings at nationals.... they dont seem to be divided equally(amount of competitors in a ring) or fairly?

My son doesn’t have an aggressive bone I. His body. He is not very good at sparring and is actually afraid of it. I’m scared that will hinder his black belt chances. What are some ways to help him get better or be more aggressive?

At tournaments when starting a forms competition the judges have 3 participants do their forms, they get a score and then sit down. Aterwhich, the forms competition begins and each competitor comes back up one at a time (including the initial 3) and each in turn is scored.

What's the purpose of scoring three at once and then rescoring the initial 3 again?

Thanks

I'm a 1stDBD and don't understand why most ATA martial arts locations at least in region 102 only use Facebook to convey info even if they have a website, I'm late gen Z and don't use Facebook so when I want info about tournaments and other things I can't access them without a Facebook account (which I'm not going to make for cyber security reasons).

So in short can any instructors/staff inform me why ATA schools only post stuff on Facebook and never on their website.

how do you clear your mind or otherwise get your head ready for performance at tournaments or testing? I hate being the center of attention and I find my balance is off, things that normally go well don’t, etc, when in the ring.

Does anybody know (or is willing to measure) what length the cord and sticks are on the tiger, kids, and adult size foam nunchucks?

Hello! Right now i'm 1BD and starting on XMA, so searching on the weapons i found the Bahng Mahng Ee, but i couldn't find videos on Double Bahng Mahng Ee XMA Performances. Can it be done? Is there some restriction about it? Thanks!

Our 9-year-old son will have his final test for his 1st-degree Black Belt later this year. He has enjoyed his taekwondo classes over the past 3+ years. That said, taekwondo isn't his only interest and isn't even his primary activity right now--he plays a couple of recreational sports throughout the year (whose schedules sometimes conflict with his taekwondo schedule) and has several hobbies that seem to hold his interest more than martial arts.

He likes his teachers and fellow students, but taekwondo is very much an "out of sight, out of mind" activity for him: he's quite focused during classes and has been very diligent about practicing for his Black Belt midterms in recent months, but for the most part he doesn't really think about or talk about taekwondo in his free time. He's never shown an interest in attending local or regional tournaments--he just doesn't think of taekwondo as a competitive activity, which is fine by me.

I confess that the demands of his taekwondo schedule do take their toll on me and my spouse. His school is in another town and does not offer weekend classes, so we find ourselves having to drive him a decent distance multiple evenings during the week--a 30 minute class inevitably takes an hour and a half out of our evenings, a 5:30 class means I'm leaving work earlier than I'd prefer to get home and get him in the car to go, etc. It adds up, and I confess that there have been times when I've wondered whether we'd just be better off transitioning to a non-ATA taekwondo school closer to home.

Our son has expressed both a desire to eventually earn his 2nd-degree Black Belt, but has also indicated that he's not in any rush to do so. I'll defer to him on what he wants to do, but I would totally be fine with him staying at 1st degree for the next few years, attending class maybe once per week to keep one foot in the door, and then letting him decide (maybe even in his teenage years, perhaps?) when he's ready to actively start working towards his 2nd degree. My guess is that's totally commonplace, but I really don't know. Is this spot-on, or am I off-base here?

(While I do like his instructors, I also get the sense that they have just enough of a vested interest in keeping students moving up the ladder that they're not going to go out of their way to suggest that someone scale back--I feel like this is something we'd have to communicate to them, because they aren't going to offer it on their own.)

Thoughts? I'm probably overthinking something that's quite normal, but I do feel like, even after 3 years, I'm still not entirely certain about how things work in the world of ATA. Thanks!

Hello!! At a recent tournament, a competitor in my childs ring yelled their responses at the top of their lungs!! When they called their name, the "yes sir" was so loud... and the "ATA" after the Charyot and kyung nae was even more loud!! As a parent , it seemed obnoxious to me. But as a judge, does doing this give a competitor an edge? Its not my kids style, but does this actually make a competitor stand out?

How many of you older students(40+) started late earned black belt and took a break? I truly miss it, but not sure I will be returning. I originally took a break because of being burnt out and thought I wanted to try something new. I quickly realized that I wasn't burnt out so much as suffering from side effects of sleep apnea. I feel great now, but have opted to advance my career by pursuing my master's degree. I won't be done until next September and am thinking about returning then, but not sure. There were some other extenuating circumstances where the instructor had to sell the school and the new instructor is awesome, but just not the same.

Moves 41, 43, 44, 46 of the form, which hand should be on top?

i’m looking to create an xma form and for those of you who do xma, where do you get ur music from? willing to pay :)

https://www.reddit.com/r/ATATaekwondo/s/tPBMdZ32jq

For all those encouraging responses. My heart is full, I took your guys advice and reached out to my previous instructor who was a 6th degree and is almost a chief master candidate

He told me that he would reach out and see if it’s possible to get me back in, no questions. I told him was kinda of embarrassed and he didn’t ask questions or pass judgement he just said, “let me see if I can help”

This is what ATA means to me! I’ll let you guys know what the outcome is!!!

Hello All,

I wanted to come here and just ask the source! I was a member of the ATA from the ages of 6 to 18

I competed a lot in my later years and even placed at worlds twice! But in my late youth I made some very poor decisions in my life which caused me to be kicked out of the ATA and get to know the justice system pretty well, if you get my drift (not related to the ATA)

The ATA has always been a part of who I am and now I’m 32 and on a completely different life path. I would say I’m a healthy and professionally successful man. My former Master and I still talk every now and again but I’m to afraid to ask him if I could even apply to come back because I feel like I let him down all those years ago

Should I just let it go, or make an attempt to come back?

I want to return but don’t know if I can or even if I should be able to

I plan on flying vs. driving to some upcoming tournaments. Any recommendations for traveling with gear and an ION portable speaker? Kamsahamnida!

Looking for advice... just started the first degree jahng bahng form and my hands are sticking to the weapon. It's summer and even with AC our school gets warm with everyone training together. Any good ways to combat this?

https://discord.gg/zKS3TzaA83 JOIN FOR HELP AND TO HELP ! TO SHOWCASE YOUR MOVES!

I’ve seen the Philippine flag at Worlds at least once. Are they still operating and does anyone know the owners/instructors?

Master Thornton is cooking in combat sparring for worlds

EDIT: NOOOO HE GOT 2ND

Hey all,

Just curious who all is going to World's this year from this group. My name is Blake McBride (41, 2nd degree). I'll be around the whole time (Wednesday - Sunday) for competition and judging/training sessions. Feel free to come up and say hi, always nice to put names to faces!

Hi everyone, Has anyone attempted to put there combat gloves and foot pads in the washer in a dedicate cycle and hang dry? I have been using clorox wipes and have also tried lysol spray nothing is getting all the stink out. I have the hd foot pads, not the former shiny ones.

TIA

My son's tournament form is chung jung 2... i thought back stance was supposed to be performed with the shoulder, hip and ankle in line ( on the leading foot) .. in looking at you tube at kids who placed and even some instructor videos the legs are super wide open..and so deep, it almost looks like theyre sitting on an imaginary chair... what is the proper technique?

With the Adidas suits having the breathable panels, one right at the lower back/buttox, what are women wearing underneath their suits? It's too hot here to wear cycling shorts but on occasion we wear t-shirts with out suit trousers so need to stick to white or skin tone but certain styles move about too much when training! Any advice for a novice please?

For my Sam Dan test I will need to break three boards that are stacked without spacers. The break will be with a closed fist and no padding.

Does anyone have any training tips?

I’m trying to get my hands on the ata xtreme magnetic double swords. I know they are not made anymore so trying to find one out there.

My grandson is in ATA karate. He's 7 years old, blue belt, and I can see he's getting it. I understand by ATA rules kicks in the head are legal but not punches.

What are the rules for kicking head / face?