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It's more than just kicking and punching at America Taekwondo Association Family Martial Arts.
“It's more of a lifestyle,” said Joey Overby, 26, owner of ATA Martial Arts, “not just something you do twice a week for 40 minutes.”
For Overby, it's about teaching the kids life skills like confidence and perseverance, things they'll use more often than self defense, he says.
“Creating tomorrow's leaders, one black belt at a time,” he said.
It's not just for kids, though. Adults usually come for fitness or self-defense classes.
The school opened July 26. It is an extension of the school Overby and his brother Kenny opened in Fort Collins about 5 1/2 years ago. The Overbys are originally from Longmont.
Overby is a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo and a two-strip blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. He has been doing martial arts since 1994.
The instructors are all decorated, too, with plenty of belts and awards at state and world championship levels among them.
“You have to teach well, not just kick high,” said Overby.
Becoming a certified instructor takes 300 hours of supervised training, monitored by the national organization. And they continue to learn, some through seminars with other instructors and some from students.
“The students really help me to understand martial arts better,” said Overby. “It makes you think about it differently.”
Kids classes are split between the Tiny Tigers, ages 4-6, and the Karate Kids, ages 6-12. There are classes dedicated to ground fighting and to using weapons, including staffs, swords and nunchucks.
Ground fighting includes elements of wrestling and putting pressure on joints to break free from holds. He has seen people tangle with people 40 pounds larger than them, and win out.
“It's good to see that leverage and technique can overcome strength,” he said.
Overby also teaches self-defense classes exclusively for adults. It's based on the concepts of legal use of force, breaking free and being safe, not unnecessarily hurting the opponent.
But for the youngest pupils, the Tiny Tigers, it starts with learning coordination. They learn how to follow directions, but also take turns being the leader during their exercises.
Overby said he is very pleased with the space and the community in Windsor. Just a month after opening, he has about 30 students.
“It's more of a lifestyle,” said Joey Overby, 26, owner of ATA Martial Arts, “not just something you do twice a week for 40 minutes.”
For Overby, it's about teaching the kids life skills like confidence and perseverance, things they'll use more often than self defense, he says.
“Creating tomorrow's leaders, one black belt at a time,” he said.
It's not just for kids, though. Adults usually come for fitness or self-defense classes.
The school opened July 26. It is an extension of the school Overby and his brother Kenny opened in Fort Collins about 5 1/2 years ago. The Overbys are originally from Longmont.
Overby is a fourth-degree black belt in taekwondo and a two-strip blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. He has been doing martial arts since 1994.
The instructors are all decorated, too, with plenty of belts and awards at state and world championship levels among them.
“You have to teach well, not just kick high,” said Overby.
Becoming a certified instructor takes 300 hours of supervised training, monitored by the national organization. And they continue to learn, some through seminars with other instructors and some from students.
“The students really help me to understand martial arts better,” said Overby. “It makes you think about it differently.”
Kids classes are split between the Tiny Tigers, ages 4-6, and the Karate Kids, ages 6-12. There are classes dedicated to ground fighting and to using weapons, including staffs, swords and nunchucks.
Ground fighting includes elements of wrestling and putting pressure on joints to break free from holds. He has seen people tangle with people 40 pounds larger than them, and win out.
“It's good to see that leverage and technique can overcome strength,” he said.
Overby also teaches self-defense classes exclusively for adults. It's based on the concepts of legal use of force, breaking free and being safe, not unnecessarily hurting the opponent.
But for the youngest pupils, the Tiny Tigers, it starts with learning coordination. They learn how to follow directions, but also take turns being the leader during their exercises.
Overby said he is very pleased with the space and the community in Windsor. Just a month after opening, he has about 30 students.
