what is bad a about ata school?

I don't bring up the ATA unless someone ask about it. Here is a small amount about the ATA. I could list much more......

After over 42 years of training in various arts, I have to say that ATA schools are some of the worst in the martial arts. It does not matter that they are polite and such. The teach crap and promote way to often for any type of legitimate training. Do some research on the web. You will find many blogs by people that are former ATA members they will tell you the crap that goes on within the ATA. IF you have a problem with a school and go to the ATA, they will just send you back to the school. One blog told of a family that joined. They were supposed to get uniforms free with their contacts. One member got a uniform that fit. The second got one that was several sizes to large. The daughter did not get one. The school told the family one would be ordered and would be there in a few weeks. Several months later they still had not uniform. The father became angry and went to ask about the uniform. He was told that uniforms were not included in the contract and that he would have to buy one.

The father also told of many mandatory seminars that were required before testing. These one hour seminars were $60 each and were pretty lame. Everything at ATA is over priced. The whole set up is designed to part as much money from you as they possibly can. ATA does not have anything to do with other TKD organizations or events.. They have their own tournaments. They do not compete in other TKD tournaments. The also do not allow non ATA people from competing in their tournaments. Every thing that they do is designed to keep non ATA people out and keep their students ignorant and away from other TKD styles.

Let me say that I rarely ever speak out against an organization or style. I find it distasteful to do so. However I'm sick of the total crap ATA gets away with. They sell black belts contracts. Their black belts are usually inferior to other TKD styles. The so called self-defense they teach is a joke. It pains me to say these things but they are true. The ATA is just a big money making machine. If you want to learn real TKD go somewhere else.

By the way..... I have nothing against TKD. I have known many very good TKD students and instructors. What I have a problem with is any school, or organization that is more interested in making money than in teaching real martial arts. ATA is a perfect example of a Shake-And-Bake martial arts organization. I have no respect for the organization or the methods it uses to keep its students as broke as possible while brain washing them into believing that they are being taught realistic martial arts. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Check out this link of common practices of McDojo. It spells out many of the tactics Shake-And-Bake martial arts schools use to dupe the public. I think you will see a lot of the same things done at ATA schools. I'm not saying that ATA is the only place that does these things, but they are some of the worst offenders.

http://www.ask.com/bar?q=ATA+martial+art...

EDIT:

And here is another example of martial arts fraud.

http://martial-arts.v.omgili.com/jmp/aHR...

EDIT:

A classic example of the terrible training seen at many ATA schools. This is really bad kata by anyone's standards. And these guys are supposed to be second dan or higher ???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhJikQm4aMs&feature...

EDIT:

nwohioguy made some good points. When I moved to Cumming, Georgia I went around to see what martial arts are available here. The area is full on ATA junk martial arts. I have trained full time most of the last 42 years. I have been teaching more than 35 years. I must say that the ATA is the worst organization I have seen anywhere. It is a embarrassment to even watch the junk taught in the local ATA schools. nwohioguys comment about the balck belts not even up to green belt abilities with other schools fits with my assessment of what is taught locally. I have witnessed at least 10-15 of the local ATA black belts that would not be considered good enough for green belts anywhere that teaches legitimate martial arts. My policy has always been to not bash other styles or organizations. But when someone ask in a public forum like this what is wrong with the ATA, I feel it only proper to come forward. It makes me sad to see how many people are taken in by the hype ATA puts out.

EDIT:

I have a friend that is a truck driver. He knows a guy that worked for the ATA. The guy was a highly skilled Tae Kwon Do student. ATA hired him to set up schools for them. He moves to an area. Then he leases a building, supervises the build out, and opens the school. As soon as the business gets up to a point where it pays the bills, he is moved on to a new location to start another school. ATA sells the school to someone that wants to own their own business. Many times the new owner is not highly skilled. Regardless, the students are stuck in a contract with the new owners. To become a ATA instructor requires that you sign a stack of contracts with the ATA. Everything is controlled by the ATA. Nothing that is not ATA approved is allowed in an ATA school. Instructors must meet quotas set by the ATA. That means that they must enroll students, and promote a minimum number of students to keep the ATA happy. They are pushed to promote often and to be promoted themselves. To be promoted they must meet the business quotas. The whole ATA system is a scam and a shame.

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the boss

I hope you have taken the time to read what nwohioguy and I wrote. You asked what was so bad about the ATA. We have given you what you asked for. If you can get away from the ATA, I suggest you look for a legitimate martial arts school.

Best of Luck!

I have been with the ATA for over 20 years. There are good things and bad things with everything. Each person is promoted based on their ability to progress. Obtaining a 1st degree BD does not mean you are the best. That is the beginning of a new journey. The training increases and skills increase after that and not everyone can progress from 1st degree up the latter. Anthony Pettis and his brother were both ATA trained. Fact is, some have natural ability that is cultivated by the ATA and some do not. That does not make the ATA bad nor does it make them the best. But they have a good program that incorporates fitness and life skills ( attitude, honesty, perseverance, respect and so forth) into everything they do. They teach kids to be leaders and how to succeed in more than martial arts. ATA has closed tournaments because the rules are far different and it creates a safer environment. No type of training is right for everyone. If all you want to do is fight, then go to a different school. They will teach you that without all the extras. I have also trained in Tung Soo Do and Kempo Karate. I like the ATA's approach much better. And, as I have aged, it has allowed me to stay active and in shape.

The Taekwondo of the ATA is not bad as an art. The way it is taught, however is what gives it the reputation it has in the Martial Arts community. More often than not, though, ATA dojangs are not operated in keeping with the traditions of the art they teach. For example, in many ATA dojangs, ability to pay, and not proper execution of techniques, is the primary qualification for promotion. Also, the policy of splitting ranks into "recommended" and "decided" seems to many people to be a ploy to get more money. If, by chance, you have found a good, honorable ATA dojang, then you are in luck.

On a side note, I personally am opposed to conferring the title of "Eternal Grand Master" on anyone (it makes me think of how North Korea appointed Kim Il-sung to the post of "Eternal President of the Republic" on his death).

I have friends who own ATA schools and many of them "claim" to teach grappling / ground defense but they do not have any true understanding of that type of art. A few of them have trained with my students and cannot do throws, grappling or even regular sparring even close to my green belts.

The ATA is not Tae Kwon Do. It is a made up system based on Tae Kwon Do. No one will recognize anyone from the ATA in rank except the ATA. I have nothing against except they lie to their students, charge out rageous fees and make their students believe they are actual state, regional, national and world champions when in fact they are not except in the ATA...but I can say this same thing about quite a few other organizations out there as well.

The biggest issue with the ATA is that they claim to have the best instructors, certified masters and so forth but in reality many of them are not even close to the understanding a decent 2nd degree black belt has at best. It is a marketing scam, fake martial art and they will put a black belt on anyone even if they just down right suck at martial arts...

In all the years I have known some of the ATA friends of mine every single one of them trains outside of the ATA to learn real martial arts but yet they run thier schools, sell their belts and keep the money flowing. That is what the ATA is all about anyway...money.

Edit - Pugs...they removed the video already. Must of hated getting bad criticism. That is one thing the ATA hates and they just get so upset with it because, in all honesty, they know the bad reputation they have is well deserved.

Edit 2 - here is a video of a so called world champion. I have a green belt his age that would wipe the floor with him easily. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1O5MQtJn9M

Here is another example...poor quality at any rate for their rank : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EsPg08-mK0

It is also sad that teach nothing but crappy weapons with made up moves...that just goes to show the fakeness of their so called art.

I just went to their web site and with no disrespect to you... they look some thing like a Mcdojo. hey if your happy there and are continuing to learn then good luck.