Tournaments
Who? Me? Compete in a tournament? YES!!!
ATA In-House Tournaments — In-house tournaments are for our school members only and are a great experience for students new to taekwondo competition. This is fun day for the students to show off their training to their family & friends.
ATA Regional Tournaments — Regional tournaments are hosted throughout the year by ATA schools nationwide and divisions are broken down by rank and age.
ATA National Championships — Two national championships are held each year and include demonstrations, international black belt testing, international competition for all ranks, and a chance to meet the Master Instructors of ATA. Spring Nationals is held in Las Vegas, NV. & Fall Nationals in Orlando, Fl.
ATA World Championships — One world championship tournament is held each year and includes demonstrations, international black belt testing, international competition for all ranks, and a chance to meet the Master Instructors of ATA. Worlds are held in Arkansas in June.
Please talk to your instructor if your are interested in competing for State/World Champ.
She-hahp (tournaments) are controlled competitive environments that allow practitioners to display and improve their skills in a safe environment. Although some may think it is all about "who is better", that is only a part of their purpose in Songahm Taekwondo.
In general, there are basically two types of tournaments:
1. Winning a trophy at any cost, while exclaiming victory and scorning defeat
2. Competing with a good attitude (possibly winning a trophy) and learning under ideal conditions.
The second is what we in Songahm Taekwondo try to achieve!
Remember that tournaments are not just for a trophy. They allow our members to meet new people, make new friends, put nerves to the test, and display skills. By focusing on these purposes, it is very possible to be happy whether one wins or loses. Most people think that the reward at a tournament is the trophy. By eliminating this idea, we eliminate the unnecessary devastation of leaving without a trophy. In reality, competition is not just in a ring. Students of Songahm Taekwondo, as well as all other human beings, are competing with self on a daily basis. We compete with our body to lose weight. We compete with our mind to retain knowledge, and we compete with our intellect on our spiritual convictions. Even in the case of a match against an opponent, we are not only competing against that person's skill, but also against ourselves to the absolute best that we can. Therefore, tournaments are a great opportunity for increasing skills as well as boosting confidence. And, just as importantly, it is possible to learn self control over a temper, or become motivated to react positively instead of negatively to outcomes one does not desire.
For all these reasons and more, she-hahp (tournaments) are a vital part of Songahm Taekwondo, and one of the most dynamic, fun aspects of our art.
Contact your instructor for a list of upcoming tournaments.