Who's in ATA?

[Green Ranger]

Dear Ranger,

I apologize for sending my responce to the wrong person!

TAEKWON!
Spookey

No big deal. Don't worry about it.

[bugei]

I go to Border's ATA in Athens, GA.

[Bartleby]

The ATA is absolutely and unquestioningly a "belt factory" in every sense of the word. As a general rule, the instructors have very limited physical abilities and their knowledge is quite often sub-par. The organization is designed to take money at every opportunity and spit out "black belts" after two years regardless of whether or not the student even KNOWS the material (let alone is able to perform said techniques). It is disgusting.

That said . . .

There are a few (sparse) excellent instructors under the banner. MK, GK - the original brothers are exceptional martial artists, outstanding teachers, and genuinely kind men. Unfortunately, since H.U. stopped calling the shots (which was actually a good many years before his death), the organization's degradation has accelerated at an exponential rate. I do not see things getting any better in the future.

Ultimately, it's like the man said: it all depends on the instructor. The ATA is indeed an unabashed coal factory, but there are one or two polished diamonds buried under the stinking heap that prevent me from unreservedly condemning the organization as a whole.

[tulsatkd]

i'm new here, but I would still like to add my $0.02. Most ATA dojos that I have seen were subpar, but it is unfair to judge Green's talents based on the fact that he is apart of the ATA. ATA has some quality black belts and instrustors. One that comes to mind is Anderson's Taekwondo Academy; which I believe has a couple of World Champions on it, but I could be wrong. Regardless of they do or don't master Anderson has a exceptional (sp) program

[naginata]

i'm new here, but I would still like to add my $0.02. Most ATA dojos that I have seen were subpar, but it is unfair to judge Green's talents based on the fact that he is apart of the ATA. ATA has some quality black belts and instrustors. One that comes to mind is Anderson's Taekwondo Academy; which I believe has a couple of World Champions on it, but I could be wrong. Regardless of they do or don't master Anderson has a exceptional (sp) program

So what? Most ATA schools I know have a "World Champion" or have had one in the past. It isn't anything special. It's still abiding by the ATA's point sparring crap, and it's only a competition between other ATA participants. Now, if an ATA student went to a open world tournament and beat students from numerous different styles, then maybe I'd be impressed, but only if it was not that stupid point sparring crap.

[tulsatkd]

OK...I wasn't aware that the tournament were only between other ATA schools, but I have been to many open tournaments accross the country, and the people that gave me the most competition, besides this school from delware, was Master Anderson's TKD center.

I'm just saying; maybe Green's instructor is worth a damn. Maybe he is skills are refined enough to test for his black belt. So stop degrading this man's skills just because you think his organization is inferior to yours.You never know, he might be able to wipe the floor with both you and I

[MatthewAlphonso]

seems I got lucky as far as ATA goes...

This seems like pretty good convo, might as well ruin it now. The ATA school I go to seems pretty good (though of course since it is an industry there's a big emphasis on money making) There are three instructors here and several junior instructors (including myself) all 3 of our instructors are ex-military, one of them is Former Marine with the Force Recon (he's in charge of making our self defense) he also studied with the late Grandmaster H.U. Lee. our main instructor/school owner is ex air force and he's in charge of forms and sparring, he's also currently studying Krav Maga with 6th degree BB Mr. Irigoyen. Our third instructor is ex-navy and he helps our forms look good as well as giving us a good workout and moral lesson. Though I am dedicated to the ATA I do believe that 45 dollars a belt is rather steep. as well as everyone having to use only ATA gear and weapons, my Kama's cost $40 for a pair of oak. I think that's reasonable. However, if I had bought the foam ATA Kama's, it would have cost 60 dollars, for a pair of foam and plastic mini scythes... WTF. like I said, I guess I'm lucky I got the school I did.

[eXcessiveForce]

You must be in VA beach.

[MADDOG]

Regardless of the organization, you will always find an individual that is a poor representation of that art or the MA in general.

It would be wrong to paint with such a broad brush of either praise or scorn when one only has a single observation point.

With all that being said, I have been mostly disappointed by the caliber of ATA students and instructors that I have had the pleasure of meeting.

I will only speak for the West Coast of Florida. The ATA organization here is a McDojo that’s only goal is to take my DO.

When you go to their web site you can purchase one of their franchises and be guided on how to represent the TKD method that ATA wishes to represent.

Once again I have yet to be impressed with what I have seen from this organization.

Ed Barton
An Old American TKD MDK

[Balrog]

The best example of a McDojo is the ATA and their widespread belt factories. If the dictionary ever puts the word "McDojo" in it, it's going go have an ATA logo next to it.

And yes, you don't "EARN" a Black Belt in 2-3 years (regardless of how often you train or how hard); you "buy" it. It's the truth.

I have to take exception to your statement. I can only assume that it was made from ignorance.

You have fallen into the common trap of stereotyping, or painting with a wide brush. Yes, we have some instructors in ATA who run McDojos; I'll be the first to say that and they make the rest of us look bad. But to say that every instructor in ATA runs a McDojo is false. I can guarantee that. The only way to buy a belt in the vast majority of ATA schools is by paying for it with sweat and dedication.

And if you look around, you'll probably see a lot more McDojos outside the ATA than in.

[stonehombre]

im in the ATA to have been for a couple of years i haveta say its very money oriented on the other hand from what other people have said i think i have lucked out with my instructors he definelty knows what he is doing and when we spar in class no one counts points