Episode 220
Ep. 220 - Time to Head to Pittsburgh One Least Time!
I state that week three of the Songam Academic program in Whale Pass, Alaska focused on immersive training, guest instructors, community activities, and Founders Month fundraising for the H. Lee Scholarship Foundation. We described a regional camp that built bonds by the fire and included lectures from senior instructors. I interviewed students from Texas who recounted charter fishing, plans for a glacier trip, tumbling instruction, and direct training with Grandmaster. We highlighted that several students will compete in Extreme Forms and Extreme Weapons at a tournament in Idaho and that they will use weapons such as the bo staff and nunchaku. I reminded listeners about Songam University for dual enrollment, Business Beyond the Mat for licensees, Fall Nationals, and the HU Lee Classic in Little Rock. We urged support for Founders Month fundraisers and encouraged listeners to seek stories from senior members about Eternal Grandmaster H. Lee.
Takeaways:
- We describe Whale Pass as a valuable training program that builds bonds and skills.
- I encourage members to attend regional camps to learn from senior instructors and grow.
- We note October as Founders Month and recommend fundraising for the H. Lee Scholarship Foundation.
- I highlight the variety of activities such as charter fishing, glacier trips, and tumbling instruction for students.
- We emphasize the value of Songam University and dual enrollment for high school students seeking training and degrees.
- I urge licensees to use Business Beyond the Mat resources and attend Nationals and Little Rock headquarters events.
Transcript
Sam.
Speaker A:Foreign.
Speaker A:Welcome to the ada nation podcast.
Speaker A:Here we go Academic program Steal the show in our hands but we're having fun Learning and laughing till the week is done Grandmaster MK Daily in the house Bringing that energy turning it out Focus, discipline, giving our best Song I'm spirit We're passing the test we're ready hear a shout there's no slowing this crew down from the classroom to the floor Week three's got us wanting more we're on fire, we're alive Song on week three let's thrive Hands up high let's make some noise Learning, training Girls and boys from MK lead to the fishing scene this is the widest week we've ever seen hey, hey, let's go.
Speaker A:Then an FBI agent came to visit Talked about the job and what's really in it Questions flying Everybody's locked in Another big lesson Let the week begin and when the week is almost through Mr. Dime's coming and we know what to do One more surprise before we say goodbye we're keeping the energy upscale sky high and we're ready Hear a shout there's no slowing this crew down Every day brings something new there's always something wild to do we're on fire, we're alive Sung on week three let's thrive Hands up high let's make some noise Learning, training Girls and boys from MK leans of the fishing scene this is the wildest week we've ever seen let's go, go, go Song of week three Put, put, put, put, put on a show Week three, Week three Self charter fishing Heading out to sea Alabama waiting what a way to be Reel it in, feel that fight Big fish stories by the end of the night let's see the Gary the tree guy too.
Speaker A:Keeping those trees looking fresh and new from the map to the ocean blue there's nothing this week can make us do MK Lee FBI Mr.
Speaker A:Dawn Halibut Cedar Gary We3, let's go we're on fire, we're alive Song on week three let's thrive Academic program Side by side learning with that song gum Grandmaster FBI and fishing tool Mr. Dumbassina Gary coming through.
Speaker A:Hands up high let's make some noise Week three is a week we join let's go Week three, Week 3 song of.
Speaker B:Well, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to 220 of the ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker B:You just saw the recap video and if you are only listening to the audio podcast, you heard the awesome song for week three of the Song Academic program up in Whale Pass, Alaska.
Speaker B:We are going to be Interviewing a couple of them here in just a minute or two.
Speaker B:But, man, what kind of crazy stuff do we got going on this week?
Speaker B:It is all about Fall Nationals and Founders Month.
Speaker B:We have stepped into October, as you might have noticed.
Speaker B:My episode is a day late, but we had our regional camp last weekend and man, I had to recover.
Speaker B:It's a little rough.
Speaker B:We, we had an amazing time.
Speaker B:If you haven't attended one of these regional camps, you really need to make an attempt to go to a regional camp.
Speaker B:Such a great.
Speaker B:So many bonds, you know, getting to sit by the fire and hear stories from our senior instructors.
Speaker B:A lot of fun.
Speaker B:And we had some great lectures at our regional camp.
Speaker B:I know a lot of the regional camps around the country have those as well.
Speaker B:So that was this weekend for us in our area.
Speaker B:But then, of course, we are in October.
Speaker B:October is Founders Month.
Speaker B:This is the month that we celebrate Eternal Grandmaster Hu Lee.
Speaker B:The ambassadors have been putting out some great videos about that.
Speaker B:At Fall Nationals, you'll have the chance to break some boards to raise some money for the H. Lee Foundation.
Speaker B:I would encourage you to look at how your school might run a fundraiser for the Scholarship foundation.
Speaker B:And maybe you find that October ends up being a little busy.
Speaker B:We.
Speaker B:We have had this come up at our school.
Speaker B:Sometimes we usually run what we call a jar wars against some other schools in the area and raise some money for the Scholarship Foundation.
Speaker B:But a lot of times October is crazy.
Speaker B:October has got a lot of stuff in it all.
Speaker B:Nationals, Halloween activities, other kinds of activities.
Speaker B:Pink belt fundraiser, which the Scholarship foundation as well, that you are looking at that Scholarship foundation as an opportunity to give back.
Speaker B:And in a future interview, we'll have some information about, you know, some people who have benefited from that Scholarship foundation that is Founders Month.
Speaker B:Make sure you, if you haven't had the opportunity to hear more about Eternal Grandmaster Huli, make sure you reach out to some seniors.
Speaker B:Look at some of our past episodes in October about what we've done.
Speaker B:We've had some great interviews about people talking about Eternal Grandmaster.
Speaker B:But, you know, this weekend we were, like I said, we were at this regional camp and sitting around the fire and hearing when people started Taekwondo.
Speaker B:And I'm like, man, so many of these people, even, even masters have started Taekwondo and we're not able to meet Eternal Esther.
Speaker B:And so we want to make sure not only are we carrying on his legacy with what we do through Songam Taekwondo, but we are also just carrying on the history and the, the stories about who he was.
Speaker B:Really, really amazing man.
Speaker B:So we want to make sure we mention those.
Speaker B:Talk to your seniors, you know, go to something like Fall Nationals and ask somebody.
Speaker B:You know, hey, can you tell me a story about Eternal Grand Master or something like that?
Speaker B:And I think you'll really enjoy that.
Speaker B:Now, every week we've been bringing you these updates from Whale Pass, Alaska.
Speaker B:This is a program that you can participate in next year.
Speaker B:I am seriously considering going up to see if they'll have me as a guest instructor, but I wanted to get our interview in today, so hit that now.
Speaker B:ATA Nation, we are here with our update from Whale Pass, Alaska.
Speaker B:We've got some new students with us today.
Speaker B:So, hey, can you guys introduce yourself for us?
Speaker C:My name is Matthew alt.
Speaker C:I'm a second degree.
Speaker C:I'm 15.
Speaker C:I'm from Northlake, Texas.
Speaker D:I'm Mason Boykin.
Speaker D:I'm a first degree black belt and I'm from.
Speaker D:Is there.
Speaker D:My name is Liam Rogers.
Speaker D:I'm 10 years old.
Speaker D:I'm from Denison, Texas and I have first degree.
Speaker D:My name is Lillian Smith.
Speaker D:I am a brown belt.
Speaker D:I am 13 and I am from Tyler, Texas.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:So we got the Texas crew in here today.
Speaker B:I know I've met a couple of you guys before and so you were.
Speaker B:This is your second year.
Speaker B:Is anybody there?
Speaker B:Raise your hand if it's your first year.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:That's what I thought.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Excellent.
Speaker B:Okay, so let's go with this first.
Speaker B:Would somebody like to tell me just a little overview of what you thought of Grandmaster being there and training with you guys?
Speaker B:Yeah, go for it.
Speaker D:I thought it was awesome.
Speaker D:We got to learn all kinds of new stuff and stuff.
Speaker D:I didn't know.
Speaker B:That's all.
Speaker B:That's very cool.
Speaker B:Is that so what did you guys.
Speaker B:The.
Speaker B:Are my new guys there?
Speaker B:What did you guys think of the charter fishing trip?
Speaker D:It was really cool, sir.
Speaker B:Did you guys catch anything?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker D:Sir.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Good deal.
Speaker B:That's exciting.
Speaker B:Okay, let's go with our.
Speaker B:Our veteran students.
Speaker B:How's it been?
Speaker B:How are these new guys acclimating to the adventure?
Speaker B:Are they fitting right in and becoming part of the Whale Pass family?
Speaker C:I think so.
Speaker C:I think it's nice to see some new faces and to, you know, just incorporate more people into this program for sure.
Speaker B:Lily, is it?
Speaker B:Lily, right?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:I met you last.
Speaker B:I met you at Nationals, I think last year.
Speaker B:How's this year going for you?
Speaker D:It's going great.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:What's your favorite part so far?
Speaker B:That's a tough question.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Is it?
Speaker B:How was.
Speaker B:I mean, I'm not Gonna make you pick a favorite because you've had some amazing instructors.
Speaker B:But how was your time with Chief master Skiles and Mr. Lamp?
Speaker B:Did you learn some good stuff there?
Speaker D:Yes, sir.
Speaker B:You doing any flips and tricks these days?
Speaker D:No, sir.
Speaker C:Me neither.
Speaker B:I'm not flipping.
Speaker B:I. I mean, Mr. Lamp could be teaching me for, like, months, and I'm probably not flipping, but I'll do some.
Speaker B:I'll throw my weapons up in the air.
Speaker B:That'll be cool.
Speaker B:Okay, so what kind of things you guys have since Grandmaster has left?
Speaker B:What kind of things have you been up to?
Speaker B:Any big adventures?
Speaker B:Training things that have been going on?
Speaker B:Who gets to give me a little update on how things are going?
Speaker C:I.
Speaker C:Well, just last week we had a tumbling instructor, Mr. Dom, who came in and has been teaching us more flips and tricks.
Speaker C:I've recently been learning how to do front flip.
Speaker C:Mason just learned how to do a backhand spring right.
Speaker C:And backflip and backflip.
Speaker B:Not the case.
Speaker C:Learning how to do that.
Speaker D:I'm learning how to do right handspring.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:That is fantastic.
Speaker B:Okay, so you've had another special guest instructor come in, work on some cool extra tumbling techniques.
Speaker B:That's pretty awesome.
Speaker D:Who.
Speaker B:Which one of you guys are going to compete in some extremely creative.
Speaker B:When you guys go to the tournament in the lower 50?
Speaker B:Yeah, I mean, why not?
Speaker B:Now you guys have been doing.
Speaker B:Mr. Lamp, you've got a tumbling instructor you guys are going to go down to.
Speaker B:What is I. Iowa.
Speaker B:Are you guys going to Iowa?
Speaker B:Idaho.
Speaker C:Idaho.
Speaker B:Idaho.
Speaker B:Idaho.
Speaker B:I knew I started with the ida.
Speaker B:Idaho.
Speaker B:You guys are going to go down there and, like, take all the trophies for extreme and creative events.
Speaker B:Okay, one by one.
Speaker B:What event in the Extreme and creative division are you guys competing in?
Speaker C:I'm be.
Speaker C:I'm gonna be competing in Extreme Forms and Extreme Weapons.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker D:All four.
Speaker B:All four.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker D:All four, sir.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Okay, Lily.
Speaker D:Also all four.
Speaker B:All four, sir.
Speaker B:You're the only one doing only two.
Speaker B:What.
Speaker B:What's the deal?
Speaker B:What.
Speaker B:Okay, one by one, what weapon are you doing for your Extreme?
Speaker C:I'm doing my BO staff, sir.
Speaker B:Bo staff.
Speaker D:I'll do some commas.
Speaker B:Ah, nice.
Speaker D:Most likely BO staff.
Speaker B:BO staff.
Speaker D:Sandra Bongs.
Speaker B:Okay, good, good.
Speaker B:Oh, I love the variety.
Speaker B:That's excellent.
Speaker B:Okay, man, I'm gonna be really excited when you guys get back from that to see what.
Speaker B:What kind of placing you got, what kind of, you know, medals you get to bring.
Speaker B:When you guys go to that tournament.
Speaker B:Are you guys.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:Is that the end of the trip?
Speaker B:Are Parents coming and grabbing people from there or are you guys going back to Alaska afterwards?
Speaker D:Yes, we are getting grabbed from the tournament.
Speaker D:We are not coming back here.
Speaker B:Okay, that's what I thought.
Speaker B:That's kind of like when it was fall nationals time and you guys came back from there.
Speaker B:Okay, very cool.
Speaker B:So you guys got a couple of weeks left.
Speaker B:What are you guys looking forward to?
Speaker D:I'm looking forward to the glacier trip.
Speaker C:I think I'm most looking forward to training even more.
Speaker B:Just training and the.
Speaker B:You.
Speaker B:Weren't you one of the guys who was like, the food.
Speaker B:I just want to eat all the food.
Speaker B:Glacier trip.
Speaker B:Okay, continue training.
Speaker B:What about you gentlemen?
Speaker B:Your first time there?
Speaker D:Flips.
Speaker B:Flips.
Speaker D:Spending time with family.
Speaker B:Nice.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:Okay, real quick, one more time.
Speaker B:I want to go through your ages again.
Speaker B:So people just get a sense of all the different variety of ages that can go to this program.
Speaker B:So one by one, give me your ages one more time.
Speaker C:I'm 15.
Speaker D:I'm 12, sir.
Speaker D:10.
Speaker D:13.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:See like, man, how cool.
Speaker B:Go up there.
Speaker B:Enjoy the time in Alaska.
Speaker B:New guys.
Speaker B:What would you tell somebody who was interested?
Speaker B:They're like, you know, this kind of sounds cool.
Speaker B:Would you tell them, like, sign up, it's going to be the best thing?
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Any.
Speaker B:Any secret tips you have for them?
Speaker B:Like do they need to make sure they pack extra socks or anything?
Speaker D:Yes, they need a package back extra close.
Speaker B:Something warm.
Speaker B:Is it.
Speaker B:Is it really cold there or just kind of cold?
Speaker D:The first couple days it was a little, little warm.
Speaker D:And then when it days go past, it's getting chillier.
Speaker B:Getting chillier.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:Well, I keep saying I want to see somebody do one of your cool tumbling tricks off that dock right into the freezing cold water.
Speaker D:Yes.
Speaker D:You got the Matthew right?
Speaker B:It looks like Matthew's in the one.
Speaker B:He's been nominated.
Speaker B:Very cool.
Speaker B:Well, who's doing it?
Speaker B:My nephew would do it.
Speaker B:He loves freezing cold water and I think it's crazy, but you know, Lily's gonna go out and do it.
Speaker B:She's like, no.
Speaker B:Yeah, there you go.
Speaker B:No, there you go.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Hey, guys, I am thrilled to get to show ATA nation all the cool things that you're doing up there.
Speaker B:The videos that you guys have been producing are fantastic.
Speaker B:The songs, I love that you guys are doing these songs, which either the videos, they're fantastic.
Speaker B:And then it's great to get to know some of the athletes that are heading up there and first time guys and whatnot.
Speaker B:So thank you so much for your time.
Speaker B:I'M excited to hear more about the different adventures that you guys are doing.
Speaker B:The glacier trip.
Speaker B:I want to hear about that in a future episode.
Speaker B:So thank you guys so much for your time today.
Speaker D:Sir, Sir.
Speaker B:Now it's time to get back to school work.
Speaker B:Well, let me tell you how cool to get to go to Alaska, do this amazing training, have so many super cool instructors again.
Speaker B:Songam Academic program and then you need to make sure that you're checking out the Songam University.
Speaker B:This is an opportunity for people to dual enroll if they're in high school.
Speaker B:Maybe if they're out of high school.
Speaker B:You're able to take this remotely.
Speaker B:Get your degree in Song I'm Taekwondo.
Speaker B:Some just amazing things.
Speaker B:Check out some past episodes we've had on that.
Speaker B:Let us know when you're where you're tuning in from.
Speaker B:I see a bunch of guys online live, we'd love to know where you're tuning in from.
Speaker B:I want to give a shout out to the licensees out there that are working hard on training their students, getting everything going.
Speaker B:I want to remind you if you're a licensee, a new licensee club owner to make sure you're checking out Business beyond the Mat we just had an episode.
Speaker B:This is our podcast just for ATA licensees in the ATA Licensee Facebook group.
Speaker B:We just had a episode with Chief Master Lee from ATA headquarters.
Speaker B:I'm kind of going over what's been going on in ATA Nation and you want to check that out.
Speaker B:You can check the replay on atamartialarts.com when you sign in as a licensee and go to the Business beyond the Mat section of the site.
Speaker B:Guys, I am so excited.
Speaker B:This is my last day here in town.
Speaker B:Tomorrow morning we get in the car and head to Pittsburgh for our last nationals in Pittsburgh and then we've got some awesome events coming up.
Speaker B:Camp Jongsu I think has a couple of spots left.
Speaker B:So if you are looking at a training opportunity, definitely check that out.
Speaker B:And then the HU Lee Classic, the double or excuse me, not double, the A plus event in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Speaker B:And just like I was talking to Chief Master Lee in our interview last week, I think it is so important as an ATA member to have gone to Little Rock, get to see the Huli Gate and Garden, go to ATA headquarters, just see the home of ATA and hopefully you fall in love with Little Rock the way those of us who have been there so many times have.
Speaker B:So really encourage you to check out the Hula Classic, not just because it's a great tournament, but because you get to go to the home of Song.
Speaker B:I'm Taekwondo.
Speaker B:Get to see headquarters, gate and garden, all those amazing things.
Speaker B:Hey, guys, I need to head to packing all my stuff up, make sure I get everything ready for Nationals because I'm training.
Speaker B:I got some classes I'm taking.
Speaker B:Got to do a midterm, Got my judging assignments.
Speaker B:It's going to be an awesome time until I see you at Nationals.
Speaker B:Get out there and go beyond the Belt ATA Nation podcast.
Speaker A:Be sure to subscribe and share with your ATA family.
