Certified ATA instructor

**JKDChick** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 4:28pm

I was an ATA black belt. It cost me thousands of dollars and five years I could have been training in a real martial art. Now I may be too old to realise some ambitions because I got the real martial arts too late. THIS PISSES ME OFF.

**Aodhan** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 4:33pm

Originally Posted by JKDChick

I was an ATA black belt. It cost me thousands of dollars and five years I could have been training in a real martial art. Now I may be too old to realise some ambitions because I got the real martial arts too late. THIS PISSES ME OFF.

Yeah, I can see where that would do it.

Aodhan

**Gringo Grande** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 4:59pm

Aodhan,

Although I'm not a fan of the ATA nor a student, I do tend to be in an ATA school several times a week (they've got the nicest mats in town). I think you've shown remarkable restraint in the face of a rather unwarranted personal attack due to someone else's dislike of a system. Generally I've only seen rage like that occur when people are roiding...but I don't think that is the problem in this case. ;) Regardless, I do appreciate your composure and activity in this thread.

In all seriousness, I've observed and participated in ATA style "ground fighting" and I sincerely doubt that the "training" that goes into it could help someone protect themselves efficiently on the ground. Part if that is due to bad technique and part due to the speed/resistance to which I've seen it performed (slow and almost none). I think most ATA people trying to use ATA "groundwork" would get GNP by your average brawler if it went to the ground.

I'm sure there are exceptions to this as there are in everything else...but I always cringe when I see ATA" grappling".

Gringo Grande

**Locu5** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 5:07pm

Only Hapkido can save you now!

**Aodhan** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 5:20pm

Originally Posted by locu5

Only Hapkido can save you now!

Soon, bro...very soon.

Aodhan

**Locu5** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 5:32pm

That was meant as a joke, as I have not seen any good Hapkido. I am biased to recommend judo or BJJ in its stead.

**Gezere** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 5:51pm

*chuckles @ ATA forum thread*

I will put my knowledge of TKD and of MA against anyone of the guys on that thread.

I went to an ATA school when I first came back into the states from Korea in '93. It was my dormmates school and he wanted to show me. IT SUCKED!!! Seriously. It was a bunch of TKD Dancers. I saw that autrotious 360 degree continous roundhouse kick crap and almost cried. I told him and the instructor that they look nice but lord help them if they have to fight someone they'd get killed! I sparred my dormmate and another BB student and smoked both of them. My dormmate quit the school after that. This is the incident that lead to me skipping 4th kup and and was given a 5th kup. I went back to Korea for Xmas break and told my sabunim what I was doing. He wanted me to start a school for him in the US. I didn't and stopped doing TKD shortly after that.

**Shu2jack** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 6:51pm

Is there going to be a throw down in Chicago, Detroit, or anywhere near South Western Michigan anytime soon?

**Gezere** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 6:55pm

Check the THROWDOWN thread. Or you can come to the MEGA in ATL in Sept.

**Shu2jack** · Posted On: 7/19/2005 7:11pm

I have yet to see anything recently in my area and Atlanta is not a possibility for me. I'll keep on eye on the boards so I can participate in one closer to home.