Episode 216
Ep. 216 - Did You Hear About the Contest?
The salient point of this podcast episode revolves around the announcement of an exciting contest offering participants the opportunity to win free entry into the Spring Nationals. We elucidate the particulars of this contest, which requires one simply to register for the Fall Nationals via ATAEZsignup.com, thereby facilitating an effortless entry into the competition. Furthermore, we delve into the significance of ensuring that all attendees are adequately registered for upcoming events, emphasizing the importance of timely action to avoid increased fees. In addition to this, we engage in a compelling interview with our Athlete of the Week, where we explore the motivations and aspirations of a dedicated martial artist who exemplifies the values of discipline and respect inherent in martial arts training. Throughout our discourse, we maintain a focus on the community's growth and the pivotal role that participation in such events plays in fostering camaraderie and excellence within the ATA Nation.
Takeaways:
- The ATA Nation podcast episode highlights an exciting contest where participants can win free entry into the Spring Nationals by registering for the Fall Nationals event.
- Listeners are encouraged to ensure they have separate logins for ATA martial arts dot com and ATAEZSignup.com, as they are distinct systems that serve different purposes.
- The episode features an athlete of the week who discusses their passion for martial arts and the importance of integrating core values into everyday life.
- There is a significant emphasis on the competitive spirit within martial arts, as articulated by the athlete, who finds fulfillment in striving for excellence and participating in tournaments.
- Listeners are reminded about the approaching deadlines for tournament registrations, as early registration discounts will soon expire, emphasizing the importance of timely sign-up.
- The episode concludes with a reminder of the various opportunities available at the upcoming Fall Nationals, including seminars and competitions that cater to different skill levels.
Transcript
Sa.
Speaker B:Foreign.
Speaker C:Welcome back, Ata Nation.
Speaker C:This is episode 216 of the Ata Nation podcast.
Speaker C:I am your host, Senior master Zach Hayden.
Speaker C:It is a joy and a privilege to be back with you today.
Speaker C:We've got a great episode and we're going to start off with the title of this episode.
Speaker C:Did you hear about the contest?
Speaker C:And you probably didn't because I believe we have the exclusive announcement right here on the ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker C:So I've confirmed with ATA headquarters that we are again running.
Speaker C:Headquarters is again running the contest where you could be entered to win free entry competition entry into the Spring Nationals.
Speaker C:All you have to do, the only thing you have to do to enter is register for Fall Nationals on ATA Easy sign up.
Speaker C:This is a simple, simple way to enter.
Speaker C:You're going anyways.
Speaker C:If you're not going, you should be going.
Speaker C:So head over there to ata easy sign up.com and make sure you register for Fall Nationals Pittsburgh so that you can possibly win free entry.
Speaker C:Free registration for Spring Nationals in Texas.
Speaker C:Last week's episode of the 18 Nation podcast, we had an interview with one of the people who won the contest that was run through world championships and the Super 20 to get free entry into this Fall Nationals.
Speaker C:So there was another individual who won.
Speaker C:I'm still trying to track them down for an interview.
Speaker C:So if you know them, you know, send them my way for an interview.
Speaker C:But that's it.
Speaker A:That's all you got to do.
Speaker C:You can win free Fall Nationals by.
Speaker C:Or, excuse me, Free Spring Nationals possibly if you just go over get.
Speaker C:Your registration is for Fall Nationals right away.
Speaker C:I believe.
Speaker C:I believe regular pricing ends like the 1st of August, maybe the 2nd of August.
Speaker A:Here we go.
Speaker C:You know what?
Speaker C:I decided I was going to do this real quick because I have one other thing I want to mention, you guys.
Speaker C:In addition to our interview today, I wanted to show you guys something real quick.
Speaker C:So if you're watching the live or the.
Speaker C:Oh, don't do that.
Speaker C:Hold on.
Speaker C:No, don't.
Speaker A:There we go.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Technical difficulties.
Speaker C:If you're watching the live or the replay on YouTube or on Facebook, you'll see here is the main page of@mental arts.com 36 days, 19 hours, 55 minutes and 24 seconds until fall Nationals begins.
Speaker C:They even took the front page of the website.
Speaker C:You guys see this?
Speaker C:It's so nice.
Speaker C:So what I want you to make sure you do, though, is notice that registration is going to go up soon, so you can go to the event registration, all this kind of stuff right here.
Speaker C:Event schedule.
Speaker C:See all the things.
Speaker C:Make sure you head over to ATA easy sign up to register.
Speaker C:This has got all the stuff.
Speaker C:But what I wanted to do is I wanted to remind everybody out there in ATA nation, you might have heard this from your instructor, you might not have heard it, you might have seen it online, you might have got the email from ata.
Speaker C:But you can no longer go to events and find the tournament standings.
Speaker C:It's going to go, no, sorry, can't do it.
Speaker C:And so you need to make sure you have Your login for atamartialarts.com Now, a quick reminder, because we've had this issue at my school already, people are getting confused a little bit sometimes on the difference between Your login for atamarcialarts.com and your login for Ata Easy sign up.
Speaker C:These are two different logins.
Speaker C:Ata martial arts.com is not where you register for your tournaments.
Speaker C:Now, depending on your local school, you might register at your school for some tournaments and then ATA Easy sign up for other tournaments, for nationals, those kind of events.
Speaker C:Almost always you're using ATA easy sign up.
Speaker C:I don't think many schools are doing it in school.
Speaker C:Ata easysignup.com so that login is not the login that you're going to use for atamartialarts.com.
Speaker C:A lot of people have their ATA easy sign up because they're going there, they're signed up for tournaments.
Speaker C:Especially those of you who are trying to keep track of your standings.
Speaker C:You probably have your ATA easy signup, you know, login and stuff saved on your phone or whatever the case might be.
Speaker C:If you go and try to use that@atamartialarts.com it will not work unless you've set up your@martial arts.com login.
Speaker C:So to do that, all you need to do is, you know, log in.
Speaker C:If you have a login, I have one.
Speaker C:So let's see what it'll do for me.
Speaker C:So it'll come over here.
Speaker C:But if you don't have one, you need to come down here to don't have an account yet and sign up.
Speaker C:All right, you're going to create your email password, all those kind of things.
Speaker C:And when you do that, then it's got to be approved by ATA headquarters.
Speaker C:And then afterwards, and I can't show you this part because I've already done it for myself.
Speaker C:After you've done that, you're going to have to attach your ATA number to your account.
Speaker C:Attach your ATA number to your account.
Speaker C:So that will be something that you're going to need to do because then if you haven't used ata easy or excuse me, @mental arts.com there's a lot of other things on there.
Speaker C:So now you can see I've got some other things because I am a licensee.
Speaker C:So I'm already logged in.
Speaker C:I'm going to click here.
Speaker C:Now I can see the standings.
Speaker C:Now I can see all these great standings.
Speaker C:Go to world standings, see what's going on.
Speaker C:Boom, boom, girls, blah blah, blah.
Speaker C:Okay, so that's what you need to do if you've been like, hey, what happened to these standings?
Speaker C:I'm not sure, where'd they go?
Speaker C:All that kind of stuff.
Speaker C:So get your ata martial arts.com standing or excuse me, login now.
Speaker C:We had somebody asking here, any plans for single sign on?
Speaker C:That's a great question.
Speaker C:I am not privy to that information.
Speaker C:But I'll tell you, I know ATA headquarters wants to make sure that we have a great tech system for you guys.
Speaker C:They have invested a lot over the last couple of years and are continuing invested a lot in helping tournament system streamline a lot of you.
Speaker C:If you're involved on the back end of tournaments like the data entry team, they've had some adjustments there that they're working towards improvements.
Speaker C:I know ATA headquarters has had some new phases of their database and all their stuff start to roll out.
Speaker C:So I don't know for sure that they're planning on a single sign on.
Speaker C:I would not be surprised if that's on on the roadmap.
Speaker C:But there are lots of moving pieces and as nice as tech is in.
Speaker A:A lot of ways.
Speaker C:When you're upgrading, you know, building something from scratch is often newer than moving old systems to new systems.
Speaker C:So let's be patient with them.
Speaker C:Make sure that you're just keeping track of your stuff.
Speaker C:That login for atamartialarts.com actually gives you access to a lot of other things too.
Speaker C:So I would really encourage you not, not just so that you can look at your standings on there, but it gives you access to your own profile and then some videos and stuff that you can look at.
Speaker C:Especially if you're a legacy student.
Speaker C:There is a lot of awesome content on atamartialarts.com that you should be checking out.
Speaker C:So I would encourage you to do that.
Speaker C:It's a part of your membership, it's something that you have there.
Speaker C:So that gives me just some of that news, updates, those kind of things.
Speaker C:But this week, our athlete of the week I'm really excited about because a lot of, you know, we focus on The ATA a lot with the athletes that are younger and then black belts, you know, who are competing for top 10 and tournament champions and all those kind of things.
Speaker C:This week we have an adult and a color belt.
Speaker C:So let's get to that.
Speaker C:That interview.
Speaker A:AT T Nation.
Speaker A:Excited to have another awesome athlete of the week with us.
Speaker A:Sir, can you introduce yourself for us?
Speaker B:Of course.
Speaker B:My name is Chris Boning.
Speaker B:I am representing Team Howard out of Manchester, Missouri.
Speaker A:Excellent.
Speaker A:And give us a.
Speaker C:A little background.
Speaker A:What got you started in martial arts?
Speaker B:Sure, martial arts.
Speaker B:I've always been interested ever since I was a little kid, probably around six years old.
Speaker B:I started studying ishino karate.
Speaker B:Stopped that around high school, and always stayed in combat sports, but recently got into taekwondo about two years ago when my son entered or started, and then just brought the bug back and became a giant obsession.
Speaker B:And now I'm an instructor and have all these goals in front, in front of me.
Speaker A:So that's fantastic.
Speaker A:When.
Speaker A:When your.
Speaker A:I think you said your son.
Speaker A:When your son started, did you jump right back in or did you let him start a little bit and then you were like, okay, I gotta go back.
Speaker B:I think he got his first belt.
Speaker B:And I was like, you know what?
Speaker B:I think I want to try because there were several adults at Howard's.
Speaker B:Several adults train at Howard.
Speaker B:So I was like, you know, I think I can still do this.
Speaker B:And I got in there, and like I said, I just caught the bug and became a giant obsession.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker B:Good.
Speaker A:Well, I mean, obviously it sounds like it's something.
Speaker A:Martial arts has always been something that's in your blood.
Speaker A:You know, you're doing it.
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:Before we talk about, like, goals, things like that for you, what is it about martial arts that is, you know, just like, something you want to do?
Speaker B:I think it's the competitiveness.
Speaker B:You know, I'm just.
Speaker B:I have to compete at something or be working towards something in my life or else I feel, like, not useless.
Speaker B:But I feel like I'm just missing something a part of me is missing.
Speaker B:So I think that the way that ATA structures everything, you know, keeps everybody safe, but you still have that competitive aspect of it, which I love.
Speaker A:So, yeah, yeah, It's a little different than, like, I mean, as an adult,.
Speaker C:Most of us adults, I still got.
Speaker A:To get up and go to work.
Speaker A:You know, I can't cage fight every weekend.
Speaker A:I can't, you know, like, I still get the excitement, get to do the competition, but I got to live life.
Speaker A:I got to take care of my kids.
Speaker A:I got to do These things, so.
Speaker B:That's awesome.
Speaker A:So what belt are you?
Speaker B:I'm about to be a blue belt.
Speaker B:We're testing here in like two weeks, I think.
Speaker A:Nice.
Speaker C:Very good.
Speaker A:Okay, I think I have my guess, but I'm going to have you.
Speaker A:What's your favorite, like, event when you're doing, you know, we got foreign sparring, combat, all these different things.
Speaker A:What's your favorite thing?
Speaker B:Traditional sparring, for sure.
Speaker B:But I love combat sparring too.
Speaker B:Like, I, it's my first taste of that, and at first I, I didn't enjoy it as much, but as I've gotten long in it, I, I really enjoy combat sparring too.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Yeah, Yeah, I, you know, I, I was guessing traditional sparring just from your background.
Speaker A:I was like, okay, I think, I think traditional sparring is gonna be the thing.
Speaker A:And I can totally understand, like, starting out combat sparring.
Speaker A:You know, I, I been around the ATA and we didn't have combat sparring forever.
Speaker A:And, you know, starting like, okay, this is fun.
Speaker A:It's a little.
Speaker A:Take some getting used to nowadays.
Speaker A:I don't know how it is there, but for my school, it is a great, like, introduction to sparring for people, you know, especially kids that are like, I don't want to get hit.
Speaker A:Well, hit with a stick is a much different thing than getting punched or kicked or whatnot, so.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:That we always call it.
Speaker B:You're getting hit with a pool noodle.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And they, they're all about that.
Speaker A:I mean, they don't mind that.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:So you, you said you got a bunch of goals, you know, instruction, all those kind of things.
Speaker A:So obviously, you know, you've been doing this for a little while and you got that obsession.
Speaker A:What's kind of the, on the, on the short term goal side before we.
Speaker B:Go to long term, short term would be district champ.
Speaker B:Last year I was, I finished second in everything in state and I wasn't able to make it to district championships, so I wasn't able to actually compete.
Speaker B:So I kind of had that, this question mark about there.
Speaker B:I finished second in nationals, so I have this, this second place thing hanging over my head.
Speaker B:So this season I'm focused on the state district and national and then eventually, obviously world champ when I get to my black belt and able to.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Start traveling and doing that thing.
Speaker C:Do you have.
Speaker A:So state district nationals.
Speaker A:Those are the ones you can do now as a colored belt.
Speaker A:You know, though, you're focused on Those and nice.
Speaker A:Missouri.
Speaker A:I mean, St. Louis, you get a nationals there.
Speaker A:No, Problem is a great year, they don't have one.
Speaker B:I think it's Pittsburgh and.
Speaker A:Oh, you're right.
Speaker A:You're right.
Speaker A:This tournament season, I forgot.
Speaker A:This tournament season is not in St. Louis.
Speaker A:Next calendar year, it's.
Speaker A:It's in St. Louis.
Speaker A:You're right.
Speaker A:I forgot that I was on my calendar instead of my tournament season.
Speaker B:I wish it was here.
Speaker B:I don't know if, like you said, having the full time job, sometimes it's difficult to.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:To travel.
Speaker B:But we're, we're trying to integrate that for sure.
Speaker A:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:What about black belt?
Speaker A:You said, so what are you about a year off from there or.
Speaker B:I say I'm about halfway.
Speaker B:Yeah, I would say I'm about halfway.
Speaker B:Like I said, I am a full time instructor, so I have been instructing for about a year, so that helps me with mat time.
Speaker B:I'm in there five days a week.
Speaker B:Sometimes.
Speaker B:I'm training multiple classes, so I, you know, I train with, with the black belts.
Speaker B:I'm not in the black belt club anymore, so I'm constantly fighting guys that are 18 years old and way faster than me.
Speaker B:So it's good for, you know, just keeping me fresh for tournaments and stuff, so.
Speaker A:Oh, man, then you'll be ready.
Speaker A:You'll be jumping right into that, you know, TOC competition.
Speaker A:You'll be like, oh, get me right in there.
Speaker A:Get me right in there.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:I mean, I really wish I could have done it this year.
Speaker B:I, you know, just in my age bracket, I feel like I got a good chance, so.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:I mean, it's a.
Speaker A:When you go to tournaments.
Speaker A:So I've got some adult color belts that are competing right now, and they're, you know, one of the things they're really like, they want to do the team sparring.
Speaker A:We, we get them already in our school, we get them started in team sparring even before they can compete at a tournament in team sparring.
Speaker A:And they're like, oh, man, we got to do that.
Speaker A:We got to get our black belt so we can do team sparring.
Speaker A:Is that something that you're like, on to?
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Yeah, Absolutely.
Speaker B:That Howards have already kind of recruited me for it.
Speaker B:Even when we did, when we had our tryouts.
Speaker B:Yeah, we just did our three schools.
Speaker B:We didn't really expand outside, but they had me in there judging.
Speaker B:They had me in there doing all kinds of different things.
Speaker B:So they're, they're really gearing me up.
Speaker B:They already know my goal, so they're gearing me up already.
Speaker B:To.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:That way you can, you hit the ground running.
Speaker A:When it, you get that black belt,.
Speaker C:You're already prepped, you got all the.
Speaker A:Training in, you're ready to just go right into competition, which is a great way to go.
Speaker A:I mean, that's not an easy, not always easy for people to do, but it sounds like with your background, with what your goals are, you're, you're taking the steps that you need to, to step right in and be able to achieve those goals.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:I feel like the Howards are, they're great.
Speaker B:I mean, you know, Chief Master Howard or so is the Senior Master Howard, Rob Howard, he, you know, he raised three respectable young men, so you can learn a lot from those guys and.
Speaker A:Yeah, well, I know Master Howard's gonna be at Pittsburgh helping with Senior Master Aaron Lee doing the, I believe it's senior master.
Speaker B:The kickboxing.
Speaker A:Kickboxing, yeah.
Speaker B:I'm excited about that.
Speaker B:I wish I could go and see what it.
Speaker B:I was kind of asking him today, is that a set in stone thing or are they just kind of introducing that at the seminar?
Speaker A:I think it's just a thing they're, they're showing.
Speaker A:I know Senior Master Aaron Lee is a big kickboxing guy, done a lot of training.
Speaker A:He was actually not that long ago was in Thailand.
Speaker A:I think he was there for almost a month doing some training and stuff.
Speaker A:And so just showing it, teaching some people some new stuff, just, you know, experimenting and that kind of stuff.
Speaker A:So I would tell people, you know, if that's something that interests you, if you can go to nationals, that's going to be a great seminar because I know Master Lee is on top of things.
Speaker A:And then I just saw he's got some great other masters helping him with that seminar.
Speaker A:So it's going to be pretty awesome.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's exciting.
Speaker B:Howard was talking about that today.
Speaker B:I know he's excited to head out there and see what it's all about too.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker C:Yeah, yeah, it should be, it should be really great.
Speaker A:We got some talented martial artists across the ata, that's for sure.
Speaker A:Got it.
Speaker B:For sure.
Speaker A:What for you, as you know, you're an adult in martial arts, you've got your, your kid, you've been traveling, doing this training, really setting these big goals.
Speaker A:What do you mean to you to be an athlete that goes beyond the belt?
Speaker B:Being an athlete beyond the belt, That's a great question.
Speaker B:I mean, I, I take a lot of the, the core values and just integrate them into my life and it's, it's kind of seamless.
Speaker B:You know, as, as you're training and you continue to train and you practice those values in class, it just seamlessly translates over into your regular life using, yes, sir, no, sir.
Speaker B:Yes, ma'.
Speaker B:Am.
Speaker B:You know, just all the respect and the discipline.
Speaker B:I think really, to me, being a martial artist is more than just kicking people in the head, obviously, it's.
Speaker B:It's taking those core values and applying them to your life and then teaching them if you can.
Speaker B:You know, to me, that's what it is.
Speaker B:Taking that knowledge and passing it on to people so we can have more and more individuals interested in martial arts.
Speaker B:To me, I feel like it should be a requirement as a child to take some sort of martial art.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I mean, it's great to hear, you know, using it in your own life, sharing it with others.
Speaker A:I mean, that's a lot of times there are, there are adults that are like, ah, I don't need to work on the.
Speaker A:I mean, we can always work on being more respectful, being more disciplined, you know.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:I was at a kid's birthday party and I had a piece of cake.
Speaker C:I probably should have skipped the cake.
Speaker A:My discipline was lacking a little today.
Speaker A:But we, you know, it's something we can all work on and then like sharing it, you know, that, that is a big deal.
Speaker A:You know, I don't think anybody will ever get to the point where we're like, you know what, the world is too respectful.
Speaker B:So, no, it's a call to practice for a reason.
Speaker B:In my opinion.
Speaker B:It just never stops.
Speaker B:It's constantly, it's a constant thing for me.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker A:Yes, sir.
Speaker A:I love it.
Speaker A:Awesome.
Speaker A:Well, hey, congratulations on being chosen as an athlete of the week and good luck on those goals this year, sir.
Speaker B:Thank you, sir.
Speaker B:Appreciate it.
Speaker A:Oh, I think it's super cool when.
Speaker C:We have athletes of the week that are different ranks, different ages.
Speaker C:If you are interested in being an athlete of the week, you need to reach out to one of the ATA brand ambassadors.
Speaker C:They are the people who will connect you, make sure they, they vet you, make sure that you're, you know, an athlete that's doing the work, you know, showing, representing well.
Speaker C:Hey, Canada, nice to see you.
Speaker C:Thanks for tuning in, guys.
Speaker C:Ladies, gentlemen, instructors, students, parents, make sure you are registered for all nationals at easy sign up because you might then win free entry for competition at Spring Nationals.
Speaker C:Can't go wrong just like magically winning a no free entry because you went to a tournament you are going to.
Speaker C:All we were ready to go to so get signed up right away.
Speaker C:We don't want you to miss out on the opportunities there.
Speaker C:Headquarters is just going to do a better job of getting all the data and information to you.
Speaker C:If you do a good job of registering on time early, you know, those kind of things.
Speaker C:If you are a.
Speaker C:Someone doing the training, make sure that.
Speaker A:You get registered for that as well.
Speaker C:Licensees, if you're using your training credits, make sure you do that in time so you can and get those registered and, and, and taken care of.
Speaker C:I know that there is what's three days left.
Speaker C:It says for early registration.
Speaker C:So the, the noon September 2nd is when the price is going to go up or registration for Fall National.
Speaker C:So don't miss out on that.
Speaker C:I would love to see you there.
Speaker C:We're excited.
Speaker C:My staff is going to be there.
Speaker C:We're doing all kinds of awesome stuff with Fall Nationals.
Speaker C:Pittsburgh is amazing.
Speaker C:You're not going to want to miss it.
Speaker C:I. I have been.
Speaker C:You know, last week I gave you a little update and I wanted to get some feedback from you guys.
Speaker C:If you want to help in kind of a.
Speaker C:A challenge to keep me accountable as I'm gearing up to do my final midterm at Fall Nationals.
Speaker C:I'll be there doing that midterm.
Speaker C:I came down with a head cold last week and man, I was down for a little while.
Speaker C:So I've been doing a little bit of work, but not as much this week.
Speaker C:We're really gearing back up.
Speaker C:I gotta really work my cardio.
Speaker C:My individual section of my form are.
Speaker C:Those are the two things that I really need to spend a lot of time on.
Speaker C:So that's what I'm working on as I gear up for training for Fall Nationals.
Speaker C:What are you gearing up for?
Speaker C:I hope some awesome competition, some great training.
Speaker C:Oh, guys, I was gonna.
Speaker C:I was gonna sign us out right now, but I forgot.
Speaker C:If you haven't checked it out on socials today, there's a great video from Senior Master Pino about the Clash of the Blades.
Speaker C:Clash of the Blades.
Speaker C:This is a great seminar you can take at Fall Nationals.
Speaker C:You're going to get to do some gumdo sparring skills.
Speaker A:Really cool.
Speaker C:So definitely something you might want to check out.
Speaker C:Head over there to atamartialarts.com to check out the, you know, the schedule, the events, those things coming up, and then head over to ata easy signup to make sure you get registered for the tournament.
Speaker C:That's going to wrap it up for us today.
Speaker C:I am thrilled that we are being able to do these live every Monday Central standard time, noon.
Speaker C:You can always, always catch the replay on Facebook right away.
Speaker C:And then, of course, the replays, the video are always available on YouTube and those will stay there forever.
Speaker C:And, and your favorite podcast feed, you can listen to the audio.
Speaker C:Make sure you check it out on your favorite podcast feed, so don't miss out on that.
Speaker C:And until next time, get out there and go beyond the belts.
