Episode 221
ATA Nation Podcast - Ep. 221 - Fall Nationals Recap & Alaskan Update
I begin by stating that Fall Nationals in Pittsburgh was exceptional and that we present an animated video and interviews from the Songam Academic program in Whale Pass, Alaska near the start of the show. I recount the strong turnout, excellent training, and featured events such as Clash of the Blades and Bows Bow to the Max. I highlight the young students from Alaska who described their work, modeled techniques, and even jumped from the dock into the cold glacier water. I speak with Senior Master Church about Founders Month, the legacy of Eternal Grandmaster, and the importance of the Memorial Foundation and scholarships. I also announce that World Championships will start a day earlier this year, that the 2029 World Championships will be held in Chicago, and that we encourage listeners to subscribe and to support ATA programs.
Takeaways:
- I report that Fall Nationals in Pittsburgh achieved record participation and provided extensive training opportunities for attendees.
- We announced that World Championships will begin a day earlier and finish on Saturday, improving travel logistics for competitors.
- I showcase the Songam academic program in Alaska and highlight the students' creative animated video project and collaborative process.
- We emphasized the importance of Founders Month and fundraising efforts to preserve Eternal Grandmaster's legacy through education and scholarships.
- I describe the Alaska program's experiential learning, including glacier excursions, cold water swims, and outdoor training that built resilience.
- We encouraged early tournament participation, asserting that novice competitors benefit from experience and develop confidence through practical exposure.
- I note future plans such as live streaming team sync events at Spring Nationals and the World Championships scheduled in Chicago for 2029.
Transcript
Sam,.
Speaker B:Welcome to the Ata Nation podcast.
Speaker C:Ata Nation.
Speaker C:Welcome back to the Ata Nation podcast.
Speaker C:This is episode 221.
Speaker C:Thank you for tuning in.
Speaker C:We go live every week on the ATA YouTube page as well as ATA's Facebook page.
Speaker C:And of course, you can catch us all the time on your favorite podcast players.
Speaker C:Please hit that subscribe button, whether it's on your podcast player or especially YouTube.
Speaker C:I was talking to some awesome people at Fall Nationals telling them to subscribe to YouTube because I want to see a silver play button from YouTube hanging in the museum at ATA headquarters.
Speaker C:Speaking of Fall Nationals, guys, what an amazing time we all had at Fall Nationals in Pittsburgh.
Speaker C:If you weren't there, you missed out.
Speaker C:Pittsburgh is a beautiful city.
Speaker C:We had amazing weather.
Speaker C:The venue is awesome.
Speaker C:What great training there was.
Speaker C:We had Clash of the Blades.
Speaker C:We had Bows Bow to the Max.
Speaker C:We had so many other trainings.
Speaker C:I took one of the playbook seminars and extremely creative judging.
Speaker C:I had students taking our instructors from my school taking the seminar for combat sparring and traditional sparring and legacy.
Speaker C:All these things.
Speaker C:There's a record number of team Sync going on there.
Speaker C:I am talking about.
Speaker C:Here, let me give you.
Speaker C:Let me give you a little sneak peek.
Speaker C:All right, Maybe I'm working on.
Speaker C:You know, every year at World Championships, we go live for the song I'm cup.
Speaker C:I'm going to be testing to see if we can go live for some of the team sync and team demo competitions at Spring Nationals.
Speaker C:We're going to test it out, see how it goes.
Speaker C:I'm getting some, you know, making sure I got all my permission in place, all those kind of things.
Speaker C:So that's going to be coming.
Speaker C:But it was an amazing time.
Speaker C:Not only did we have an awesome time at Fall Nationals, great numbers got out at a record time.
Speaker C:I mean, we were just killing it.
Speaker C:The.
Speaker C:The tournament team, everybody there was just doing an amazing job.
Speaker C:I got to judge some awesome rings as well.
Speaker C:So, so much fun.
Speaker C:And then there were a couple of announcements I was super excited about.
Speaker C:Number one, World Championships is going to actually be a little a day earlier this year, and the details haven't come out with the exact schedule.
Speaker C:Don't worry, ATL let us know.
Speaker C:Just be patient.
Speaker C:Be patient.
Speaker C:But things are going to start Monday this time instead of Tuesday.
Speaker C:And the.
Speaker C:The real benefit of this is that we'll be done.
Speaker C:Saturday will be the last day of competition.
Speaker C:So you can fly home on Sunday or drive.
Speaker C:Start driving home on Sunday.
Speaker C:This is going to make it so convenient.
Speaker C:It's going to be awesome.
Speaker C: th anniversary: Speaker C: World Championships: Speaker C:I am doped.
Speaker C:This is real close to us.
Speaker C:I am so excited about this.
Speaker C:It's going to be amazing, man.
Speaker C:I just.
Speaker C:I can't wait.
Speaker C:It's going to be.
Speaker C:It's going to be awesome.
Speaker C:So fall nationals, amazing event.
Speaker C:We've got.
Speaker C:I've got a ton of interviews for you guys today.
Speaker C:Some really cool stuff.
Speaker C:So first off, I want to show you a video interview we did with some of the younger students at the song academic program up there in Alaska.
Speaker C:They made this really neat animated video.
Speaker C:I want you to listen to them about how they did it, those kind of things.
Speaker C:And then I'm going to show you the video as well.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:Hey, tuning in live.
Speaker C:Hey, Ms. Lily.
Speaker C:Nice to see you live.
Speaker C:Live.
Speaker C:Who else is tuning in live with us?
Speaker C:Let's go to that video from the songam academic program.
Speaker C:Here we go.
Speaker C:For you guys today from our songam academic program in Alaska.
Speaker C:These guys are a little younger.
Speaker C:There's the.
Speaker C:The little guys.
Speaker C:But they made.
Speaker C:We'll show it on this.
Speaker C:But an amazing video.
Speaker C:That was just the coolest thing.
Speaker C:So I'm gonna have them introduce themselves.
Speaker C:We're gonna start with Hunter.
Speaker C:Tell us your name, if you got a belt rank, and why don't you tell us your age as well.
Speaker D:My name is Hunter Smith.
Speaker D:I'm a yellow belt.
Speaker D:Decided and I'm seven years old.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:Okay, next.
Speaker D:My name is Nick.
Speaker D:I am a yellow belt.
Speaker D:Decided and I am 10 years old.
Speaker D:My name is Ava Heisler and I'm a white belt and I'm nine years old.
Speaker D:Sir.
Speaker D:I am Cameron.
Speaker D:My name is Cameron.
Speaker D:I am a white belt and I'm tensor.
Speaker C:Very good.
Speaker C:Okay, so we have seven all the way to 10.
Speaker C:Yellow belts and white belts.
Speaker C:How exciting.
Speaker C:So, guys, first of all, what's it.
Speaker C:I'm gonna start with Hunter.
Speaker C:We'll go one at a time.
Speaker C:How's this?
Speaker C:Been doing some martial arts, doing some fun things, making all kind of creative things, having special guests.
Speaker C:Hunter, what's been.
Speaker C:Maybe one of your favorite things.
Speaker D:One of my favorite things are doing is spending time with my friends.
Speaker C:I love that.
Speaker C:Next one.
Speaker D:Gonna say fishing.
Speaker D:It's really fun.
Speaker D:I gotta say fishing as well.
Speaker D:Yeah, I'll probably say t. Board breaks.
Speaker C:Oh, board breaks.
Speaker C:Good choice.
Speaker C:What's your favorite technique to break with?
Speaker C:Do you like to kick it?
Speaker C:Do you like to palm heel?
Speaker C:Elbow.
Speaker C:Front kick.
Speaker C:Sidekick.
Speaker C:Yeah, you like that one?
Speaker E:Good.
Speaker C:I like that one.
Speaker C:We're working on that one at my school right now.
Speaker C:Okay, so I got to watch this video that you guys made, and it was super cool.
Speaker C:All right, so can somebody.
Speaker C:You guys gotta pick amongst yourselves, but can somebody tell me, like, how you guys did this?
Speaker C:How what?
Speaker C:Where did this video come from?
Speaker D:I hear.
Speaker C:Okay, each of you tell me a little bit about it.
Speaker D:We took notes.
Speaker C:You took notes?
Speaker C:So, though you took notes, how did you, like.
Speaker C:What kind of notes did you take?
Speaker D:We took the notes that.
Speaker D:About the years that we were here.
Speaker D:Weeks.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:Okay, so somebody else give me a little example of what your notes might have said.
Speaker D:They might have said, even if you're the lowest one in class, you can still do a lot and you can still work hard.
Speaker C:Nice.
Speaker C:What.
Speaker C:What.
Speaker C:What are some other things that you guys remember that you might have put in your notes about the time with Grandmaster?
Speaker C:Just gotta think about it.
Speaker C:Like, I'm not sure.
Speaker C:Did you put, like.
Speaker C:He's super awesome.
Speaker D:We went on our fishing charter with him, and I put it in my notes.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:I heard he caught a lot of fish.
Speaker C:Did he catch a lot of fish?
Speaker D:He caught one fish.
Speaker C:One.
Speaker C:That was it.
Speaker C:How many did you catch?
Speaker D:One, sir.
Speaker C:Okay, you know what?
Speaker C:I've been on a charter fishing thing before and caught nothing the whole time, so you guys are doing better than me.
Speaker D:I got three.
Speaker C:You what?
Speaker C:I'm going with him next time.
Speaker C:Hunter's gonna be my.
Speaker D:See, I caught more than three.
Speaker D:I got the big fish on my boat.
Speaker C:Did you really?
Speaker C:How big.
Speaker C:How big was.
Speaker D:Was a good size.
Speaker C:Oh, man.
Speaker D:Just a little bit smaller.
Speaker C:What did you guys.
Speaker C:What do you guys do with the fish?
Speaker D:We eat them.
Speaker D:We eat them.
Speaker C:Were they.
Speaker C:Are they delicious?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Oh, okay.
Speaker F:Very good.
Speaker C:You didn't put that in the video.
Speaker C:I didn't see you guys cooking in the video.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:What?
Speaker C:So Grandmaster was there with you guys.
Speaker C:This animated video, I think, is super cool.
Speaker C:You guys took notes.
Speaker C:So you guys were the ones who kind of, like, gave.
Speaker C:I. I don't.
Speaker C:Did you guys do the.
Speaker C:The, like animating, or did somebody else do that for you guys?
Speaker D:Ms. Dempsey did it for us.
Speaker C:Okay, I was thinking that.
Speaker C:But you guys gave her all the information about, like, what you were doing and all that kind of stuff?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:That is so cool.
Speaker G:They also modeled the movements, sir.
Speaker G:We took.
Speaker C:Oh, so you guys showed off the techniques for her to use in the video then as well.
Speaker C:What were.
Speaker C:What were some of Your favorite moves that you guys did?
Speaker C:Kicks or hand techniques?
Speaker C:What's your favorite?
Speaker C:I'm a kick guy myself.
Speaker C:Are you a kicker?
Speaker C:Kick.
Speaker C:Very good.
Speaker C:Who's a kicker?
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Some of you guys yell about you guys doing jump.
Speaker C:Jump kicks.
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Oh, nice.
Speaker C:I like it.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker D:I'm also.
Speaker D:I also like hands.
Speaker C:You like hands too?
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:You guys been doing any weapons?
Speaker D:Yes, yes.
Speaker D:We've been doing Song Jabong, sir.
Speaker C:Song Shabang.
Speaker C:I love Song Shabong.
Speaker C:That is a great one.
Speaker C:Okay, well, I want, you know, like, I think it would be cool.
Speaker C:You guys should just have your own cartoon on Saturday mornings.
Speaker C:We'll just have like Whale Pass song on Academy Kids every Saturday morning.
Speaker C:I'll just tune in and watch you guys and your TV show that you're.
Speaker C:You're making.
Speaker C:I think that's kind of.
Speaker C:You guys will be world famous then.
Speaker C:What do you think?
Speaker C:Yeah, exactly.
Speaker C:You'll be the little guy.
Speaker C:You'll be.
Speaker C:They'll have action figures of you guys someday.
Speaker C:And I can go to Walmart and buy my Cool Hunter toy.
Speaker C:It'd be awesome.
Speaker C:You guys be famous in Song World.
Speaker C:In ATA Nation.
Speaker C:You guys are like the first, you know, I mean, we've got the tiger cartoon, but now we've got the whale past Alaska cartoon.
Speaker C:And you guys are just going to be, you know, world famous.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:I loved the video.
Speaker C:I thought it was so cool.
Speaker C:Did you guys, did you guys get to hear what Grandmaster thought of it?
Speaker C:I. I forgot to ask him when I saw him if what Grandmaster thought of you guys video.
Speaker G:He said he loved it, sir.
Speaker C:That was my guess.
Speaker C:I bet.
Speaker C:I. I thought he probably loved it.
Speaker C:I love that.
Speaker C:Did you guys like how you're, like, animated turned out?
Speaker C:Like, did you look at your animated self and you were like, that's so cool.
Speaker C:Or were you like, that doesn't look like me.
Speaker D:I love my animated.
Speaker D:Me too, sir.
Speaker C:Oh, man.
Speaker C:Telling you, you're going to have T shirts with you guys on it.
Speaker C:You're going to be world famous.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Especially after this podcast interview because, you know, everybody loves the AT Nation podcast.
Speaker C:Hey, ladies and gentlemen, I am so excited that we got to see you guys.
Speaker C:I love the video, you guys.
Speaker C:I want to keep trucking, keep working hard up there.
Speaker C:Are you white belts going to be able to test for, like, orange bell soon?
Speaker D:We're testing this weekend, sir.
Speaker D:And I'm testing.
Speaker D:Good luck to get my belt.
Speaker C:Which one?
Speaker D:Mine Tip.
Speaker D:Both of us are.
Speaker D:We could get our camo belt.
Speaker H:Nice.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Good luck to all of you at testing.
Speaker C:All right, I'm gonna ask next week to the.
Speaker C:Whoever I'm interviewing next week.
Speaker C:I'm gonna ask him if you guys passed and if.
Speaker C:If you know.
Speaker C:Because then you'll have to have new animated guys with new belts, and it'll just be amazing.
Speaker C:So keep up the good work.
Speaker C:Thank you so much for taking time to talk to me today and keep being awesome, okay?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:White belts, yellow belts.
Speaker B:Stand up tall.
Speaker A:Hands up,.
Speaker H:Eyes forward.
Speaker A:Let's go.
Speaker A:We're the Color bell crew.
Speaker A:Let's go.
Speaker B:We're the color bell crew and we're learning every day There's a reason for the things we do and every word we say Grandmaster MK Lee shares the history we should know Teaching us where we came from and the way that.
Speaker A:We should go Feet in place and.
Speaker B:Shoulders strong Learning how to stand every block and every punch we practice on command doesn't have to be perfect the first time that we try we listen, learn and do it again and keep.
Speaker A:Our standards high we're the color belt crew Learning what to do, discipline and.
Speaker B:Respecting everything we do Block, punch, dance, Go.
Speaker B:Practice hard and watch us grow White spirit yellow.
Speaker B:Step by step we're getting stronger yet Responsibility starts with you and me and song gum.
Speaker B:We're learning who we want to be One stand strong our balance set hands are where they need to be Proper punches, proper blocks.
Speaker B:Working on our technique Some are bigger, some are faster Some have trained much longer, too.
Speaker A:But when you're the littlest one in.
Speaker B:Class, there's still a lot that you can do.
Speaker B:Move your feet and use your speed.
Speaker B:Think before you go.
Speaker B:Keep your guard up, find your space.
Speaker A:That's how smart fighters grow.
Speaker B:We don't spar because we're angry.
Speaker B:We don't spar to prove we're tough.
Speaker B:We learn control and confidence.
Speaker B:And when enough is enough we're the.
Speaker A:Color belt crew Learning what to do,.
Speaker B:Discipline and respecting everything we do Block punch, let's go.
Speaker A:Practice hard and watch us grow White.
Speaker B:To yellow Step by step we're getting strong We Responsibility starts with you and me that song.
Speaker B:We're learning who we want to be who keeps trying?
Speaker B:We do who shows respect?
Speaker B:We do who takes responsibility?
Speaker B:Who gives their best?
Speaker A:We do.
Speaker B:When we make a mistake, try again when somebody needs help, be afraid when the training gets hard, don't give up Color Bell Crew, stand up.
Speaker B:History teaches where we started Training shows us where to go Every every lesson has a purpose.
Speaker B:Every practice helps us grow Respect the ones who came before us Help the ones who've just begun.
Speaker B:Being strong means being responsible for the things that we have done.
Speaker B:White belt is a beginning.
Speaker A:Yellow means we're moving through.
Speaker B:But the color isn't everything, it's a character in you.
Speaker B:We're the color belt crew and we know what to do.
Speaker B:Discipline and respecting everything we do.
Speaker B:Black punch, dance, go.
Speaker B:Look how much we've learned and grown.
Speaker B:Every lesson, every day helps us find a better way.
Speaker B:Responsibility starts with you and me at.
Speaker A:The song of academic program we're becoming.
Speaker B:Who will be White belts, Yellow belt strong and true Sublime Discipline, race, back Color belt crew.
Speaker C:Oh, man, isn't that the coolest video?
Speaker C:Oh, that's so awesome.
Speaker C:I love it now.
Speaker C:Looks like my camera lost connection somehow.
Speaker C:But that means we're going to go off to our next interview.
Speaker C:We have our athlete of the week, PA Nation.
Speaker C:We have a special guest with us today.
Speaker C:Our athlete of the week is Senior Master Church.
Speaker C:How are you today, ma'?
Speaker A:Am?
Speaker I:I'm fantastic.
Speaker I:How are you?
Speaker C:I am wonderful.
Speaker C:And this month as Founders Month, we want to spend some time talking to people about Eternal Grandmaster and just the life he lived, the legacy he left.
Speaker C:And so what do you remember when you first met Eternal Grandmaster?
Speaker I:I have so many memories of him that are amazing.
Speaker I:He was very electric and we were all moths to the flame for him.
Speaker I:When I first met him, he came up and grabbed my two and a half year old and carried him all around the nationals.
Speaker I:They fell in love with him because he was a towhead little white boy.
Speaker I:And so that was one of my memories, but one of the biggest.
Speaker I:So many memories of being a mom on the sidelines and then doing a board breakathon that he was at.
Speaker I:How encouraging he was.
Speaker I:And then the next scene, I was at a fall nationals passing out Susan G. Cummin foundation pins.
Speaker I:And not a lot of people know that I used to be really shy.
Speaker I:So I was really, really quiet.
Speaker I:And I remember being a little girl and seeing a martial arts demonstrating demonstrations in middle school.
Speaker I:And I said, mom, I want to do that.
Speaker I:She's like, girls don't do martial arts.
Speaker I:So.
Speaker C:But how wrong, how wrong that is.
Speaker C:Of course they do martial arts.
Speaker I:Yes.
Speaker I:It was like at a school owner's breakfast luncheon, something to that effect.
Speaker I:And I was passing out the pins and he made me come up and speak on behalf of the Susan G. Cullman Foundation.
Speaker I:And I was like, that's not me.
Speaker I:I'm not supposed to do that.
Speaker I:That's supposed to be somebody else.
Speaker I:But I, I left that meeting Knowing that I could accomplish so much more.
Speaker I:And I think that's something that he instilled in everyone.
Speaker I:Do you know, I remember winning my first world title and he's like, now you're one of my world champions.
Speaker I:Do you know?
Speaker I:And that was kind of cool.
Speaker I:And yeah, so he was, he used to come and watch me compete.
Speaker I:And the stress that you would get as a first degree black belt with, you know, Eternal Grandmaster standing there, you're.
Speaker C:Like, oh my gosh.
Speaker C:Yeah, I remember, I remember doing a midterm in front of him as a first degree in, in Michigan and being like, what am I doing?
Speaker C:This is so scary.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker C:But, you know, I mean, what a, what a, a legacy he has left with, you know, so many people in the ATA this month, obviously Founders Month, lots of fundraising things going on.
Speaker C:Are you guys doing anything?
Speaker C:I know pink belts are really big.
Speaker C:That helps the foundation and then you le classic.
Speaker C:All those kind of things going on.
Speaker C:What should we be doing to.
Speaker C:To continue to forward Eternal Grandmaster's legacy?
Speaker I:Personally host an ata and I do a fundraiser.
Speaker I:We market private lessons, private lesson packages.
Speaker I:And I've raised over $70,000.
Speaker I:I know that I was a recipient of the Sung Si Lee Award not last year, but the year before based on how much I've raised for the H.E.
Speaker I:Lee Foundation.
Speaker I:I have so many kids that have benefited from that, and I will do it every year for the rest of my life.
Speaker I:I will continue.
Speaker I:My goal is always to get 20,000, and sometimes I get 25, and sometimes I get 17, sometimes I get 19, sometimes.
Speaker I:So that's something that I continue and will continue to do.
Speaker C:You guys have had a lot of students that have gotten some of those scholarships over their years as well.
Speaker I:Yes, I've had a ton of students.
Speaker I:I had one of my students the other day, Christina, Dr. Beck, who was a recipient of the Hu Lee Foundation.
Speaker I:She is a doctor, obviously.
Speaker I:She came to visit me with her one year old.
Speaker C:Oh, what a leg.
Speaker C:I mean, how cool is that, that these, these people who started with you as kids, you know, go off, get one of these scholarships, continue.
Speaker C:Go doctor and now you've got the kid coming back and checking things out.
Speaker I:Well, she, she brought her back and she said, I'm going to be back here in four years for her to take class from you.
Speaker I:And so it was kind of cool.
Speaker C:This thing started and just grows and grows and grows and grows.
Speaker C:What, what kind of advice or what kind of inspiration would you give somebody who maybe has not met, you know, they, they weren't around when Eternal Grandmaster was here, they started Taekwondo afterwards.
Speaker C:What would you tell them to do to continue his legacy?
Speaker I:Well, one, he's still here.
Speaker I:He is.
Speaker I:He is.
Speaker I:He is.
Speaker I:He is still here.
Speaker I:In everything that we do, we're carrying on his memory and everything that we do and everywhere that we go.
Speaker I:But the Memorial foundation is just one way to give back, to keep his memory alive.
Speaker I:And the kids that are the recipient of those, they'll never forget them.
Speaker I:I remember, like, I had a CEO on the plane going to a meeting, and he said over the pilot quoted Eternal Grandmaster.
Speaker I:It's amazing, you know, impossible today, possible tomorrow.
Speaker I:And he goes, I know who that is.
Speaker I:That's Eternal Hu Lee, you know, and it was.
Speaker I:It was kind of a cool thing.
Speaker I:But he, you know, to have that on a plane and a CEO and his son was an ATA student.
Speaker I:And he's like, I know exactly who that is.
Speaker I:And they just quoted him on the airline, which was kind of cool.
Speaker I:And I've heard instances where people have used that in.
Speaker I:In meetings in big companies.
Speaker I:So it's not just in the ata, it's out everywhere.
Speaker C:That's amazing.
Speaker C:I mean, just to see the, you know, the history of where, you know, Grandmaster Richard Reed, you know, met this guy in Korea, he comes over and then changes all of our lives, you know, and continues to have that ripple effect throughout, you know, and we get to celebrate that this month especially, you know, tell those stories, you know, let our juniors know more and more about Eternal Grandmaster, you know, as they are learning martial arts, learning that these are the things that.
Speaker C:That he taught us.
Speaker I:Do you know, he was so inspiring.
Speaker I:You know, I'm a female.
Speaker I:I was just a mom.
Speaker I:He inspired me to get on the mat.
Speaker I:And then I have so many other role models and stories.
Speaker I:I have Grandmaster Tammy, I have Chief Master Bessie Stevens, I have Janetta Pickett, Michelle Ray, like people that continue to keep his vision going and work towards that, you know, every day.
Speaker I:So these are.
Speaker I:I know that Chief Master of Barbara Sestaire has been a big role model for me.
Speaker I:And then the vision of his.
Speaker I:Him through her as well.
Speaker I:Each and every one of these great women, the stories that they have and how incredible it is.
Speaker C:So, yes, 100%, what a great inspiration.
Speaker C:And, you know, every October, every day, we're in uniform and talking to people, making sure that we're reinforcing that idea.
Speaker C:Today, not possible, tomorrow, possible.
Speaker C:You know, these grandkids are the next Masters, senior, Masters, Grandmaster someday.
Speaker C:And we just continue to grow and spread that.
Speaker C:So it's amazing blessing that we are, you know, getting to live this legacy that Eternal Grandmaster had and we get to keep sharing it.
Speaker I:So I know I have three generations in my family, myself, my children, and my grandchildren.
Speaker I:Sadie just won her first world title last year and Xander just went to his first tournament like a month ago.
Speaker I:So it's kind of cool to see it continue and for it all to be there.
Speaker I:And in each one of us, we keep his memory alive.
Speaker F:Great.
Speaker C:Well, thank you so much for sharing with us about Eternal Grandmaster and we want everybody out there to continue to share those messages.
Speaker C:You so much, ma', am, for your time today and thanks to all the next generations coming to be able to share that legacy of Eternal Grandmaster all month of Founders Month.
Speaker C:But then of course, every day we, we step on the mat and go out into life, showing today not possible, tomorrow possible.
Speaker I:And everybody just needs to do like, donate something and then this will be even bigger than it already is.
Speaker C:So a hundred percent, yes, ma'.
Speaker C:Am.
Speaker C:Thank you so much.
Speaker I:Thank you.
Speaker C:Well, our athlete of the week featuring stories of Eternal Grandmaster.
Speaker C:If you don't know this is Founders Month, make sure that you reach out to your instructor, get online, watch some of the videos, ask a high rank at a tournament about Eternal Grandmaster.
Speaker C:I think you'll be really, you know, inspired by those stories that you hear.
Speaker C:Now, I told you we have a jam packed episode today because we haven't done our week four update from our song I'm Academic Crew.
Speaker C:So let's get to that video here in just a second nation we have our update.
Speaker C:Our song Alaska, or excuse me, Songam Academic Program up in Whale Pass, Alaska.
Speaker C:These guys got up a little early to come and talk to us today.
Speaker C:So now people might know you guys already because we've, we've interviewed you.
Speaker C:But just in case, give us an introduction, give us your name, and let's go with rank today.
Speaker C:Name and rank.
Speaker G:My name is Rally Harrigan and I am a yellow belt Poseidon.
Speaker F:My name is Jesse Dempsey and I'm a second degree black belt.
Speaker E:My name is Brody Wells and I'm a first degree black belt.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:Now I was talking to the younger guys and they're testing this weekend.
Speaker C:Are you guys.
Speaker C:Do you guys got testing this weekend too?
Speaker E:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Okay, so what are you testing for?
Speaker C:Camouflage belt?
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Nice.
Speaker C:Okay, I want to see.
Speaker C:So the goal then is to start kicking Jesse in the head.
Speaker C:And that's what I want to.
Speaker C:I want to start seeing him get kicked more in the head.
Speaker C:That'd be great.
Speaker C:And Then, gentlemen, are you guys doing midterms testings?
Speaker C:What are you guys doing midterms?
Speaker E:Midterms, sir.
Speaker C:Okay, what.
Speaker C:What stuff are you performing for your midterm?
Speaker C:Like, perform.
Speaker E:Are you doing a weapon and sparring?
Speaker C:Okay, traditional.
Speaker C:Very nice.
Speaker C:What's your.
Speaker C:Are you guys.
Speaker C:You guys choosing your own board breaks, or did they give you ones you got to do?
Speaker E:We can choose our own board breaks.
Speaker C:What are you doing then?
Speaker E:Probably a front elbow and then a.
Speaker E:An ax kick.
Speaker C:Ax kick.
Speaker C:I just did that one in my midterm.
Speaker C:And what about you, Mr. Dempsey?
Speaker F:I'm going to do a knife hand strike, front elbow, and then a step reverse heel kick.
Speaker C:Oh, very good.
Speaker C:He's taking it up a little bit.
Speaker F:Nice.
Speaker F:All right.
Speaker C:Awesome.
Speaker C:Okay, so you guys just had another awesome week there in Alaska.
Speaker C:I was at nationals, and I got to talk to Grandmaster Cole.
Speaker C:He was up there in Alaska.
Speaker C:He might be, like, the one who's been there the most of the high ranks.
Speaker C:What did you guys learn from Grandmaster Cole?
Speaker C:Nothing.
Speaker C:They're like, we didn't learn anything from.
Speaker C:I'm telling him, Grandmaster Cole, they said they didn't learn anything from you.
Speaker F:No.
Speaker C:You're in trouble next time he comes up there.
Speaker E:We learn.
Speaker E:We learn stances and correct blocks.
Speaker G:We learned a lot about chambering.
Speaker C:That's excellent.
Speaker C:Back to some basics.
Speaker C:I know you guys been doing.
Speaker C:You've been doing all that fancy stuff with Mr. Lamp and, you know, doing all kinds of craziness.
Speaker C:Chief Master sky was teaching you some jong bong.
Speaker C:So, Grandmaster Cole, back to basics.
Speaker C:You don't have the good basics, you're in trouble.
Speaker C:Did he.
Speaker C:Did he make sure that, you know, bending those knees on the stances?
Speaker C:Good.
Speaker C:Okay, now, I might have.
Speaker C:I might have took a sneak peek at this week's video, and I saw a lot of cold water swimming.
Speaker C:So first of all, before I get to what I thought was the best part of the video, you guys went and saw some glaciers?
Speaker E:Yes, sir.
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Now, have you all.
Speaker C:I mean, you guys, is this multiple times for all of you?
Speaker C:Are you guys all.
Speaker C:Are you guys all from Alaska?
Speaker F:No, sir.
Speaker C:No.
Speaker C:Okay, so the glaciers, how was it?
Speaker F:It was great.
Speaker E:It was amazing.
Speaker G:It was very cold, sir.
Speaker F:We got to see a glacier actually calving.
Speaker F:It was awesome.
Speaker C:Ooh, that's super cool.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:And you had your.
Speaker C:Your tricking coach was there.
Speaker C:I heard.
Speaker C:What's his name again?
Speaker F:Don Lewis, sir.
Speaker C:Yes, Mr. Lewis.
Speaker C:So Grandmaster Cole was telling me that he wanted to jump into the water, and the.
Speaker C:The captain of the ship Was like, no, no, no, you can't do that.
Speaker C:It's way too cold.
Speaker G:On the other ship, the captain did not want him to jump, but on our ship, she.
Speaker G:Our captain found a broom, and she kind of swept the water to get the ice away because.
Speaker C:So, like, they had to move the water so he couldn't.
Speaker C:Like, if he jumped off, he would have, like, landed on pieces of ice.
Speaker G:Yes.
Speaker C:Okay, so what did you think after he jumped in was.
Speaker C:What were you guys all like?
Speaker C:That's a crazy man.
Speaker G:He's insane.
Speaker E:Yeah, that was pretty cool.
Speaker C:It was awesome.
Speaker C:I thought what was amazing to me in the video of him jumping in was he didn't just jump in once.
Speaker C:It looked like he jumped in a couple of times he did, sir.
Speaker G:He made sure the other boat could also see him jump in.
Speaker C:Okay, that's seems a little.
Speaker C:A little crazy, right?
Speaker C:So this Mr. Lewis, now he was there with you guys as well?
Speaker C:Not, I'm assuming, not just teaching you how to jump into freezing cold water.
Speaker C:What other things did you do with Mr. Lewis?
Speaker F:I started working on my back handspring again, and I got that mostly down.
Speaker E:I learned a back handspring, and then I'm working on a touchdown rise.
Speaker C:Oh, I have no idea what that even is.
Speaker C:Can you describe it for me?
Speaker E:So the touchdown rise is where you touch your hand down on the ground, and then you kind of kick over.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:I think I know.
Speaker C:Okay, I think I know what it is.
Speaker C:Okay, Very good.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:What about you, ma'?
Speaker I:Am?
Speaker C:What did you do?
Speaker G:I didn't.
Speaker G:I didn't really do his class, so I did a lot of cartwheels.
Speaker C:When I'm not doing that.
Speaker C:I'm not jumping like that yet.
Speaker C:I understand.
Speaker C:Yeah, I'm with you.
Speaker C:You like to stay on the ground.
Speaker F:You.
Speaker C:Not that, like, lifting off.
Speaker C:Off the ground thing.
Speaker C:I understand, sir.
Speaker C:Makes sense.
Speaker C:Now, I've been asking for weeks for you guys to be jumping off this dock.
Speaker C:I see song, I'm one on the dock.
Speaker C:I see all kinds of things on the dock.
Speaker C:And I get the video this week.
Speaker C:I. I open it up, I start to watch, and there you guys jumping off the dock into the water.
Speaker C:How was it?
Speaker E:It's cold.
Speaker F:It was cold at first, but then eventually I did get used to it.
Speaker G:It was hilarious.
Speaker C:Did you jump off into the water once, sir.
Speaker C:Okay, good job.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:Okay, so I. I don't know if I want to.
Speaker C:I don't know if I want to make this.
Speaker C:I don't know if I want to make this a Thing.
Speaker C:But here's.
Speaker C:I. I'm considering that I should come see you guys in Alaska next year at the thing, and if I do, I think I should have to jump off into the water as well.
Speaker G:It's mandatory, sir.
Speaker C:It's mandatory.
Speaker E:If you come to Alaska, you got to jump off.
Speaker F:So.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:Will.
Speaker C:Do you all still have 10 fingers and 10 toes?
Speaker G:Yes, I think so, sir.
Speaker I:Okay.
Speaker C:The hypothermia didn't set in?
Speaker C:You didn't lose anything?
Speaker E:No, sir.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:There wasn't.
Speaker C:You.
Speaker C:You didn't get a toe bit off by a seal or anything?
Speaker C:No, sir.
Speaker E:Not yet.
Speaker C:What a story.
Speaker C:What a story.
Speaker C:You could be like, not yet.
Speaker C:I went to Alaska.
Speaker C:I was learning song.
Speaker C:I'm Taekwondo.
Speaker C:I was getting ready to test, and a seal bit my pinky.
Speaker C:Toe off could happen.
Speaker C:Okay, what do you guys got planned this next week or this week?
Speaker E:Sacrament prep and testing.
Speaker E:Prep.
Speaker C:Excellent.
Speaker C:Okay, I know a bunch of you guys are doing extreme and creative at the.
Speaker C:The tournament, right?
Speaker E:Yeah.
Speaker F:Very good.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker C:She's like, no, I'm skipping that.
Speaker C:What events are you doing, ma'?
Speaker C:Am?
Speaker G:Um, if I can get my whole form down, I'm going to do both staff and I'm going to do forms.
Speaker I:Perfect.
Speaker C:That's good.
Speaker C:Those are good choices.
Speaker C:I like.
Speaker C:I like those options.
Speaker C:I mean.
Speaker C:And let me tell you, you're a yellow belt.
Speaker C:Decided.
Speaker C:All right.
Speaker C:I didn't go to my first.
Speaker C:Is.
Speaker C:Have you gone to a tournament before?
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Okay, see, you're an old pro.
Speaker C:Like, I didn't go to my first tournament until I was, like, a blue belt, which I tell people is a horrible idea.
Speaker C:Go to a tournament early.
Speaker C:Because when you go to a tournament is like a white, orange, and yellow belt.
Speaker C:Everybody else in your ring is like, I don't know what I'm doing.
Speaker C:Yeah, everybody's that way.
Speaker C:And when you go.
Speaker C:When you're a higher rank, a bunch of people have done it before, and you're like, I'm the only one who hasn't.
Speaker C:So I like it.
Speaker C:Is that a chicken?
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker C:Get roosters.
Speaker G:We have a lot of chickens, sir.
Speaker C:Oh, do you eat their eggs?
Speaker G:Yes, sir.
Speaker G:And some of them just had children.
Speaker C:Really?
Speaker G:Yeah, we have chicks.
Speaker F:10 Chicks.
Speaker C:Really?
Speaker C:I wouldn't.
Speaker C:Chickens in Alaska.
Speaker C:Okay, what's the weather like this week?
Speaker F:It was great, sir, but right now it's looking a little.
Speaker C:A little dreary.
Speaker C:A little dreary.
Speaker C:A little dreary.
Speaker C:Well, that.
Speaker C:That rooster is excited about the morning.
Speaker C:Hey, guys, it is always a pleasure to check in with you guys up there in Alaska.
Speaker C:Congratulations on finally helping me achieve the dream of watching you all jump into the water off the dock.
Speaker C:I am very excited about it.
Speaker C:It was my favorite thing.
Speaker C:Good luck with your testing prep and tournament prep and we will check in with you guys next week.
Speaker G:Sir.
Speaker C:Well, man, this Alaska thing is pretty amazing.
Speaker C:They've only got like two weeks left, like nine days, something like that before they head back to the regular old lower 48 and they're going to compete at that tournament and we're going to check in with them over the next couple weeks.
Speaker C:Guys, what a action packed episode we have today.
Speaker C:So cool.
Speaker C:Make sure that if you are an ATA licensee, we've got only about 20 minutes if you're watching this live before we go live for Business beyond the Mat.
Speaker C:That is our ATA licensee exclusive podcast and video show all about, you know, how to help your business go beyond the mat.
Speaker C:So you can tune into that in the ATA licensee Facebook group if you are a licensee or our special Secret link on YouTube then too.
Speaker C:Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna leave you with the video from the week four from the Songam academic program.
Speaker C:Until next time, get out there and go beyond the belts.
Speaker H:Week 4 Alaska Turn it up from the dojang floor to the glacier blue Another wild week Another breakthrough song Alaska let's go.
Speaker H:Grandmaster co king walking through the door Time to raise the standard Time to give a little more Hands up, eye sharp get your footwork right Learning how to move, how to think, how to fight Forms getting cleaner Every stance locked down Power with control when the master comes around Details make the difference Discipline makes you strong Seven weeks in a Alaska and we're pushing right along Train.
Speaker B:Hard, stand tall get back up every.
Speaker H:Time you fall from the dojang to.
Speaker A:The wild outside Week four we're along for the ride into the ice, into the blue Alaska Showing us what it.
Speaker H:Can do Mountains rising, cold wind blow and big blue ice and the wild.
Speaker A:0 Rolling into the ice, into the spray this is how we learn the.
Speaker H:Song I'm way train together chase something.
Speaker A:More welcome to Alaska Week 4 Tom.
Speaker B:Lewis is still here Taking tricks sky high Spinning through the air like he was born to fly Kick, twist, flip Then stick it on the floor Every time we think we're done he teaches one trick more than we Trading maps for a saltwater ride Chasing ice and adventure on the wild Alaska tide Breakaway adventures full speed ahead Toward towering ice where the wild waters lead thanks to.
Speaker H:Amy and the island Hands Grant giving our students a chance they won't forget.
Speaker B:Past Petersburg with the mountain standing tall.
Speaker H:Then the ocean came alive around us.
Speaker B:Oh, whales breaking water.
Speaker B:Vorpus is racing by.
Speaker H:Sea lions lounging underneath an open sky.
Speaker B:Seals on the ice with nowhere else to be.
Speaker A:Just another classroom only Alaska sea into.
Speaker H:The ice, into the blue.
Speaker A:Alaska showing us what it can do.
Speaker H:Mountains rising, cold wind blow and big blue ice and the wild sea rolling.
Speaker A:Into the ice into the spring.
Speaker A:This is how we learn the song.
Speaker H:We train together, chase something more.
Speaker A:Welcome to Alaska Week 4.
Speaker B:Then Leconte appeared at the end of the run.
Speaker B:Ancient blue ice shining under the sun.
Speaker B:Icebergs towering, drifting through the bay.
Speaker B:Every shape and color taking our breath away.
Speaker A:Then crack.
Speaker B:The glacier thundered boom.
Speaker B:The ice came down the wall broke loose with the roll roaring sound.
Speaker B:Standing there watching as the whole world shook.
Speaker B:That's something you don't learn inside a book.
Speaker B:And I looked at that glacier water Everybody knew what was coming.
Speaker B:Cold plunge, three, two, one, go.
Speaker H:Into the conte, straight into the cold.
Speaker H:That's one way to make a highlight story get told.
Speaker H:Ice in the water, mountains overhead.
Speaker B:Dom jumped in and somehow he's not.
Speaker H:But somebody's been talking from somewhere far away.
Speaker B:See her Master Hayden had something to say.
Speaker H:Heard about the dock, heard about the crew.
Speaker B:Said, I want to see what those Alaska kids can do.
Speaker H:Tricks off the dock into that freezing bay.
Speaker H:Flipping through the air in the Alaska way.
Speaker B:Cold water waiting but nobody back down.
Speaker B:Run, jump, flip and splash down.
Speaker B:Front flip, back flip, flying off the shore.
Speaker B:You ask for something so we gave you more.
Speaker B:See your master Hayden, this one's for you from the whale Pass dock.
Speaker A:Here comes the crew.
Speaker B:Into the ice, into the blue.
Speaker H:Look at everything these students can do.
Speaker H:Forms and sparring, flips and flight.
Speaker H:Glacier thunder under northern light into the.
Speaker A:Wild, into the spray.
Speaker A:Learning and growing in the song I'm.
Speaker H:Away from whale pass out to la Conte shore.
Speaker B:That was Alaska Week 4.
Speaker B:Grandmaster Cole, Dom Lewis, Breakaway adventures, Amy.
Speaker A:And island hands whales, porpoises, sea lions,.
Speaker B:Seals, icebergs, Laconte glacier and sir Master Hayden.
Speaker B:You asked for tricks off the docks.
Speaker B:We heard you.
Speaker B:So next year, come see Alaska for yourself.
Speaker B:Come train with us.
Speaker B:Come adventure with us.
Speaker B:And maybe bring your swim trunks.
Speaker A:See your master Hayden.
Speaker B:Your invitation is officially open.
Speaker B:We'll see you in welfare.
Speaker B:Ata Asian podcast.
Speaker B:Be sure to subscribe and share with your Ata family.
Speaker A:It.
