Date: Mon, 27 Nov 95 14:18:37 CST From: jberwin@solbrn.dseg.ti.com (John Brett Erwin) To: the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com Subject: Re: the_dojang: ATA (VERY LONG!!!) Sender: owner-the_dojang@hpwsrt.cup.hp.com THIS IS VERY LONG!!!! Well, I've seen a lot of questions concerning ATA/Songahm/WTTU etc. I thought I'd try to shed a little light on what those things are, and what they do. This may end up being long, so skip it if you don't care. (Ray, if there isn't this kind of info already, could this be the beginning of an archive of organizations? It would be unofficial, but a good resource. :) Here goes... In 1969, Haeng Ung Lee formed the American TKD Assn (ATA) which has grown into about 750 schools worldwide with over 600 in the U.S. Lee's vision was to have a completele uniform organization formed in a pyramidal structure having only one Grand Master (9th degree). He was only a 5th degree (I beleive) at the time. (Possibly a 6th). How he went from 5th to 8th degree is unknown to me, but that's a topic for another discussion. In 1983, Lee and his other ATA masters (6th and 7th degrees) decided that the Chon-ji forms were inadequate because they did not contain enough kicks in them. He then introduced new forms that fell under the name: Songahm. Over a couple of years, the new forms were introduced covering white belt up through the master level forms (8th degree). In 1994, at ATA's 25th anniversary, Lee introduced for the first time, the 9th degree Grand Master form marking the culmination of the Songahm set. Whether or not this 9th degree form is unique to Lee, or will the form used for all future Grand Masters is unknown to me. I do know that there are segments in the other Master level forms that are uniuqe to each master. For example, most of the 6th degree form is the same, except for a long segment in the middle which each Master creates for himself. To give an example of the complete, balanced philosophy in the forms here is a very simple breakdown of the white belt form. A white belt needs to learn very simple basics. Front stance, middle stance (back stance is too hard - saved for next) strike to the front (punch) strike to the side (knifehand) block high, middle, low (high block, inner forearm block, low block) kick to the front (front kick) kick to the side (side kick) That is exactly whats in Songahm 1. There are 9 moves done twice (we all know the significance of 9). The form goes in a straight line to avoid confusing turns. The first move goes forward as philosophically, a white belt can only progress forward. It's simple, short, yet its complete in techniques for a beginner. The original introduction of the Songahm forms included the official organization of the ATA. The Songahm TKD Federation was born which was a governing body to cover the growing number of schools in South America. The STF is a sister organization to ATA. In the early 90's (I can't remember which year) the World Traditional TKD Union (WTTU) was formed as a blanket organization for all of the ATA schools around the world as more of Lee's schools branched all over the world. Although the WTTU is the parent organizaion, the group as a whole is commonly refered to as "ATA" as most of it resides in America. The goal of WTTU is to promote Songahm styles of forms/techniques/teachings throughout the world and many masters have recently "converted" to ATA. Including Japanese Masters. The ATA "style" is a family oriented one to promote positive values in everyone. Constantly improving its teaching methods and instructional requirements, ATA claims to have the best in martial arts instruction. I know the requirements to certify have stiffened, but these are the ones I had 4 years ago... * Be a trainee instructor for at least 1 year * Pass written exam on teaching methods/physcology/philosophy/curriculum * Pass physical exam on curriculum * Perform a mock teaching scenario class in front of ATA Masters who are judging your teaching skills * Participate in Youth Protection Seminar (how to spot abuse) * Be 18 years old * Have a high school degree * Certified in CPR * Create an IMS (instructor management system - goals and stuff that are unique to ATA) * Teach at least 300 hours of classes as a trainee instructor * Write a 10 page thesis on some aspect of teaching that could be useful to another instructor. * Go to instructor's camp where many tests were taken. They also watched to see how you act and carry yourself. These are old requirements, and I know there are some more that have currently been put in place. There is now an ATA UNIVERSITY, for people who are teaching and want to open a school. This is a several week program to teach teaching and business and marketing skills. Each trainee instructor receives an instructor's manual (over 100 pages) that has teaching tools, curriculums, forms, requirements, ATA rules, philosophy, etc. to help the trainee become certified. In addition to the manual, ATA is publishing paperback books. One is on philosophy of Songahm TKD, and each of the rest correspond to each rank. THESE ARE WELL_WRITTEN, EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS, AND A MUST FOR ATA PEOPLE. Each rank book goes into extreme detail, in the corresponding form, and other aspects of training (kicks, strikes, one-steps, boards, sparring, etc.) I was very skeptical at first, but I love these books. Right now they have... PHilosophy, white, orange, yellow, camo, and 1st degree. ATA does urge students to compete in their closed regional, nat'l, and world championships. The students compete in forms and eitther one-steps or sparring (camo and up). Sparring is point-style and breaks are called to score points when they occur. Only contact is necessary, not trembling schock. Warnings can be called for excessive contact. Competitors are rewarded more for scoring with more advanced kicks (to the head, jumping) and control and sportsmanship is absolutely mandatory. Disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct will result in being banned from ATA tournys for 3 years. Judges at tournys have to attend clinics and past tests (3 levels) to qualify to judge. All competitors due thier current form (all the same) or may be allowed to perform the form at their previous rank if the new form has not yet been learned. Promotional testings occur at school for students typically up through 2cd degree. Black belt promotions require at least 2 people of 2 ranks higher than desired rank. This makes it difficult to get enough guest judges who are high enough rank to promote black belts to 3rd degree or higher. So, usually, they have regional or national testings the night prior to a tournament. For example, when I test for my 3rd degree, I need two 5th degrees present to judge. Guest judges from visiting schools are needed for all tests usless special circumstances. In 1990, Lee promoted himself to 9th degree Grand Master, he did so by performing a long form that was a culmination of segments from other forms and even 1-on-1 self-defense in the middle of it. He then broke 2 2" boards with an run, jump side kick. (Not too bad for a 55 yr. old with a bad back :) He did this in front of a bout 12,000 people. It was more of an innauguration than a test/promotion. I think this is becoming the standard for ATA masters to do innauguration demonstrations rather than to be actually tested. I've seen some do forms/spar/board at 6th testing for 7th. I've seen other 6th degrees only do a special form. Then again, they are already masters (as defined by ATA). 6th degrees are eligible to become a master. A minimun of one year must be spent (I suppose to achieve and define personal goals). After one year, the 6th degree is given the title through a "master's ceremony." In addition to forms, one-steps, sparring, boards, street-self-defense (uniuqe escape moves for each rank), ATA instroduced Pro-Tech, which is a complement to the punch/kick TKD. Pro-Tech has been developed, and is still developing from ATA masters who have travelled around the world to learn form masters of other martial arts. Most recently, many ATA masters have been working out privately with the Gracies (Rickson, in particular) and are developing a simple, beginner, ground fighting system for ATA members. I beleive they also learned from Remsay Perez (sp?) some of the modern arnis theory. Here are some of the Pro-Tech systems which are typically tought in seminars to give a balance to the TKD. As a program develops, different level seminars are developed. For example: Ground Fighing level 1,2, and 3. Each increasing in detail, and each may be a weekend long to absord a lot of info. Some of the Pro-Tech seminars include... Ground Fighting Single Stick Double stick (escrima) nunchaku (ssong jeul bong) long staff (bo) Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT) Sexual Harrassment and Rape Prevention (SHARP) Spontaneous Knife Defense Joint Maniputaion and hip throwing Police baton and handcuff training (I don't think they do this anymore) Other notes... *ATA is offering stock. They plan to triple the number of schools in 3 years. *Seminars on everything from joints to forms to business to boards *Karate for Kids, the Songahm forms, and ATA/STF/WTTU names are copywritten *Tournys range from 300 to 1000 on the regional level to over 5000 at world championships. *Average time to black - about 2 - 2.5 years. some more, some less. *Time at black belt = rank (4th degree - 4 years, 5th degree - 5 years) These times are minimun. There is A LOT of other stuff that I know I'm leaving out, but I think I've wrttten more than anyone on the list cares to read :) Like any organization, there are problems, politics, etc. Fortunately, I am high enough to be exposed to the best of ATA and everything it has to offer, but not high enough to be involved in "the dark side" of the upper eschelon of ATA. And the above is only to the best of my knowledge and memory. If anyone actually read this whole thing, let me know, I need the reassurance :) If anyone can write something comparable on other organizations, I think the list might like to see it. Ray, if you made it this far, do you think this is Archive material? I don't want to write all of this again. THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ THIS!!! :) E-mail me personally if you have anymore questions. I promise I'll be brief. :) Regards, Brett Erwin