My son has been a part of Hockman's ATA Black Belt Academy for a little over a year. Taekwondo has become a big part of his life and much of this is due to the quality of instruction and care he has received from Jade Hockman and his staff. I have been fortunate to witness his physical improvements in athleticism but the biggest impact has been on his confidence and self-esteem. The physical challenges presented by Taekwondo have improved his balance and strength but his appreciation and motivation to improve comes from the people directing the classes. He truly looks forward to each class and I have enjoyed watching the growth in him as a person and an athlete.

Tim Jamieson - Head Baseball Coach University of Missouri

For me, Taekwondo is spirit-lifting. It reenergizes me at the end of a hard day at work. While many people might do Taekwondo mostly for the physical benefits, which was in fact the reason I started 4 years ago, for me it has become more a way to mentally relax. Taekwondo allows me to physically and mentally focus on something that is totally different from my day job, making it a great stress reducer. In addition, because my entire family participates, Taekwondo is something that we can share, either by practicing together in the dojo or at home in the family-room. I always look forward to my training sessions, and while I enjoy my job, I have noticed that on the days I go to Taekwondo, time seems to go by faster. I am 45 now, but I am sure I’ll still be doing Taekwondo 25 years from now.

Ingolf Gruen, Ph.D. - Associate Professor - 2nd degree Black Belt