Episode 219
Ep. 219 - We Report Live from ATA Headquarters in Little Rock
I provide the primary update from the Songam Academic Program in Alaska. I report that Grandmaster M. K. Lee and Chief Master Skiles led instruction and that students received intensive training, demonstrations, and mentorship. We describe cultural and practical activities such as fishing, salmon dissection, and the slippery salmon race that complemented the martial arts curriculum. I announce upcoming events at ATA headquarters in Little Rock, including Camp Jahng Soo, the H. U. Lee Classic, and Fall Nationals, and I remind listeners about registration and point-verification procedures. I note an upcoming interview with Chief Master Taekwon Lee for licensees and encourage licensees to tune in and engage with the resources at Songam University and headquarters.
Transcript
Sam.
Speaker A:Foreign.
Speaker B:Nation as you may notice, I am not in my normal studio today.
Speaker B:I am in Little Rock, Arkansas in the training room for some of the licensee things that happen and whatnot here.
Speaker B:Welcome to episode 219 of the Ata Nation podcast.
Speaker B:This is senior master Zach Hayden and I am your host for this wonderful journey we are on here in ATA Nation.
Speaker B:I got to come down to Little Rock.
Speaker B:I spent this morning interviewing Chief Master Tyquan Lee for the licensees.
Speaker B:So if you're a licensee, be aware that we have an interview coming out later this week.
Speaker B:I believe it's going to come out on Thursday.
Speaker B:I'll let you guys know for sure.
Speaker B:But licensees be ready for that great interview with Chief Master Lee.
Speaker B:Anyways, I was down here for this event and so I was like, hey, I should go live from headquarters for the podcast episode.
Speaker B:So I was like this, this, this background is fantastic.
Speaker B:I can't go wrong with being here at headquarters.
Speaker B:To just bring in the introduction of today's podcast, we have our update from the Song Academic program in Alaska.
Speaker B:We've got both a video from them and an interview that we did with those guys there.
Speaker B:I got a couple reminders I'm going to hit here in the middle, but before we go to our reminders, I want to of do the recap video of what happened last week at the Songam academic program.
Speaker B:So let's hit that real quick.
Speaker A:World Champlain still teaching tricks, jumping in the air and doing kicks Chief Master Skiles came to perfect our forms training us how to perform like a black belt on and off the floor Respectful, brave, clean and strong Some think we're crazy for passing that test When a black belt comes along, you know they'll give it their best both on and off the floor.
Speaker A:Mr. Richards filling our minds from philosophy to breaking boards Maggie fills us to the gills with salmon and halibut and Alaskan meals Fueling us to be the best we can be both on and off the floor Respectful, brave, clean and strong Something we're crazy for passing that that's when a black belt comes along, you know they'll give it their bawing on the floor.
Speaker A:Half our group with Singing Master Hill in Anchorage to express take Wild's mental stress Because a black belt is more than a rank, it's an honor and responsibility both on and off the floor Respectful, brave club clean and strong Some think we're crazy for passing that test When a black belt comes along, you know they'll give it their best both on and off the floor.
Speaker A:Salmon life started.
Speaker A:Salmon dissected in the classroom.
Speaker A:Finish the week with a slippery salmon race where we race with friends and salmon sliding all over the place.
Speaker A:Respectful, brave, clean and strong.
Speaker A:Some think we're crazy for passing that chest.
Speaker A:When a black belt comes along, you know they'll give it their pass on and off the floor.
Speaker A:Ending the week with a bang.
Speaker A:Grandmaster MK Le can it teach us what it means to be a black belt?
Speaker A:On and off the floor,.
Speaker B:Guys, how cool is that?
Speaker B:Chief Master sky was there.
Speaker B:Grandmaster MK has returned.
Speaker B:This next week's episode of the podcast, we will have some information on how that went, some interviews with the guys up there on the adventure they had with Grandmaster mk.
Speaker B:We're going to talk about it a little bit in the episode today.
Speaker B:But before that, I want to remind you of a couple things.
Speaker B:Number one, next week, Fall Nationals.
Speaker B:Who's pumped?
Speaker C:I am.
Speaker B:I've got my seminars planned.
Speaker B:I've got.
Speaker B:I'm going to midterm out there.
Speaker B:I got my judging.
Speaker C:I'm going to be doing.
Speaker B:It's going to be a lot of fun.
Speaker B:If you haven't registered, you can still, you can go and register on site.
Speaker B:They'll let you do that.
Speaker B:Okay, you can totally do that.
Speaker B:But now it's time to start looking to the future events that are coming afterwards.
Speaker B:And so we've got Camp Jongsu down here in Little Rock at ATA headquarters.
Speaker B:You'll, some of the times you'll be in this room doing some training.
Speaker B:And then on the other side of this wall is the big workout, big workout floor where the school here is.
Speaker B:And you'll be working out there then, too.
Speaker B:So Camp Jiangsu, definitely something you want to look into.
Speaker B:I think there are still some spots available.
Speaker B:I know it fills up pretty quick.
Speaker B:And that weekend then also is the Hu Lee Classic.
Speaker B:This is an opportunity to raise funds for the Huli Foundation.
Speaker B:It's an opportunity to come down here to Little Rock and enjoy our home.
Speaker B:Come to our headquarters, check it out, see the place.
Speaker B:Get to go and do a tournament in the same location that we used to have World championships, the same location that Eternal Grandmaster got promoted to 9th degree.
Speaker B:Get to see the Huli Gate and Garden.
Speaker B:Go to some of my favorite, you know, places around Little Rock.
Speaker B:I was, you know, I'm here.
Speaker B:I go to the Flying Fish when I'm here.
Speaker B:Gotta get hit, you know, Hertz donuts, all these kind of places.
Speaker B:You don't want to miss out on the opportunity to go to the Huly Classic because one, it's a great fundraiser for the Hula Foundation.
Speaker B:Two, it's an A plus tournament so you can get some bonus points from that.
Speaker B:And three, you get to come to the home of song on Taekwondo, Little Rock, Arkansas and get to experience headquarters and kind of being home here.
Speaker B:So I always love coming to headquarters.
Speaker B:I was, you know, got to Little Rock yesterday, walking around downtown and I actually was talking to a Chief Master Lee this morning.
Speaker B:Little Rock is getting ready to do some big redevelopment stuff.
Speaker B:In some areas they got a new something that happened when they they changed the highway or whatever.
Speaker B:There's some green space that they're going to be turning into some cool sports and event kind of things there.
Speaker B:They're going to be redoing some areas down here.
Speaker B:So there's going to be even more revitalization over the next couple years.
Speaker B:So make your plans to come to the Huli Classic.
Speaker B:I know you can go over to haeasysignup.com and register there, talk to your instructor about it.
Speaker B:All kinds of great things going on with that.
Speaker B:So those are two of the things that we have coming up soon.
Speaker B:And I know tournaments are in full swing.
Speaker B:I was a tournament this last weekend and there are like so many events over the weekend.
Speaker B:Make sure you're double checking your points after they come in and then when it's time to like if there's an issue with them, there is a form that you need to fill out to get that information corrected.
Speaker B:If there's an issue, don't just send an email.
Speaker B:There's a specific form.
Speaker B:It makes it much easier for headquarters follow up with.
Speaker B:We want to make sure those are getting done well.
Speaker B:So keep an eye out on that.
Speaker B:And licensees, make sure you tune into the episode we have for business beyond the mat coming up with Chief Masterly because we'll talk a little bit more about that and some updates that are continuing to be worked on now.
Speaker B:I did an interview with two, three people from Alaska.
Speaker B:Two of them were at the in Anchorage.
Speaker B:In the video we just showed, you can see that they were doing some demos and stuff like that.
Speaker B:So we talked a little bit about that.
Speaker B:Talked about the slippery salmon race which was in the video as well.
Speaker B:So let's get to that interview now.
Speaker C:ATA Nation.
Speaker C:I am super excited.
Speaker C:We have our update from week two at the Songam Academic Program in Alaska.
Speaker C:I for those people who were listening last week, I know some of you guys were gone.
Speaker C:Let's do some introductions first so whoever wants to start.
Speaker D:Hi, my name is Joseph Hillis.
Speaker D:I Go to school in low pass here.
Speaker D:I'm 13 and I'm a first degree black belt.
Speaker D:So.
Speaker D:Hi, my name is Kennedy Jenkins.
Speaker D:I am a third degree.
Speaker E:I am 12 and I go to.
Speaker B:School in willpass year.
Speaker E:I'm a royal humbucker third degree black belt.
Speaker E:I go to school in Whale pass.
Speaker E:Oh, I forgot.
Speaker C:Okay, so we have all Whale Pass natives here today.
Speaker C:I know some of you, if not all of you, were away last week at an event.
Speaker C:I'm going to have you talk about that in just a second.
Speaker C:But more importantly for me, there was this salmon plate race thing.
Speaker C:What was that again?
Speaker C:And were you guys there for that?
Speaker C:Did you make it back in time for the.
Speaker C:What was it called?
Speaker C:Slippery salmon Race?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker D:So Kennedy and I were in Anchorage for that, but Aurora was there for that.
Speaker E:So I want to the slipper.
Speaker E:I want to the slippery salmon race.
Speaker C:And how did it go?
Speaker C:Did.
Speaker C:Did ata perform well at the slippery salmon race?
Speaker E:I would say so.
Speaker E:I mean, our other kids did really well.
Speaker E:Me, not so much.
Speaker C:There's some video that people will check out of the celebrity Sam race.
Speaker C:I know it was on my mind all week long.
Speaker C:I might be sarcastic a little bit, but.
Speaker C:So the.
Speaker C:You other two were in Anchorage.
Speaker C:What.
Speaker C:What was going on in Anchorage last week?
Speaker D:So what we were doing, we were presenting Taekwondo for teachers, principals, or anyone else that works for school or district serve.
Speaker D:And we were trying to extend this program out throughout the state and teach the teachers the benefits what this program brings to all their students and how it could help them advance their students.
Speaker D:Sir,.
Speaker C:So the time in Anchorage, we saw the demo going on, I know Senior Master Hill probably did a bunch of the talking.
Speaker C:Did you guys do any of the talking about the program at all as well?
Speaker D:A little bit, sir, yeah.
Speaker C:Did you tell them your favorite part?
Speaker C:What's your favorite part?
Speaker D:Probably all like the.
Speaker D:All the high ranks coming up.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Speaking of, I know Grandmaster is there.
Speaker C:Grandmaster MK Lee is up there.
Speaker C:What is it like having grandmaster there for you guys?
Speaker D:It's really nice having him up here and teaching us inside the classroom or outside in Taekwondo.
Speaker D:It's really helping us expand our futures in Taekwondo.
Speaker C:Sir, have you got to take him on any Alaska adventures, any trips, things like that that he's gotten to do up there?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker D:Actually, yesterday we were just out fishing with him until early morning to late and we caught a lot of.
Speaker D:A lot of halibut, so.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:So does he seem like he's enjoying himself?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker E:Yes, sir.
Speaker E:I would say so soon.
Speaker C:Okay, very good.
Speaker C:How.
Speaker C:How much longer is Grandmaster going to be there with you guys?
Speaker D:Until Thursday.
Speaker C:Wow, that's awesome.
Speaker C:Okay, you guys also, Mr. Lamp just left and Chief Master Skiles just left.
Speaker C:I know last week we talked a little bit about Mr. Lamp being there and how great that was.
Speaker C:Were you guys there with Mr. Lamp and get to train some with Chief.
Speaker B:Master Skiles as well?
Speaker E:Yes, sir.
Speaker E:Yes, sir.
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:How was that?
Speaker C:What was your.
Speaker C:Each of you, each of you, one at a time.
Speaker C:Tell me like something about the training with one of them.
Speaker C:Both of them.
Speaker C:Your favorite part.
Speaker C:Maybe something memorable about that training.
Speaker E:For Mr. Wayne.
Speaker E:Mr. Lamp.
Speaker E:I enjoyed doing the Song Shivong tricks and then I learned the BO staff form with Chief Master Skyhouse.
Speaker E:That was very fun, very cool.
Speaker D:With Mr. Lamp, my favorite part was him teaching me like some cool, extreme like tricks and throws with my double nunchucks for me.
Speaker D:Mr. Lamp, when he taught me a full entire creative weapons forum for my BO staff and with Chief Master Skiles when he was working with me and Claire on our first degree form, sir.
Speaker C:Very cool.
Speaker C:I mean, let me tell you, you got some top notch instructors coming up there and teaching you guys.
Speaker C:Really a cool thing going on.
Speaker C:I am excited to continue to check in with you guys, see how things are going, get these videos out to the ATA public so they can start, start thinking about coming next year.
Speaker C:I'm sure you can already, you know, start putting your name in and getting up there.
Speaker C:I know you've got a couple of new guys this year up there.
Speaker C:Is everybody surviving?
Speaker C:Anybody been like, Alaska's too scary.
Speaker C:I got to go home.
Speaker E:It's very cold.
Speaker E:That's really fun.
Speaker C:I was just talking to Chief Master Lee from at headquarters and he said it's cooled down there in Little Rock a little.
Speaker C:It was only 80 something.
Speaker C:And I said, no, thank you, I'll go to Alaska instead?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Well, I thank you guys for all the things you guys are doing up there.
Speaker C:What do you got coming in the next week or so that you're looking forward to?
Speaker D:I think we're going to have more instructors come up, right.
Speaker D:And it's going to be fun having different perspectives coming up and teaching us.
Speaker D:Because we've had all this variety of instructors and it's exciting to see all their different perspectives on what they have to teach us.
Speaker C:So yeah, that's super cool.
Speaker C:I mean, most school, most students don't get, you know, like five different instructors in a, you know, six week period.
Speaker C:That's just kind of crazy.
Speaker C:And you guys are getting quite the variety there, so that's really awesome.
Speaker C:I look forward to tuning in with you guys next week about how things are going, you know, if anybody's gonna get bit by like a seal or something maybe.
Speaker C:You know what, what's the.
Speaker C:I know the food.
Speaker C:Every time I. I talk to some of you guys from Alaska, you guys are always like, the food is amazing.
Speaker C:Even if you're not a seafood person, I hear like, it's pretty tasty.
Speaker C:What about.
Speaker C:Okay, here I gotta random inside question.
Speaker C:Is Grandmaster MK in like some bunk bed in some dorm room somewhere?
Speaker C:Did you guys get him like a.
Speaker B:A little.
Speaker C:Is he really?
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker E:Yes, sir.
Speaker E:That'd be if I could speak on that, sir.
Speaker E:He A instructor apartment.
Speaker E:It's like an efficiency apartment that has a single room, a bathroom, and it has a table, a couch, and two sets of bunk beds in it.
Speaker E:It is comfortable, but it is cozy is the word.
Speaker C:I mean, it's.
Speaker C:What's the population in.
Speaker C:In Ketchikan or Whale Pass?
Speaker C:What's the.
Speaker C:In Whale Pass?
Speaker C:What's the population?
Speaker E:Between 50 and 85, sir.
Speaker C:Yeah, so like the population goes up like 25 when the Songam academic program is there.
Speaker C:So I, I don't think Grandmaster was expecting like a five star hotel.
Speaker C:And let me tell you, I'm sure you asked Grandmaster MK about some of the places he's stayed for ATA and it's not.
Speaker C:He's been in some worse places, so I'm sure he's loving it.
Speaker C:But if you guys want to snap a picture of him in his bunk bed, I wouldn't turn it down is all I'm saying.
Speaker E:I don't think anyone's that brave, sir.
Speaker C:Smart.
Speaker C:You guys all want to test me too?
Speaker C:Maybe we'll skip that part.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Hey, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much.
Speaker C:I'm so excited to keep checking in with you guys and talking to different people each week.
Speaker C:Some of you guys will come back, I'm sure, and enjoy the rest of the time with Grandmaster mk And we'll talk to you guys next week, okay?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Well, ladies and gentlemen, I changed my set here.
Speaker B:And you can see I am in the museum.
Speaker B:If you haven't been here, you need to come to Little Rock, Arkansas.
Speaker B:Even if you're just coming by for like an event, you know, you're coming through Little Rock and it's not even a tournament or whatever.
Speaker B:Let them know in advance.
Speaker B:They'll let you come in, check it all out.
Speaker B:You definitely have to do it.
Speaker B:If you are not registered.
Speaker B:Camp Jong sue is coming up.
Speaker B:The Huli Classic is here in Little Rock.
Speaker B:All kinds of awesome events going on, and the Songam Academic program is something that runs every year, as well as Songam University, where you can get your degree in Songam Taekwondo and take that to higher levels and whatnot.
Speaker B:So definitely check out Songam University as well.
Speaker B:That's gonna wrap it up for us today.
Speaker B:I've got some work I need to do here at headquarters before I go.
Speaker B:Maybe sneak on in on some people's offices and get some interviews.
Speaker B:We'll see what I can do.
Speaker B:Until next time, get out there and go beyond the Belt.
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