ATA Information – Performance Martial Arts Academy

Benefits of The ATA

American Taekwondo Association patch

We train our students to the best of their ability. Some students come to us in shape, while others have come to us 100 pounds overweight. Most come to us with limited flexibility. Adults start at any age, as we have had some adults who started as late as age 65, and have still earned their black belts. As a student, you are looked upon as an individual, never compared to anyone else. Our instructors will be there every step of the way. All that is expected is a willingness to try.

Here are some benefits you can expect from training in Taekwondo:

Fitness

? Self-Defense – When the speed and power developed through Taekwondo is used in a self-defense situation against the vulnerable parts of an attacker’s body, the results can be incredible. Taekwondo allows a woman to emphasize many of her natural physical strengths, such as power in the legs, while learning a method of self-defense efficient against a much larger opponent. Knowing you can defend yourself, your confidence will grow. And confidence alone is usually enough to deter potential attackers.

? Self-Confidence – This does not come naturally for many people, but self-confidence can be developed over a period of time. Through Taekwondo, as you accomplish new goals, your confidence level increases. Taekwondo instills a sense of discipline and self-confidence that can carry over to all aspects of your life.

? Travel Policy – Are you a businessman or woman whom travels to different areas for work? Perhaps you enjoy a workout while on your weekly family vacation?? Well then with your ATA membership you have the opportunity to train at our schools while you are away from home.? Always remember to check with your instructor out of respect, its always best to have your instructor obtain a training schedule for the school whom you wish to attend.

Sparing in Songahm Taekwondo

Gyeo-roo-gi (sparring) is the way that Taekwondo students prepare for self-defense.

In Songahm Taekwondo, a student first learns a form of preparatory moves known as 1-step sparring. This exchange of techniques is under strict control, and by memorizing these moves the student needs only practice distance and timing without the fear of responding to spontaneous techniques from an opponent. In this way, the basics of sparring can be safely developed before the student’s reflexes are challenged. 1-steps also help a student acquire the confidence they need for sparring with a real opponent.

Later in their training, a Songahm Taekwondo practitioner begins applying the basics they have learned from 1-steps into true sparring, which can be thought of as reflexive responses against an unplanned attack. Essentially, they learn to move beyond the predetermined series of movements they have relied upon in favor of spontaneous movements designed for true self defense.

Although we learn sparring as a form of self defense, it is also very important in Songahm Taekwondo for other reasons. It helps display proficiency in techniques, and for this reason at the Camo Belt level and beyond sparring is evaluated for purposes of advancing to the next rank. It is also an important part of tournaments, where students can display their abilities in a safe, controlled competitive environment while still showing respect to their opponent.

ATA Weapons Guide

The following are a list of the songahm taekwondo weapons approved for training in the American Taekwondo Association.

Name	Picture	Information
Ssahng Jeol Bong (Nunchaku)		The Ssahng Jeol Bong is comprised of two short sticks connected by rope or chain.? The Ssahng Joel Bong can be practiced as a single or double weapon and is admired for its speed and complex twirls.? Consistent practice with the Ssahng Jeol Bong develops coordination and conditions muscles, especially the muscles of the arms and shoulders. The Ssahng Jeol Bong, also known as the Nunchuku, once served the farmer in harvesting his crops by separating the grain from the shaft.? The farmer would beat the crop with a tool that comprised of a long staff with a shorter stick attached to the end by a rope.? During times of fighting or war, this farm tool could easily be used as a weapon. Often called a Chul Te or Dur Ree Ge, it worked very similarly to a mace.? The length of the longer shaft allowed the warrior to stay at a safer distance from his opponent and would also aid in the generation of power in a strike.? As peace time prevailed, the warriors, with little to do but train, fashioned the Cuhl Te into smaller versions creating the design we are familiar with today.
Bahng Mahng Ee (Escrima Stick)		The Bahng Mahng Ee is a short stick.? It can be practiced as a single or double weapon. Practitioners like this weapon because of its challenging partner drills and disarms. The Bahng Mahng Ee was originally used as a tool such as a leverage bar for an ancient Korean ?backpack,? a laundry stick, and an ironing stick.? The ironing stick has a very interesting history.? Folded cloth would be placed on a flat rock surface and rhythmically struck with two specially designed sticks in order to flatten the wrinkles out.? The ?ironing rock? often became a place for the women ? mother and daughter or perhaps neighboring women ? to gather and work together.? By listening to the rhythm of how a woman beat the clothes, passersby could tell whether she was happy or sad.? The daily chore of using the sticks to beat clothes conditioned the upper body and taught the women how to strike forcefully and efficiently.? It was only natural for the women to pick up one or both of these sticks in the face of danger.
Jee Pahng Ee (cane)		The Jee Pahng Ee is an extremely effective weapon.? Of all the weapons that were and, in some cases, still are implemented to aid in daily domestic chores, the Jee Pahng Ee is the weapon that is most commonly still in use as a tool.? The cane can be taken anywhere because it is mainly implemented as a walking aid, and most people are completely unaware that the cane can also be wielded as a weapon.? The shaft of the cane is swung, using centrifugal force to generate powerful strikes.? The curve of the crook and the walking end of the cane are used for thrusts, and the crook is also used to hook wrists and ankles.
Gum Do (Sword)		Gumdo (Korean Sword) is designed to give students a chance to train with the most famous of all the martial art weapons.? Its purpose is to execute justice with the light of the sword that is as majestic and brilliant as the morning sunlight on the east sea.? It is a beautiful and powerful art that originated some 1,700 years ago on Mt. Baekdu in Korea.? It has been passed down through the ages, from warrior to warrior.Unlike other martial arts, Gumdo doesn’t require advanced athletic prowess, so it’s the perfect martial art for all ages. Students learn how to perform sword forms and one-step combinations, as well as methods in which to draw and sheathe their swords. Advanced Students may also practice sword self defense techniques, bamboo cutting and candle extinguishing.? Overall, a student will develop balance, coordination, concentration and focus through training with the Gumdo.
Sahm Dam Bong (3-Section Staff)		The three-section staff is one of the most difficult and versatile weapons within Taekwondo. More prevalent in Northern Systems, the three-section staff can be used as both a close-quarters weapon, a trapping weapon and as a long-range flexible whip-like weapon.
Sahn Knat (Kama)		The Sahn Knat or Kama are traditional farming implements similar to a sickle used for reaping crops and also employed as a weapon. Before being used in martial arts, the Sahn Knat was widely used to cut crops, mostly rice. The Sahn Knat is a formidable weapon, traditionally used in pairs, though in agricultural use it would be used one-handed, whilst the other hand grasped the stalks for cutting.? As a weapon, both the point and sharpened edge of the metal blade are called in to use, while the Sahn Knat could also be used to block, trap and disarm weapons used against the wielder. The hard edge of the Sahn Knat blade would traditionally be kept razor-sharp to enable efficient cutting of crops, which made it a lethal weapon in the right hands, though this is sometimes a cause of training accidents by unskilled wielders, for whom blunt training versions of the weapon are created. It is also a popular modern forms competition weapon.
Jahng Bong (Staff)		The Jahng Bong was used in daily domestic chores and doubled as an effective weapon against larger or multiple opponents at increased range.? The Jahng Bong uses leverage to generate powerful strikes the proper execution of which increases upper body and core strength.? (The Jahng Bong, is essentially a leaver, a slight motion by the user results in a faster, more forceful motion at the tip; thus enabling long-rang crushing and sweeping strikes.) ?The Jahng Bong, may also be used for thrusting strikes and for joint-locks. The Eighth degree black belt Master G. K. Lee says of the Jahng Bong, ?Personally, I think this is one of the most beautiful weapons to watch or use.? The combination of strength and skill needed to make it a truly effective weapon makes it one of the most respected of all weapons.?
Dragon Wind Staff		The Dragon Wind Staff, commonly referred to as a Wind Staff, is a telescoping staff.? When collapsed is 24″ in length, and when expanded is 6′. The telescopic staff is a popular innovation, and was often disguised as a scroll tube. With the touch of a button, it instantly telescopes out to form a 6? staff. Pressing the button again causes the internal spring mechanism to retract the staff. A telescopic staff is a double weapon. You can fight with it as if fighting with two weapons,? a one-handed lighting fast strike weapon or a powerful two handed (long reaching) bo-staff. Please note as of November, 2009 this Protech weapon is NOT allowed for use in any ATA tournament (including XMA or Creative).

Songahm Taekwondo Forms

In Songahm Taekwondo, each rank has its own unique poom-sae (form) designed specifically for the techniques taught at that rank level. The form is part of a complete system of teaching the Songahm Taekwondo student.

Why must students learn forms? Many martial art styles have discontinued the use of the poom-sae or use them only for the purpose of testing or tournaments. This means they have taken the “do” (as in TaekwonDO), which means “the way”, out of their style. They have in essence taken the “art” out of “martial art.”

FORMS / POOM-SAE

The Korean word “poom-sae” means a “form” or “pattern of movements.” It is actually a planned series of movements that combines the physical skills (such as blocks, strikes, kicks, stances and more) with the mental skills (such as balance, coordination, discipline, strategy, focus and more). The target of these movements is an imaginary opponent of the practitioner’s own size.

The copyrighted Songahm forms have been arranged as a system to gradually increase the student’s skill, develop technical balance equally on the left and right side of the body, train muscles, and to develop students from the beginner level through the rank of Grand Master. This is why each Songahm form does not repeat most techniques more than twice and also why every technique which is done with a right arm/leg is also repeated with the left arm/leg.

These forms, designed by Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee, were the first that truly emphasized the tradition of the art of Taekwondo, unlike older forms (hyung) which were based on Japanese and Okinawan Karate forms. Not only do the Songahm forms train you in each rank, but they are also excellent for using as a warm-up prior to a work out.

The “system” that encompasses the 18 Songahm forms is based on traditional philosophy, as well as being designed for for easy memorization.

FORM PHILOSOPHY

All goals require a poom-sae or pattern. Even in life we have structured patterns. When you’re born, you learn communication and basic skills in the home. A few years later, you are enrolled into kindergarten or elementary school. Following this comes high school. During high school, we begin to decide the direction we will take in life. We choose a college and/or a career goal. This is the pattern of the first part of our life. If you choose a good pattern, you can be a success. If your pattern is poor, you may not be as successful in your life endeavors.

Similarly, your chances of success in Songahm Taekwondo are much greater by following the solid series of patterns (forms) we have developed for our students.

Basic Techniques of Songahm Taekwondo

Each rank in Songahm Taekwondo has basic techniques or moves that the practitioner must learn and demonstrate competence in before they may move on to their next rank. These techniques have been carefully developed to help the student maximize their potential at their current level of knowledge, as well as preparing them for the techniques they must learn in their next rank. In Songahm Taekwondo, everything builds on what has come before.

Although there are many moves in Songahm Taekwondo, and martial arts in general, they can usually be categorized into these types: hand movements (strikes and blocks), kicks and stances.

HAND MOVEMENTS
There are two basic types of hand motions. The first is striking, an offensive technique. The second is blocking, a defensive technique. To develop the quality of their techniques, one must focus on proper starting position, execution, rotation, direction, and ending position. To improve the power of hand movements, one can add body movements such as twisting the hips.

KICKS
The term kicks is used to describe the element of foot motion. To develop the quality of technique in kicking, it’s important to focus on the the stages of foot movements and body posture. The stages of kicking include the following: proper chamber, execution, rotation, direction and re-chamber. To achieve excellent kicking technique, movements of the foot must be combined with proper body posture.

STANCES
Seo-Gi (stances) are structured body positions. In Songahm Taekwondo, their primary purpose is a training tool to allow students to execute techniques in conjunction with various body movements. By learning stances and executing techniques from these stances, they learn to add power to their techniques while remaining stable, and also to become more relaxed in executing their techniques over time. The secondary purpose of stances is conditioning, both in muscle development and in stretching.

It should also be noted that very few stances are actually developed for combat or sparring. Given the structured nature of stances, and the chaotic nature of combat, attempting to fight from a stance would actually put a Songahm Taekwondo practitioner at a disadvantage.

Bio: Grand Master Soon Ho Lee

Grand Master Soon Ho Lee sits at the head of the United States largest single system martial arts organization, the American Taekwondo Association (ATA). His historic inauguration to the esteemed position of Grand Master of Songahm Taekwondo brought people from around the world to the ATA’s World Championships in June, 2002.

Grand Master Soon Ho Lee of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA)

Since that day he has traveled the world to honor his pledge to dedicate his life to the more than 300,000 Songahm Taekwondo members worldwide; the same Songahm family that signed a petition in his honor.

During his first year as Grand Master he has not only trained literally thousands of students and instructors in over 16 countries around the world, he has also come to a higher level of understanding for the sacrifice his brother, the late Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee made each day to care for the worldwide Songahm Taekwondo family.

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Songahm Taekwondo and the American Taekwondo Association
Songahm Taekwondo is the foundation of the American Taekwondo Association’s rank curriculum and teaching system. In addition, the ATA has developed a 300-hour intensive internship for martial art instructor development and certification. The American Taekwondo Association or ATA, as it is recognized around the world, was originally founded in 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska. Since the first ATA school was opened by the ATA’s founder and Grand Master Soon Ho Lee’s older brother, the late Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee (July 20, 1936 – October 5, 2000), over 300,000 men, women and children from ages 3 to over 70 have made ATA training a part of their lives.

Today Grand Master Soon Ho Lee oversees an organization with over 1,500 schools and clubs in more than 16 countries worldwide. Headquartered out of the International Songahm Taekwondo office located in Little Rock, Arkansas, he directs and mentors over 100 Songahm Masters.

Coming to America
In 1969, Grand Master Soon Ho Lee joined Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee in the United States. Grand Master Soon Ho Lee’s original goal was simply to expand his academic opportunities. He actually had no intentions to make martial arts a career, but felt duty bound to help his brother and became just as passionate to build this new organization of professional martial arts instructors. Though he was extremely talented, his older brother would push him each day to improve both physically and mentally. Looking back he now knows even at the early stage of training his brother was preparing him for what would become his life, his love and his destiny as Grand Master of Songahm Taekwondo. After only a short month and a half, his brother pushed him to open his first club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In fact as Grand Master Soon Ho Lee recalls, his brother just told him one day “let’s go” and it was only after they arrived in Milwaukee his brother told him of the goal to open his first club. This one club became a school and soon thereafter grew into three schools.

In 1978, he would move his family to Panama City, Florida and build what was at the time an 8,000 square foot state of the art training facility, which would include a complete fitness center and Taekwondo training center.

That training center was the center point of growth for the southeastern part of the United States. It would also become an international training center for instructors from Korea, South America, and many other international instructor development programs.

The success of his Panama City, Florida location allowed him to travel both nationally and internationally as needed for the initial push needed for the future growth of the ATA.

Looking back at each new obstacle and challenge from those early days helped him to develop the patience and mindset that would be required of him in his position as Grand Master.

Accepting His Destiny and the Nine Steps to Becoming the Grand Master
Though he realized it was his destiny to accept the position of Grand Master of Songahm Taekwondo, the news of his older brother’s illness hurt him deeply. Grand Master Soon Ho Lee explains, ‘My brother was my hero, my mentor, and my best friend. He was the Grand Master! He could not be ill, he surely could not die! My brother was like Superman to me and I knew he always trained hard, ate right and took great care of himself. We had traveled so many miles together and still had so many miles to go.”

As with the opening of his first school in Milwaukee, he soon found himself promising his brother that the vision would continue. He would leave his home in Panama City, Florida and dedicate his life even further to keeping the ATA and the worldwide Songahm family moving forward.

He would now have to complete the same Nine Steps his brother had some 10 years earlier when he became the first Grand Master of Songahm Taekwondo.

The following includes the Nine Steps Grand Master Soon Ho Lee completed and a short explanation of each step:

Step 1: The Grand Master notifies the Master’s Council in writing that he will be stepping down from the duties and responsibilities of Grand Master. In his letter, the Grand Master would make a recommendation for his successor. If the Grand Master cannot decide on a nomination, the nomination would come from the Master’s Council.**In instances of death, illness, or in the cases of expulsion, the three highest-ranking members of the Master’s Council would perform all duties, providing that they are not the nominees for Grand Master.
Step 2: The Master’s Council must approve the candidate 100%. Once approved, the Grand Master candidate would be asked to have a complete physical. Not only must he or she pass, but also their fitness level should place them in the top ten percent of their age group. Once a candidate is approved and has passed the physical, step two would be complete.
Step 3: As Grand Master H.U. Lee did, the new nominee must circulate a petition signed by 300,000 students, or sixty percent of the current Songahm membership. Every Songahm Master, Instructor, School Owner, Club Owner, and Member would participate in the process of gathering signatures. A complete list of all signatures would become a part of the permanent record, and would be displayed with the first letters so that all will know that step three has been completed.
Step 4: As Grand Master H.U. Lee did, the candidate will fast for twenty-one days during the preparation. Preparation will be broken down into four training quarters: fasting three days the first quarter, six days the second quarter, nine days the third quarter, and three days the fourth quarter just before the Grand Master ceremony. Each quarter, fasting will be documented and confirmed by a member of the Master’s Council. These documents will be placed in the museum as each quarter is completed.
Step 5: The Grand Master candidate must spend three days at the same Korean temple as Grand Master H.U. Lee did prior to his Grand Mastership. The candidate must participate in the same rituals and meditations, with silence as the goal for the nominee during these three days. A Master’s Council member will be there to document the first words spoken by the future Grand Master. These first words will be spoken from the same special rock used by Grand Master H.U. Lee at the Palace of the Warriors. It was on this rock, selected by Grand Master H.U. Lee, that he and most Senior Masters made a personal pledge of dedication, sacrifice, and focus on Songahm’s future.
Step 6: To ensure a “Strong Body and Clear Mind” the candidate will train daily, both physically and mentally. In addition, the candidate will train one day as a student with each member of the Master’s Council. The candidate must be able to fully appreciate the role of both student and instructor. Not only will the candidate gain new knowledge, but he or she will help create a tremendous force of synergy to help ensure a clear path for the leaders of the organization. The Council will train all future Masters in the name of Grand Master H.U. Lee.Daily training will include the following: The candidate must master a Pro-Tech weapon of his/her choice. The selection will be announced and documented by the Master’s Council with a letter to be displayed at the museum. This weapon must become a part of his/her daily routine.The candidate must learn and practice the ninth degree form that Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee performed for his own testing and promotion to Grand Master. The form is to be practiced in its entirety ninety-nine times throughout the year.
Step 7: The candidate must perform the ninth degree Grand Master form at Songahm World Championships. He/she must also perform a personal demonstration with the weapon of choice and breaking. The demonstration must be performed with great ceremony and humility.
Step 8: The previous Grand Master or the complete Master’s Council shall preside over the coronation and testing of the new Grand Master. Part of the ceremony will include the reading of all previous Grand Master names, and years holding the position, even if in the future there are hundreds of names in a thousand years. This list should start with Grand Master H.U. Lee. We cannot truly see the future without complete and accurate knowledge of the past.
Step 9: The presentation of the new Grand Master in his new black uniform by the current Grand Master, or by the complete Master’s Council to the family and students of Songahm shall take place at the beginning of the Master’s ceremony.

All steps having been completed, Grand Master Soon Ho Lee was elevated to the esteemed position of Grand Master during a special ceremony and inauguration attended by VIP’s and special guest from around the world.

The Vision Tour: “There is always more to Learn”
Grand Master Soon Ho Lee has set out on a Vision Tour across the country and eventually around the world. His goal is to touch as many members of the Songahm family as possible. This tour includes special training for students, instructors and masters focused on traditional values and building better leaders for the future. Grand Master Soon Ho Lee believes there has never been a time in history when the need for positive people and strong leaders has been greater as it is now.

His brother changed the lives of all those he touched by making them believe “Today not Possible, Tomorrow Possible.” Grand Master Soon Ho Lee is working to continue that philosophy by adding “That as long as we know there is always more to learn tomorrow, anything is possible.”