Leadership Program
In today's world, leadership skills are crucial tools for success at home, in the community, at school and in the workplace. Our Leadership Program helps to develop leadership skills, gives students the opportunity to take on leadership roles in class, and builds self-confidence among children and adults.
Students in the Leadership Program focus extensively on Life Skills such as knowledge, humility, vision, discipline, passion and empathy. Class discussions help students to understand the meaning of these life skills and how they apply at home, at school and in their communities. Read more...
The Leadership Program also offers students advanced training in weapons and self-defense.
Additionally, the Leadership Program includes our ATA Xtreme training, which takes traditional Taekwondo to an extreme level. ATA Xtreme is an elite approach to training that blends martial art with acrobatics and performance style presentation.
Our Junior Leadership Program gives students enhanced responsibility in class and teaches them to be positive role models both at the Taekwondo dojahng and at school. Students explore the behaviors that exemplify good leadership and develop confidence and public speaking skills by giving oral reports on life skills related to leadership. They learn to set an example for others in class, to help mentor junior-ranked students, and to take on a variety of leadership roles at the Taekwondo dojahng. Additionally, they work with weapons such as the double ssahng jeol bong (nunchaku), double bahng mahng ee (escrima sticks), ssahng nat (kama), jahng bong (long staff) and gum do (sword). Finally, they practice advanced self-defense applications using ground fighting techniques, joint manipulation and pressure point control tactics.
Our Leadership Program for Teens & Adults emphasizes advanced self-defense and weapons skills. We supplement traditional Taekwondo training with instruction in ground fighting, boxing, pressure points, joint manipulation and other practical self-defense approaches. We also train with weapons like the double ssahng jeol bong (nunchaku), double bahng mahng ee (escrima sticks), ssahng nat (kama), jahng bong (long staff) and gum do (sword). Additionally, students in the Adult Leadership Program develop leadership skills that are useful in school and in the workplace, and they have the opportunity to become internationally-certified Taekwondo instructors.
Leadership Program membership includes the following:
- The traditional Taekwondo curriculum covered in the Basic Program
- The advanced training included in the Black Belt Club
- Age-appropriate leadership training classes
- Exciting ATA Xtreme classes
- Weapons training (e.g., double ssahng jeol bong, double bahng mahng ee, jahng bong, gum do, ssahng nat)
- Advanced self-defense instruction (e.g., groundfighting, joint manipulation, pressure points)
- Junior Leadership or Instructor Trainee manual containing Life SKills, Leadership Skills and Physical Skills curriculum material
- Custom uniform with the student's name on the back
- Red, white and blue leadership collar on the uniform (for juniors), or red collar (for adults)
- Black Belt Club patch worn on left sleeve of uniform
- Leadership Program patch worn on right sleeve of uniform
- Gold striped belts to signify Leadership Program membership
Black Belt Club
Our Black Belt Club is a special program for students who have made it their goal to achieve the rank of Black Belt. Students can join Black Belt Club at any age or rank, as long as they are committed to training until they reach their goal. Students must join Black Belt Club in order to progress beyond the level of purple belt. Read more...
Black Belt Club classes cover all of the material included in the Basic Program, plus additional advanced training. This training includes sparring, weapons such as the bahng mahng ee (escrima stick) and ssahng jeol bong (nunchaku), and practical self-defense skills like pressure points and ground fighting.
Students learn to use control, focus and distancing while engaging in no-contact sparring in a fun, safe and positive environment. Sparring teaches application of defensive and offensive techniques while increasing reaction time and encouraging good sportsmanship. Students wear safety gear while sparring.
The weapons training teaches Black Belt Club members to handle weapons safely through basic strikes, disarms and partner drills. This training prepares students for the more advanced weapons requirements that will greet them once they continue their training beyond the First Degree Black Belt rank.
Black Belt Club membership includes the following:
- The traditional Taekwondo curriculum covered in the Basic Program
- The ability to reach the rank of First Degree Black Belt
- Sparring
- Ssahng jeol bong training
- Bahng mahng ee training
- Practical self-defense instruction
- Black Belt Club patch worn on left sleeve of uniform
- Black striped belts to signify BBC membership
ATA Extreme (XMA)
Students in our Leadership Program have the opportunity to take traditional Taekwondo to an extreme level with ATA Xtreme. ATA Xtreme is an elite level of training that blends martial arts with exciting acrobatics and performance-style presentation. Read more...
Mike Chat, an accomplished competitive martial artist and ATA Fourth Degree Black Belt who played one of the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers on TV, created ATA Xtreme (also known as XMA or Xtreme Martial Arts.) He describes the program as "the ability to perform highly skilled moves and also the ability to perform basic moves and make them look spectacular!" This is why XMA is not only for the elite level athletes and competitors, but also for beginners at the entry level as well. It is the look in one's eyes and position of one's body that tells the story. It's not only about punching and kicking, or jumping and flipping, but more, showing strength through the mind as well as the body. To stand planted with your feet on the ground and command the attention of the audience without sound or movement, using only the look in your eyes and the strength of your stance, actually shows more power than any punch, kick or flip. That's Xtreme! With XMA we train and condition our bodies to test our physical limits, but at the same time, through this training, we also develop mental strength and tenacity to aid in overcoming physical challenges. Life presents us with many obstacles on all different levels, and XMA is here to help you feel more confident in dealing with these challenges, mentally, physically and emotionally.
ATA Xtreme membership includes the following:
- The traditional Taekwondo curriculum covered in the Basic Program
- The advanced training included in the Black Belt Club
- The leadership training included in the Leadership Program
- High-energy ATA Xtreme classes
- ATA Xtreme uniform
- Ability to create free-style open hand and weapon forms
- Opportunity to try out for the Demo Team
- Option to enter ATA Xtreme competition at ATA tournaments
