MasterH

My God! Talk about MMA! Well, it gives me some background anyway. Thanks for the links, I'm still learning my way around here.

What kind of music? What MA do you study? clasical mostly. I know it sounds boring but i enjoy it. i am a brown belt in karate. Boring? Not at all. I've played drums and percussion for a number of years. We all do what we enjoy, clasical music and martial arts go well together. Don't you think?

Sweet!

ATA is the American Taekwondo Association, one of the largest groops in the US. The ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) is the original TKD org. The founder of Taekwondo headed up this groop untill his death a few years back.

I've heard of you all, Gary Bunker, a friend of mine, used to be part of your org.

What kind of music? What MA do you study?

You are correct, I only used it because that is how you asked. We call it a membership. I do my own billing via debit or credit card. I'm thinking about using a billing company because it's starting to get to be too much. I like to focus on teaching and my personal development. -- My bad, I only realized I said that after I read it later. Yea, you don't want to be the bill collector, but the teacher. Are you a part of an org or are you independant?

My instructor Grand Master Jack Pierce in an 8th Degree. He has the title of Grand Master by being the presedent of the Hwa-Rang Taekwondo Federation. I also know Master Clint Robinson 8th Degree.

I've been thinking about this, this is a big part of the problem. I really don't like the WTF style of TKD (sport) but they allow their participants the freedoom to grow outside the bounds of that org. The ITF is just in a state of limbo, 3 different branches, and unfortunetly has the best TKD, in not only style but history and tradition. And finaly the ATA has it's own thing going but put all of their students under lock and key, total control. The ATA is huge, boasts 300,000 in it's ranks. This is a good place to start to see what has happened to TKD.

I've heard that. 3 is spiritual, and 3 - three times is godlike. Correct?

Poon - interseting. Translation?

White Warlock, Do you have any info on Pancration? My spelling may be off on this. Would you concider this a MMA or an actual MA?

Contract is a bad word (via Chief Master Clark) use the term program. I was going to ask about EFT, do you use a billing company?

TKDbill, Do you do contracts? MC, BBC, Basic? Ya-know I'm getting to like you.

Hey all, We have a tradition up here in Seattle, every Friday we have a couple of hours to just spar. No forms, self defence or kicking drills, we just strap on the pads, turn up the music and FIGHT! Now my instructor is into 70's R&B, and I finally broke down and told him I'd burn an up to date CD for him. I need some music ideas. All is good, nothing vulgar (dirty lyrics, drugs, mistreating people) I'll be making a list from what you all, and another forum, so help me out. My choice is "Primal Scream" by Motley Crue.

Eternal Grand Master H.U. Lee is a 10th Degree, it is possible but only after death.

Concidering I'm near Seattle, I think $150 is close to max. Nowdays all you need is a good pitch and curriculum, get new students - keep the old. Basic buisness R & R - Recruitment and Retention.

TKDbill, Chief Master Robert Allemier, way cool. There is a big thump'n Texan for you! Muaythaiboxer, I'm not sure how it is everywhere else, but the ATA here in the Pac NW was very strict on what you can do and were you go in the Martial Arts community. My instructor had an open tournament nickname "Crazy Jack" and he was told to either quit the tourn circuit or he would never make 5th Degree, he was getting older anyway so he did the political thing and quit. For years there was a standing order that any open tourns had to be approved, very few were. I think it was just one of thoes control things. As for why they were appealing, it's a family. A big disfunctional family, but the ATA was it for alot of us. Dare I say like a cult?

Yea, I'm going in that direction. I'll need to start thinking about this stuff. Really not the best part of Martial arts.

So, does anyone here have a problem with an instructor "making a living" teaching a school full time? Even if that means charging $130-150/month?

TKDBill, I didn't mean to sound rude or anything. I know the promotion requirements for the ATA, I'm helping my mom whenever she asks. There is a Pancration school up here that teaches MMA with a former TKD instructor so when I think of MMA I think of him. And he's also a friend of mine. May I ask who was your ATA instructor? I have the same instructor as when I was in, we left the same time. You might have heard of him, Master Jack Pierce? (now Grand Master)

Just so you know, she's not my student anymore. She knows to many of my secrets and rolls her eyes when I get in my groove. (and it drives me nuts! ) We now share the same instructor.

All the ATA schools in my area DO weapons training. I also know a few ATA people who compete in MMA competions and do well. Of course they train in other arts as well. MMA, after all, is mixed martial arts. I would guess that practitioners of any traditional martial art would not fare well in MMA competitions unless they cross-train. -- An exeption to the rule. And yes ATA has a protech program that teaches a watered down version of some type of weapons program. With padded weapons. I know of no MMA ATA people, again an exeption to the rule. If ATA headquarters knew what they were doing, they'd be asked to stop. My problem with the ATA is not with the participants it's with the "Master Council" and the "Buisness Council." My mom and dad still study ATA Taekwondo.

TKDbill, You're right, unfortunately. So we move on..........

Again, it maters on how things are done in the MA or Org you're affiliated with. I have no arguement with what you said. I was a 13 y/o 1st Degree, 14 y/o 2nd Degree, 18 y/o 3rd degree. But that's how my org was structured. And I turned out.............a bit messed up, but nothing to do with being a 13 y/o Black Belt! lol