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bvermillion · 01-22-2004, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasami2000

Oh yes...I remember when I was very loyal to the ATA. I've been to a lot of ATA schools and a lot of tournaments. I've seen instructors advertise that they could "make you a black belt in 1 year" and then they tested them every month. In fact, I really have NEVER met an ATA black belt that took more than 2 years to get a black belt EVER. (Minus ones that hardly attended class and traveled a lot) Everyone is tested every two months. It's not like any of those forms or one steps are hard, and the board breaks (on the plastic boards) are not hard. I've even seen instructors give out a black belt to a purple belt so that he could go start a class/school and test up for his black belt. I can go to elemetary schools and find black belts in kindergarden and 3rd degree black belts in the 6th grade, does that not seem wrong to you? 2 Years ago the ATA actually made a separate division for 5-6 year old black belts because they were growing in number so much. My family even bought the KFK/Tiny Tigers franchise, so I know about their step by step method of making money. "Follow our way because we have 30 years of tested experience". I tried to memorize the pitch book, but even then as a teenager I knew it was propaganda. Every KFK instructor I know works at his school full time and is making a lot of money, and that's all they are doing. The ATA jacks up the prices on everything; you wouldn't believe how much they make off you at every step of the way. Point sparring is the most contact I've ever seen, a lot of them were not allowed to contact until black belt. And in the schools that allowed a little contact you couldn't hit to the head, trip, throw, hit below the belt, hit to the back, tackle, etc. The last one I saw was sad; no one could stop a punch or kick to the head because they always anticipated the attacker to stop the attack. Oh and those self defense techniques? LOL!
The facts are the ATA has become a money making business, set up so that once you get black belt they are going to be encouraging you to get your own school, that way your instructor will make money off of you. The majority are belt factories or Mc Dojos, plain and simple. There are maybe a few out there that are alright.

OK. If you are going to argue a point with me lets use facts not lies. The ATA rules for sparring dont' change they are the same from tournament to tournament.You cant punch to the head or back. Of course that isn't real world fighting. But neither is any other TKD. Unless it is modified. The ATA has great program for kids. The ATA is about personal victory. It is sorta like the army they say the person you become is better then who you were. If you find a good instructor then there will be great oppurtunities for you as an adult as well. TAEKWONDO is TAEKWONDO I dont care where you go it is the same maybe differen't rules and maybe different instructors will suck or emphasize different aspects of TAEKWONDO but taekwondo is still taekwondo. I signed up for TKD because I like the kicks I guarantee I can make alot of them work in a self defense situation. Within reason I am not gonna come at you with a jump reverse hook kick. Taekwondo has alot to offer you just have to be smart enough to know how to work it. I have also been lucky to have an instructor who is interested in other arts and other aspects of martial arts. Oh and a black belt in a year it might of happened but the ATA requires atleast 21 classes to test. My instructor requires 30. We only test every 8 weeks if you are ready. And once you are at camo belt you only half step then full step in 16 weeks. When it comes to Takewondo the ATA is great when it comes to fighting or self defense probably not. I would love to see some of these cocky people that believe Muah Thai beats all come down to KY and go a few rounds with some of are black belts. Our adult black belts are required to have a good understanding of martial arts not just taekwondo. If you can't grapple worth a crap then my instructor isn't going to give you a black belt. If you can't execute the throws and takedowns he teaches you don't move up. Its that simple. In closing I will say the ATA is good at what it does. Not many organizations can boast 30 yrs of service or the numbers we have.