We highlight the Songam academic program in Alaska, where students combine regular academic coursework with immersive ATA taekwondo training and adventurous excursions. I report that we will present weekly highlight videos and interviews with the students as they progress through the program. We feature distinguished guests who will join the students, including Mr. Richards, Chief Master Skiles, and Grandmaster M.K. Lee, to enhance instruction and experience. I also present our athletes of the week and announce important tournament information, including Fall Nationals registration incentives and upcoming competitions. We urge listeners to subscribe to our podcast and to the ATA Martial Arts YouTube channel to receive notifications and to view the Alaska program video. I will continue to provide weekly updates from the students and invite the ATA community to submit questions for them as they undertake this seven‑week adventure.
Takeaways:
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Speaker A:Foreign.
Speaker B:Welcome back Ata Nation.
Speaker B:This is episode 218 of the Ata Nation podcast.
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Speaker B:We have been going live on Facebook, you Instagram and on YouTube for the last couple of weeks.
Speaker B:We're going live on Mondays.
Speaker B:That is when we're doing the show at noon Central standard time.
Speaker B:Man, do we have a packed show for you today.
Speaker B:I don't know if you've heard about this, but there is this Songam academic program and the Songam academic program is where a group of students travel to Alaska.
Speaker B:They do some regular schoolwork, they get to go on some crazy awesome adventures and then they get to do song on taekwondo all together.
Speaker B:You get your school, your academics.
Speaker B:I believe it's a six week, six or eight week program.
Speaker B:I, I forgot off the top of my head, which is really bad of me.
Speaker B:I'm sorry.
Speaker B:We've highlighted this on the show before this year actually one of the the athletes that is up there for the event learned about it from this podcast.
Speaker B:And so this is just an awesome opportunity for ATA martial artists to join in and kind of get a once in a lifetime adventure through a program like this.
Speaker B:It is super cool.
Speaker B:So today we've got a couple of things with that.
Speaker B:We're starting our kind of correspondence with the Songam academic program that started last week.
Speaker B:So each week over the next couple of weeks we're going to be showing a a highlight video and then we're going to be interviewing one or a group of the students that are up there in Alaska about their events.
Speaker B:We've also got our athletes of the week and we don't want to forget about all the amazing things going on here in the lower 48 for the rest of us, like fall nationals will be here before you know, if you haven't registered online, that means you are not entered into the contest to get a free entry into the the spring Nationals in Fort Worth.
Speaker B:If you register online ata easysignup.com for fall nationals, they are going to be picking two individuals that will be winning entry into spring Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas.
Speaker B:So make sure you get on there and register now and pay a little more now because you waited.
Speaker B:You shouldn't have waited.
Speaker B:You should have signed up early when we told you to get signed up.
Speaker B:But that this Pittsburgh event is going to be spectacular.
Speaker B:Numbers are looking really good.
Speaker B:I love the location.
Speaker B:It's going to be our last time in Pittsburgh that we know of.
Speaker B:So you don't want to miss it.
Speaker B:Make the opportunity to head out there for.
Speaker B:I know for schools around here.
Speaker B:It's fall break for us.
Speaker B:So it's a perfect time to head to Pittsburgh.
Speaker B:Enjoy the fall weather out there.
Speaker B:Some really great activities.
Speaker B:Things to go now.
Speaker B:I want to get to our interview.
Speaker B:I just finished this interview.
Speaker B:We wanted to make sure the tech was there.
Speaker B:I think next week we might try to bring them on live with you guys.
Speaker B:But obviously we're a little ways away and I didn't want us to have any tech issues.
Speaker B:Next week we might give it a chance.
Speaker B:But these are our athletes from Alaska.
Speaker B:Let's check in.
Speaker B:I am so super excited to have with us some amazing guests all the way from Alaska.
Speaker B:So there on the far right.
Speaker B:Introduce yourself for us.
Speaker C:My name is Madison Smith.
Speaker C:I'm only a camo belt.
Speaker C:It's my first year.
Speaker B:Yeah, first year.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Next.
Speaker D:My name is Angie Aiello.
Speaker D:I'm a third degree black belt from New Jersey.
Speaker D:This is my first year in the program.
Speaker E:I'm Josiah Kapo.
Speaker E:I'm a second degree black belt.
Speaker E:This is my second year and it's really amazing up here.
Speaker B:Josiah wasn't sure what his last name was.
Speaker B:That was tough.
Speaker B:Go ahead.
Speaker F:I am Claire Smith.
Speaker F:I am a first degree black belt and it is my second year up here.
Speaker B:How about you, Sir?
Speaker G:And my name is Mr. Richards.
Speaker G:I'm a fifth degree black belt.
Speaker G:I'm the instructor for the duration of the program.
Speaker B:This is what happens when you.
Speaker B:You try to communicate crossed all these distances.
Speaker B:We have technological issues where our Internet connections are being a little.
Speaker B:A little wonky.
Speaker B:I'm gonna blame it.
Speaker B:I'm sure the Internet in Alaska is way better than my Internet here today.
Speaker B:So we'll blame it on.
Speaker B:On me.
Speaker B:You guys are like, yeah, no.
Speaker B:Alaska, Internet is not the greatest.
Speaker B:Okay, so you guys have just completed.
Speaker B:Have you just finished or you're just starting your second week?
Speaker B:So you finished your first week.
Speaker B:You started your second week there in Alaska.
Speaker B:Everybody.
Speaker C:Sir.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:And okay, so let's hit some of the guys.
Speaker B:Somebody who was there last year.
Speaker B:Tell me, like what are you looking most forward to this week, this year as you're here here at this, you know, intensive time in Alaska.
Speaker E:I'm looking forward to going back to the fishing charter and catching halibut again.
Speaker E:That was fun.
Speaker B:Probably the fishing charter.
Speaker B:I really enjoyed the fishing charter.
Speaker B:I heard last year you guys got some.
Speaker B:Some, like, seal meat at a thing that you had.
Speaker F:We did.
Speaker B:We got you think that'll happen again this year?
Speaker E:I don't know.
Speaker B:I don't think so.
Speaker B:Yeah, that was a special.
Speaker B:Okay, you newbies, you have taken on quite the adventure.
Speaker B:What?
Speaker B:Let's start with what, like, this week has been like for you.
Speaker B:Give me a little input like I've seen.
Speaker B:We're gonna show the video to ATA Nation here real soon.
Speaker B:And just in the video that I got, like, you guys did like a thousand things in one week already.
Speaker B:So what's it been like for you new guys on this Songam academic program?
Speaker C:It's been quite the adventure already.
Speaker C:I've been to so many places.
Speaker C:It felt way longer than a week.
Speaker C:I'm going be honest.
Speaker C:The first night we slept in a church and that was pretty cool.
Speaker C:But as soon as we got to the island after Ketch can things, like, slowed down a bit.
Speaker B:But yeah.
Speaker B:What about you, ma'?
Speaker A:Am?
Speaker D:Sorry, for me, I didn't travel with the group because I'm from the east coast.
Speaker D:A lot of other people are from, like, Texas and that area.
Speaker D:So I traveled on my own from New Jersey with my dad, and I kind of met up with the group the day we were going from Ketchikan to the isle.
Speaker D:So for me, it was a lot of meeting new people and like Madden said, a lot of new opportunities.
Speaker D:It's a really fun adventure.
Speaker D:I really do recommend it for people who kind of want to get out of their comfort zone and meet new people through ata.
Speaker B:I love it.
Speaker B:And you guys have had a special guest this week, and maybe that's why the hair is red here too, because Mr. Lamp has been up there doing some amazing, extreme and creative with you guys, right?
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Who wants to tell me a little bit about what it's been like to have him up there as a special guest?
Speaker E:It's been really amazing.
Speaker E:I'm so close to doing a backflip.
Speaker B:This is what I want to see then.
Speaker B:I want to see a video of you doing a backflip off that pier right into the water.
Speaker G:No.
Speaker B:Come on.
Speaker B:It's not cold, is it?
Speaker B:No, it's cold.
Speaker B:I still think it'd make a great video.
Speaker B:I'm just saying.
Speaker B:Okay, so we.
Speaker B:We're just getting started.
Speaker B:You guys are getting started in your second week.
Speaker B:You've got a bunch of special guests coming.
Speaker B:Who else is coming up there to Alaska with you guys this year?
Speaker G:This week, we'll have Chief Master Skiles.
Speaker G:And then at the end of the week, he'll overlap with Grandmaster M.K.
Speaker G:Lee for about a day.
Speaker B:That's cool.
Speaker B:Alaska, Skiles, Grandmaster M.K.
Speaker B:I mean, you guys are just.
Speaker B:These are going to be some stories you are just going to be able to tell forever.
Speaker B:Okay, this last week, everybody, I want to know, what was your favorite thing that you did so far this last week?
Speaker B:I mean, the video showed.
Speaker B:Were you guys in caves already this week, Sir?
Speaker B:Oh, my goodness gracious.
Speaker B:Like, first week, and you're already in caves and stuff.
Speaker B:Okay, everybody, tell me one at a time.
Speaker B:Let's start on the far left.
Speaker B:I don't know which side that is.
Speaker B:Tell me your favorite thing so far this week.
Speaker C:My favorite thing has been the hikes.
Speaker C:And honestly, just hearing about all the special guests that are coming, I think it's a great opportunity for me, especially because I'm just a color belt learning from all these people who are masters at this.
Speaker C:It's great.
Speaker D:My favorite was probably we explored El Cap Cave.
Speaker D:I thought that was really interesting, just because where I'm from, there isn't a whole lot of caves to explore, and I'm a big outdoors person, so I go on hikes all the time.
Speaker D:But you don't really always get the opportunity to explore this huge cave.
Speaker D:So that was really interesting.
Speaker E:Something I've liked this early in the program is I've liked having Beckham here teaching us an early visitor.
Speaker E:Already.
Speaker F:I've really enjoyed meeting all the new people that have decided that this program might be good for them, and I.
Speaker H:Think they're definitely gonna like it here.
Speaker G:And I enjoyed this past Saturday.
Speaker G:We spent the whole day training, and I was rotating different groups out.
Speaker G:We were training on the dock all day.
Speaker G:It was great.
Speaker B:That's fantastic.
Speaker B:So not only are you guys doing martial arts, you got special guests, you're going on all these amazing adventures.
Speaker B:You guys got to do schoolwork while you're there, too, right?
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Okay, who can tell me what's one schoolwork thing that you've been working on?
Speaker D:We have a specific class during the day that is dedicated to legacy material, which, for people like me, I teach back at home.
Speaker D:I teach a lot of my kids.
Speaker D:So I'm really enjoying that just because it helps me get a better, deeper understanding of all the material that's awesome.
Speaker C:We all also get the basic school curriculum that you would back at home, but, you know, it's like a lot more personalized, in my opinion.
Speaker B:Yeah, Madden, you said this is your first year camouflage belt.
Speaker B:Where are you from?
Speaker C:I'm from Texas, sir.
Speaker B:Okay, excellent.
Speaker B:Okay, so we got Texas, New Jersey.
Speaker B:I'm gonna guess the other two from Texas.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:Okay, now anybody can sign up and do this.
Speaker B:This is open to all ATA people.
Speaker B:Not.
Speaker B:I mean, there are some non ata people who started from.
Speaker B:I mean, they're 18 now, but they're in Alaska.
Speaker B:So this.
Speaker B:We're gonna be seeing you guys every week or.
Speaker B:Or different people from the program every week.
Speaker B:We're gonna be checking in with everybody weekly, and then you guys are preparing videos that we're gonna be showing as well on the podcast.
Speaker B:So we're really excited about that.
Speaker B:I'm not gonna take much more of your time today because you guys gotta go do some work or something.
Speaker B:It's the beginning of the day for you guys there.
Speaker B:But I am excited to just keep up to date with everybody and see how things are going week to week, especially next week after your special guests, Chief Master Skiles, Grandmaster mk.
Speaker B:That's gonna be pretty amazing.
Speaker B:And if ATA nation out there, if you guys have questions for these guys or any of the athletes, the students up in Alaska, reach out and let us know because we are going to be communicating with them every single week and we can ask them specific questions that you might have as they are in their adventure.
Speaker B:You guys all going to head to Fall Nationals the when this is over, right?
Speaker G:Well, I think Fall Nationals is in the middle ish of our program this year, so we'll actually be going to a tournament in Idaho at the end of the program.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker B:I didn't notice.
Speaker B:Yeah, Fall Nationals was earlier this year, so I wondered how that lined up.
Speaker B:Okay, you guys will be out to Idaho this time.
Speaker B:Okay, Very cool.
Speaker B:Okay, well, I am super excited to.
Speaker B:To keep hearing from you guys.
Speaker B:Do you guys have any.
Speaker B:Do you know what's going on this week?
Speaker B:What's your big thing you're looking forward to this week?
Speaker B:Anybody?
Speaker D:We have a slippery salmon race at the end of the week.
Speaker B:Wait, hold on, hold on.
Speaker B:Somebody's got to tell me what this slippery salmon race is.
Speaker E:All right, so you have a bo.
Speaker E:You have a solo cup and a tray, and you have to put pour a can of soda into the cup while pulling a dead salmon that's slippery onto your tray.
Speaker E:And then running an obstacle course without letting your Slip your salmon or your cup fall off and then you have to pass it to your teammate and then your teammate has to go back through the thing and then the, the winner gets however much money.
Speaker B:Okay, is this, is this just for your guys, students or is this like something that you're enrolling that other people do?
Speaker G:So this is a, there's like a little farmer's market in one of the towns on the island in, in Craig that will be, we'll be going to.
Speaker G:And so there will be other people there from the, from the local community as well.
Speaker B:Okay, One of your recap videos has to have video of this slippery salmon race.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:And, and you know, I mean, no pressure, but if you let, you know, some ata person not win, there's going to be, you know, maybe some harassing or whatever.
Speaker B:I think somebody from the, the program has to be the winner.
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Train your slippery salmon skills.
Speaker B:I don't know how you train slippery salmon skills, but good luck.
Speaker B:I can't wait to hear about this next week.
Speaker B:So thank you guys so much for joining us.
Speaker B:Next week maybe right now it's recorded, but this is going to go live in like 10 minutes, 15 minutes maybe next week if we can, if we can get our tech working perfectly.
Speaker B:We'll have you live.
Speaker B:Live and see how that goes.
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Sir.
Speaker B:Okay, thank you guys.
Speaker B:Enjoy your time and we'll talk next week.
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker G:Thank you, sir.
Speaker E:All right,.
Speaker B:Well, let me first start by apologizing to Madden.
Speaker B:Because we finished this interview just moments before I had to go live.
Speaker B:I didn't get to check the way the video was set up.
Speaker B:And for you guys, you couldn't see Madden when I recorded it.
Speaker B:You could see Madden no problem.
Speaker B:So, sir, I apologize.
Speaker B:You did a great job in your interview and people just weren't able to see you, but they could hear you.
Speaker B:So this is another reason you should check out the podcast on your audio feeds.
Speaker B:Now.
Speaker B:We have an awesome set of athletes of the week this week.
Speaker B:Before we show our video from Alaska of what those guys did over the last couple week or over the last week, we're going to go and talk to our athletes of the week at Nation.
Speaker B:We have a duo of athletes of the week this week.
Speaker B:Can you introduce yourselves for us?
Speaker F:Okay, my name is Azzy Gatkins and I'm a first degree black belt from Sandy Springs, Georgia.
Speaker H:Hi, my name is Michaela Akit.
Speaker H:I'm also a first degree black belt from Sandy Springs, Georgia.
Speaker B:Okay, so the question is how old are you?
Speaker H:I'm 12 and I'm 14.
Speaker B:Okay, never mind.
Speaker B:I was gonna ask if you guys were like twins or something, but do you ever.
Speaker B:Do you ever get.
Speaker H:I know we're not twins.
Speaker H:We're not.
Speaker B:Do you ever get that?
Speaker B:Does everybody ever say that right now?
Speaker H:Because we're the same party and that's.
Speaker B:Not always been the case, so, you know, maybe.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know what happens?
Speaker B:My kids get asked of their twins all the time, and one of my kids is like almost 7 and 1's 5, so it just happens, you know, It's a thing.
Speaker B:Okay, so Sandy Springs, you guys are with Karate Atlantis, is that right?
Speaker F:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Are you Sandy Springs?
Speaker B:That's Senior Master Aaron Lee.
Speaker F:No, it's.
Speaker B:Who is it?
Speaker H:Mr. Christopher Roda?
Speaker B:Rhoda.
Speaker B:Okay, I knew that.
Speaker B:I knew that was.
Speaker B:Okay, Sandy Springs, was that Chief Master Taekwond Lee at one point?
Speaker B:Okay, okay.
Speaker B:Did you guys start when Chief Master Taekwond was there?
Speaker F:Yes, we both started with Chief Master.
Speaker F:Da.
Speaker B:Okay, Are you going to tell me some.
Speaker B:Some details, some secret about him that we can spread to all of ata about something like ridiculously did or something horrible that.
Speaker B:I'm joking.
Speaker B:Don't tell me something horrible.
Speaker B:I want to test someday.
Speaker F:The doctor.
Speaker F:It would be the first thing that comes to mind about him.
Speaker B:Wait, say that again.
Speaker B:Say that again.
Speaker F:Dr. Pepper commercial.
Speaker B:Oh, that was a good one.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Or have you guys.
Speaker B:You guys have, of course seen the taekwondo style?
Speaker B:Like the.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Yes, yes.
Speaker B:Okay, let's get talking about you guys instead of your former instructor.
Speaker B:Okay, so what got you guys started in martial arts?
Speaker F:Well, she got started into martial arts because I was doing it and she was like, oh, that looks fun.
Speaker F:I want to try it.
Speaker F:And.
Speaker H:It was for a birthday party and you hated it and.
Speaker F:Oh, yeah, so I went to this birthday party when I was like four, I think, and I absolutely hated it and gave it maybe, I don't know.
Speaker F:And then I tried it again later when I was six.
Speaker F:And my in.
Speaker F:The two instructors were Mr. Monroe and Senior Master Taekwond Lee, our chief master.
Speaker F:And I absolutely loved them.
Speaker F:You know, I just continued.
Speaker B:Oh, so that is hilarious.
Speaker B:You were like, no, this is horrible.
Speaker B:And then you went back later and you loved it.
Speaker B:Seems like it's.
Speaker B:It's turned out pretty good for you.
Speaker A:And.
Speaker B:Okay, so your sister Michaela, how long did it take you to be like, yep, I want to go in there and start kicking people?
Speaker H:They took a good two years.
Speaker H:Yeah, They've been begging me to join Though.
Speaker F:Yeah, once I hit around, I think blue belt, they started asking Mikhail if she wanted to join.
Speaker F:And then once I got to around and they rent is when she said, I want to.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:So Isaac, are you higher rank?
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker F:Yes, I am.
Speaker B:Nice, nice.
Speaker B:You gotta stay higher ranked than the, the older sister.
Speaker B:That's the way to go.
Speaker B:I, I, my brother was older than me and he, or he's, he's still older than me.
Speaker B:That's how age works.
Speaker B:But he started martial arts with me at the same time.
Speaker B:But I am now a seventh degree black belt and he is still a red black belt because he stopped and that makes me cooler than him.
Speaker B:So it's all about the younger siblings getting higher rank.
Speaker B:Sorry, Michaela.
Speaker B:That's just the way I had to go.
Speaker B:Okay, questions for you guys.
Speaker B:Competition.
Speaker B:What, what's your favorite event?
Speaker B:Each of you, if you go into tournament, what's the thing?
Speaker B:You're like, yes, I can't wait to do this.
Speaker H:Oh my God.
Speaker H:Why is it so hard?
Speaker H:Like, it's a traditional weapons.
Speaker H:I really love dum Dun jokes.
Speaker H:I've been a pro at it ever since I started using them as an orange bo.
Speaker H:And like traditional weapons is like possibly my favorite.
Speaker H:Stones are just so easy for me because, you know, they're just not that complicated.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Okay, so you're like a natural with the, the, the nunchucks.
Speaker B:Very good.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:What about you, Isaac?
Speaker F:For me, I think it's either weapons as well or combat sparring because I'm really fast with the stick for combat sparring and for weapons, I just love doing the Osam do form.
Speaker B:Oh, the oh Sung do form.
Speaker B:I like it.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:That's a, I really, I don't see as many first series competing with the Osang do form in that, in, in traditional or anybody.
Speaker B:I don't see it as much and I really like it, especially when they added that second section on the end part.
Speaker B:I think it's such a cool form now.
Speaker B:So very cool.
Speaker B:Okay, each of you, let's start with Isaac this time.
Speaker B:What is your event that you're like, no, thank you.
Speaker B:I, not my favorite thing.
Speaker B:I'd go with sparring, regular sparring, traditional sparring.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:What if it's against your sister?
Speaker F:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Michaela, what about you?
Speaker B:What's your event that you're like?
Speaker B:Not my favorite.
Speaker H:I'll say creative.
Speaker H:Oh, weapons.
Speaker H:It's just like I can only do handles.
Speaker H:I can't do like releases and that kind of stuff.
Speaker H:And like, I just like to do releases.
Speaker H:Because sometimes I'm like, don't release, don't release, don't release.
Speaker B:Yeah, I can totally see that.
Speaker B:I, I do think, like, in the weapons category, there are a lot less people who want to do creative because they want to throw that weapon in the air.
Speaker B:It's just more fun to let go and try to catch it.
Speaker B:Okay, what kind of goals do you guys have for the.
Speaker B:Maybe the tournament season, competition season?
Speaker B:Do you have any specific goals.
Speaker F:We could give this.
Speaker F:Miguel?
Speaker H:My goal is more world titles and possibly Africa champ.
Speaker B:Are you guys going to South Africa?
Speaker H:We are.
Speaker A:What?
Speaker B:Oh, that's so cool.
Speaker B:Oh, man.
Speaker A:What?
Speaker B:Say that again.
Speaker F:Our mom is from South Africa.
Speaker B:Well, then of course you gotta go.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:This is the perfect one.
Speaker B:That just makes it perfect.
Speaker B:You gotta go.
Speaker B:I, I keep, I keep saying I'm gonna, I'm gonna take my family to all the international ones when they're just a little bit older.
Speaker B:I can't wait.
Speaker B:So, okay, maybe a, maybe a South African champion.
Speaker B:That would be very cool.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:Okay, what about outside of, like, tournament?
Speaker B:Oh, wait, I didn't ask.
Speaker B:Isaac, what about yours?
Speaker F:My goal is also African titles, but maybe a district or even world title and weapons.
Speaker C:Nice.
Speaker B:Okay, I like it.
Speaker B:Very good.
Speaker B:Those are some great goals.
Speaker B:I, I'm impressed.
Speaker B:Especially I want you guys to come back with those African titles.
Speaker B:Those would be super cool.
Speaker B:Okay, what about, like, outside of tournament competition, what kind of martial arts goals do you have?
Speaker B:Let's start with Isaac this time.
Speaker H:Oh,.
Speaker B:Outside of tournament, like, are you doing any leadership, any legacy, any things like that?
Speaker B:Maybe new belt?
Speaker F:Well, next year I'm testing for my second degree and hopefully for my life.
Speaker B:That's a great goal.
Speaker B:I mean, those, those are good things to be working for.
Speaker B:What about you, Michaela?
Speaker H:My goal is also second degree.
Speaker H: or second degree in September: Speaker H:But my goal is to kick super high because I usually kick like this, but I'm trying, like, get to my, my head.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Good.
Speaker B:I love that as a goal.
Speaker B:That's a, that's a good, A good physical skill goal to be working on.
Speaker B:Okay, now, before we talk about being an athlete beyond the belt, if you think about the life skills that we work on in martial arts, which life skill is the one that you're like, oh, I need to work on that one a little bit more than the other ones.
Speaker B:I'm going to start with Mikayla.
Speaker H:Definitely.
Speaker B:Believe, believe.
Speaker B:You got to build that confidence in yourself.
Speaker H:Yeah.
Speaker B:Ah, that's a Good.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Well, you're in the right place.
Speaker B:Martial arts will do it.
Speaker B:What about you, Isaac?
Speaker B:Discipline, communication, and respect.
Speaker B:We could probably ask your parents.
Speaker B:They could tell us which one.
Speaker B:You need to work on self esteem.
Speaker F:I'd also say bullets as well.
Speaker B:Belief as well.
Speaker B:Okay, very good.
Speaker B:That's a good one.
Speaker B:I mean, I agree.
Speaker C:I.
Speaker B:It's one that, when I started, martial arts was definitely something I needed to work on, believing in myself, being able to see myself doing those things.
Speaker B:So I appreciate that.
Speaker B:Okay, here's the big question.
Speaker B:What's it mean to you to be an athlete that goes beyond the belt?
Speaker B:What does it mean to you to go beyond the belt?
Speaker F:You can go first.
Speaker H:What makes me an algorithm all about?
Speaker H:It's just really, really fun and I really love doing it and.
Speaker B:Yeah, good, good.
Speaker B:What have you guys done?
Speaker B:Where have you maybe in the belief life skill or a different life skill?
Speaker B:Where have you used that life skill outside of martial arts?
Speaker B:Have you had to use any.
Speaker B:Any discipline outside of martial arts or respect?
Speaker B:Maybe some.
Speaker B:Maybe some belief.
Speaker B:What if there's been something that you had to do outside of martial arts that you were like, I'm so scared of that.
Speaker H:Well, I. I'll go first in a cello and my school's orchestra.
Speaker H:And I get very nervous because we just had our singing auditions and I'm always like, I'm gonna get last year.
Speaker H:I'm gonna get last year because, like, it's competitive, so I always go like, yes, I can.
Speaker H:And like, I get practiced a lot.
Speaker H:And.
Speaker H:Yeah.
Speaker B:Oh, I love that.
Speaker B:That.
Speaker B:That is an excellent example of going, you know, using those life skills that you're doing, learning in martial arts and doing them outside of the school.
Speaker B:I love that.
Speaker B:Okay, Isaac, she did a great one.
Speaker B:Do you have an example for us?
Speaker B:No pressure.
Speaker F:I respect, because when I go to new places, I try to, like, make new friends and become buddies with new people that hopefully I'll see at later.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:Good.
Speaker B:That's.
Speaker B:And that's not easy to do.
Speaker B:That takes some.
Speaker B:Some pushing yourself as.
Speaker B:As well.
Speaker B:So.
Speaker B:Fantastic.
Speaker B:Well, I am super excited that you guys get to go to the South African championships and a little bit jealous.
Speaker B:I also think it's super cool that we got to remind people about Chief Master Taan Le's experience in the Dr. Pepper commercial.
Speaker B:If anybody hasn't seen it, you should go check that out and see if it's on.
Speaker B:I gotta see if it's online somewhere.
Speaker B:We gotta find it.
Speaker B:Anyways, thank you both so much for your time today and Congratulations on being the ATA Athlete of the Week.
Speaker H:You're welcome, sir.
Speaker H:Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker F:Thank you, sir.
Speaker B:Well, if you are looking to be an athlete of the week sometime, reach out to one of the ATA brand ambassadors and they will get you the information you need.
Speaker B:If you're an instructor out there and are like, hey, I've got a student who'd be great Athlete of the Week, reach out to those ATA brand ambassadors.
Speaker B:They'll get you all hooked up with what you need to know.
Speaker B:Now don't forget Fall Nationals.
Speaker B:Don't miss it.
Speaker B:Now we're, we're on Fall Nationals.
Speaker B:We got that coming.
Speaker B:There's lots of other amazing tournaments coming our way.
Speaker B:Make sure you head over to atamartialarts.com to check them out and get logged in and check your points.
Speaker B:Very important.
Speaker B:The points for state district, world titles or state.
Speaker B:Yeah, state world titles are now in your profile.
Speaker B:You have to go in online atmrtialarts.com Sign in and then you'll be able to see the standings there.
Speaker B:So you need to make sure you go and check those.
Speaker B:Remember, you only have 30 days from the time they are posted for a specific event to make any corrections.
Speaker B:Those corrections can be done by filling out a form online that will be listed there as well.
Speaker B:Really great stuff coming up.
Speaker B:We've also got Camp Jongsu coming up in Little Rock as well as the A plus tournament, the Huli Classic there in Little Rock as well, the contest for those of you who are attending all nationals, all the amazing training at Fall National.
Speaker B:So much cool stuff.
Speaker B:Now we're going to wrap up today by showing you this amazing video.
Speaker B:If you're listening to the audio, there's a great song on it too you're going to check out.
Speaker B:But you want to go over to YouTube and check out the video of what the song academic program have done just in their first week.
Speaker B:So after that we're kicking it out of here.
Speaker B:So make sure you go and do something beyond the belt this week.
Speaker A:From New Jersey, Texas, Arizona skies from Idaho we're taking flight Bags are packed in uniforms too Heading off for something new Far from Alaska call this home where welcoming friends who've come so far Second year's back again Running up to old time friends first you're stepping through the door not quite sure what's all in store but it doesn't take too long to see we're building one big family different places, different names by the end we're on the same team Seven weeks a world away New Age adventures every day learning growing side by side welcome to the Alaska Alaska ride We came from all across the country now we're standing side by side Training hard and learning together with the Tongass as our guide from the mountains to the ocean Every day to something new Seven weeks weeks in Alaska let's see what we can do.
Speaker A:Alaska here we go.
Speaker A:Alaska Here we go.
Speaker A:Mr. Richards is back once more awesome instructor on the floor Then world champ Echo lamp arise.
Speaker A:Bringing energy, skill and drive Kick by kick Informed by form we're training hard and growing strong from white belt up to third degree different rings but one team Learning together old and new Helping each other make it through but training's only part of the plan Alaska's calling so off we ran Wait, wait, wait.
Speaker A:First stop, catch a can.
Speaker A:Here we go.
Speaker A:Where mountains meet the water below Discovery center stories to find Alaska's history Coming alive in Carlina Lake Beneath the trees Hiking trails in the mountain breeze Laughing, talking along the way Getting closer every day we came from all across the country now we're standing side by side Training hard and learning together with the Tongasses as our guide from the mountains to the ocean Every day there's something new Seven weeks in Alaska let's see what we can do Then we roll up gear aboard ferry pulling from the shore across the water mountains rise Prince of whales before our eyes down the road to whass town this is home so settle down Living, Learning, training too 19 students, one strong crew Morning lessons Taekwondo then outside again can we go Cuz here the classroom doesn't end Wear the walls and blackboards and helmet on and headlamp right into El Capitan out of sight, underground where the ancient stone tells the story of its own With a geologist leading the way Learning how the caves were made through the darkness Rocking stone Seeing Alaska from.
Speaker F:W.
Speaker A:W W We flew in as students from miles apart Some old friends, some brand new stars five were here to welcome the rest 19 together ready for the test give us one week one school one floor one trail, one cave and we're strangers no more one, two, three.
Speaker A:Let's go.
Speaker A:We came from all we came from all across the country now we're standing side by side Training hard and learning together with the Tongass as our guide From Ketchik in the whale path from the ferry to the cave we're learning what we're made of Getting stronger every day Seven weeks in the last and week one is just legal we're so num academic program and we're ready for what's to come.
Speaker A:We came from all across the country?
Speaker A:Now we're standing side by side Wipe out through third degree but together we're one team two now from the mountains to the ocean There's a whole world Left to see?
Speaker A:7 Weeks in Alaska this is where we're meant to be New Jersey, Texas, Arizona, Idaho and five from Alaska already ho.
Speaker A:Different roads brought us here now we're walking as one Seven weeks in Alaska.
Speaker A:And we've only just been.
Speaker A:Alaska week one done.
Speaker A:Ata nation podcast.
Speaker A:Be sure to subscribe and share with your ata family.