Welcome to our Website!
American Martial Arts Academy (AMAA) is home to the AAU National & Kentucky State Champions in Olympic Taekwondo Sparring. Formerly known as American Taekwondo & Kickboxing Academy (ATKA), AMAA is affiliated with the National Martial Arts Schools established in 1963 by 2-time Korean National Champion, Grandmaster Bong Yul Shin. AMAA combines a grand tradition of martial arts excellence with the most advanced training for competitive Taekwondo.
Grandmaster Shin holds a total of 27 degrees (9th Dan in Taekwondo, Judo and Hapkido), and is respected nationally and world-wide as a leading martial arts authority. Grandmaster Shin is one of the highest ranking martial arts instructors certified by the World Taekwondo Federation in Korea. Considered to be a "Founding Father" of Taekwondo in America, Grandmaster Shin has a Master's Degree in Physical Education and celebrates over 45 years of excellence in martial arts instruction. It is a distinct privilege to have Grandmaster Shin as our Honorary Director and Liaison to Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) Headquarters in Korea.
AMAA is locally owned and operated by American Veteran, Master Mariano Floro. Master Floro has over 32 years of experience and is a WTF certified Black Belt. Nationally recognized for his unprecedented success in competitions and outstanding community service, Master Floro was named "Distinguished Master of the Year," and was honored with an induction to the prestigious Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2005. Master Floro also won the "2005 National Leadership Award" for small business owners and was appointed Honorary Chairman for the Kentucky Business Advisory Council. As Certified Coaches for USA Taekwondo (USAT) and AAU Taekwondo, Master Floro and staff have consistently produced AAU National Champions and Medallists in Olympic Taekwondo Sparring.
AMAA is conveniently located in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Drive I-64 to S. Hurstbourne Pkwy to Bluegrass Pkwy. We're in the left building complex of the Bluegrass Corporate Center at 1814 Production Ct, just past the UPS building. For complete directions, just click on the map icon in our "Contact Us" page.
"Exceptional Training for the Winner in You!" AMAA now offers classes in Traditional Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Judo, Muay Thai, Women's Self-Defense and Jiu Jitsu. Please call (502) 499-4889 to schedule your free trial session. We look forward to meeting you!
What is Taekwondo?
Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art which has continually evolved over centuries. More than just a discipline promoting physical fitness or a method of self-defense, Taekwondo is a martial art for self-cultivation. The earliest records of Taek Kyon, the oldest known form of Taekwondo, date back to 50 BC. From the paintings in Muyongchong, a royal tomb from the Koguryo dynasty, techniques and fighting stances depict those similar to modern day Taekwondo.
During the Silla dynasty (57 BC-936 AD), a Buddhist scholar named Kwon'gwang Bopsa developed five codes for moral behavior to be practiced by the Hwarang, the warrior nobility of Silla. The Five Codes of Human Conduct included loyalty to your country, obedience to your parents, trustworthiness to your friends, courage to never retreat in battle, and an attitude of respect for life so as to avoid unjust killing. These codes formed the basis for the modern day Tenets of Taekwondo, which include the virtues of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and an indomitable spirit.
Our Academy will not only focus on physical fitness, but will also strive to promote the complete training of the body and mind by incorporating the Tenets of Taekwondo.
There are multiple interpretations for the word Taekwondo. It is composed of three parts, but it is only one word. Those three parts (tae, k'won, do), form the important concepts behind the martial art. Taekwondo is often translated as 'the way of hand and foot.'
Tae = 'Foot, leg' or 'to kick' or 'to jump' or 'to step on'
K'won = 'Fist' or 'to strike or block with hand' or 'fight'
Do = 'The way of' or 'art' or 'discipline'
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Put this together and Taekwondo is commonly interpreted as: 'The art of kicking and punching' or 'The art of unarmed combat.' However, the literal interpretation of 'to step on fists' brings yet another translation, meaning to 'put fists under control.' The more comprehensive meaning of Taekwondo, therefore, would be 'the right way of using fists and feet to control conflicts.' It is this meaning that truly encompasses the traditional Korean peace-loving spirit.
The ultimate goal of Taekwondo is to discipline your life with physical and mental training to become a healthy and well-balanced person of good moral character.
Disciplines of Taekwondo
Taekwondo has four disciplines:
- Poomses or Forms
- Kyorugi or Sparring
- Self-defense
- Break Test
It is the combination of these four disciplines that make up the sport of Taekwondo.
Objectives of Taekwondo:
- to develop an appreciation for Taekwondo as a traditional martial art and sport
- to achieve physical fitness through positive participation
- to improve mental discipline and emotional equanimity
- to learn self-defense skills
- to develop a sense of responsibility for self and community
In addition to a customized training curriculum based on standards established by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), AMAA students will learn to appreciate Taekwondo as a way of life.
