Welcome to our website!
Home of the USAT & AAU National Champions in Olympic Taekwondo Sparring and the Louisville Kendo Club, American Martial Arts Academy (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 is one of the highest ranking martial arts instructors certified by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) in Korea. Grandmaster Shin holds a 9th Dan in Taekwondo, Judo and Hapkido, and is respected nationally and world-wide as a leading martial arts authority. 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 WTF Headquarters in Korea.
AMAA is locally owned and operated by American Veteran, Master Mariano Floro. Master Floro has over 38 years of experience in martial arts and is a 5th Dan WTF certified Black Belt in Taekwondo. 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 the American Athletic Union (AAU) Taekwondo, Master Floro and staff have consistently produced State, Regional and National Champions and Medalists in Olympic Taekwondo Sparring and Forms.
"Exceptional Training for the Winner in You!" AMAA offers classes in Taekwondo for children and adults, Personal Training, Self-Defense and Kendo. AMAA is conveniently located in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. To schedule a visit of our new facility, please call 502-876-8844 or go to our "Contact Us" page. Click on the map icon for directions. We look forward to meeting you!
Also look for us on Facebook at our Facebook Fan Page
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 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 training curriculum based on standards established by the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), AMAA students will learn to appreciate Taekwondo as a way of life.
