And do we have a full house today?

Let's get started, sir.

I will live with perseverance in the spirit of Taekwondo, courtesy for fellow students, integrity within myself and to become a black belt leader.

Welcome to the ATA Nation podcast.

Ladies and gentlemen, students, instructors, masters, grandmasters of Songam Taekwondo, welcome Back to the Ata Nation podcast.

This is episode 141.

I am your host, Senior master Zach Hayden, and I am excited to have a first ever on today's episode.

We have five guests today.

Can you believe that?

Five guests.

We have all of our junior brand ambassadors on the show today.

It is a full house, a lot of fun.

Let's just jump right into it.

Special guest interview.

At Nation.

We have a very first this time.

I have never had an interview with five people at the same time before and I am really excited about this.

We have our five junior brand ambassadors on the line all at the same time today.

Everybody.

This is the one time you get to talk over each other.

Everybody say hi.

We'll see if that works in the recording.

Anyways, at Nation, I am super excited.

We have been featuring these athletes of the week that these brand ambassadors have been highlighting and I'm really excited to get to talk to the brand ambassadors about how they're doing that, why they're doing that, all that kind of stuff.

But before we get started, in case you've been living under a rock somewhere and haven't seen or heard from these brand ambassadors, we're going to go through and let them introduce themselves.

We're going to have them say where they're training, who their instructor is, maybe what your rank, you are, that kind of stuff.

So we're going to start with Hana.

What about you, ma'am?

Hi, it's ATA brand ambassador Hana Zeitung.

I am from San Diego, California, at World Class Martial Arts with Chief Master Church.

Very good.

Okay, Gus, what about you, sir?

My name is Gus and I work at South.

I am at Southwest Arkansas at southwest dojo with Mr.

Morgan.

That's my intern.

You're at Mr.

Morgan school?

Yeah.

Was I at the testing?

The virtual.

Were you at the testing?

I was a virtual judge at.

No.

Oh, man, I didn't know that.

I didn't know you were there.

That's fantastic.

Super cool, sir.

Okay, Ms.

Cox, what about you, ma'am?

Hey, T Nation, ATA brand ambassador Karen Cox here.

I'm from Magnolia, Texas and I train at Cox Martial Arts with the instructor, Mr.

Cox.

I heard bad things about him.

I don't know.

Trouble that Mr.

Actually, Mr.

Cox was one of my very first interviews on the AJ Nation podcast.

I can't remember.

Yeah, he was one of the early ones.

What about you, Brady?

Hey, everyone, I'm Brady Smako from I train in Henderson, Nevada, under Rico Studio with master Rico and Mrs.

Rico.

Very cool.

And Liara.

What's up, 18?

It's 18 random master Liara Monanaika, and I live in Cleveland, Ohio.

I train at ATA Cleveland, and my head instructor is master candidate Donna Pappa.

Ooh, Master Canada this year.

That's super exciting.

Very cool.

Okay, well, I am super excited to have all of you guys on today.

Let's start with Hannah.

Can you tell us, like, what was the idea behind highlighting these athletes of the week across at nation?

Well, first off, it's to really just celebrate all the amazing, talented martial artists out there, really bring them all together and highlight people who are kind of under the cracks.

And we want to highlight them and have them give a chance to shine.

You know, I think.

Oops.

It's really important to just make ATA closer and everyone to be highlighted and everyone to have their own moment to shine.

I love it.

I think it's been a really neat thing.

I mean, for me, I've got to meet a bunch of these kids that I haven't got to meet before.

I might have seen them out there at events, but it's really cool.

Ms.

Cox, what have you enjoyed about getting to highlight these different athletes?

Yes, sir.

That's a great question.

We did this because we have had the opportunity to highlight individuals that are amazing athletes.

There is very.

We only have highlighted very few of very many amazing athletes in the at.

Yay.

So by doing that, it has been so fun getting to know their journey on how they train and also what they do beyond the belt.

Oh.

Oh.

Thanks.

Yes.

Ms.

Cox, what has been exciting for you in answering or in getting to highlight these athletes across ATA nation?

Yes, sir.

That's a great question.

We love doing this.

I know as ATA brand ambassadors, because we get the opportunity to highlight each individual all over ata, and there we've only only done a few of very many amazing athletes.

And by doing this, we get the chance to know a little more about them and how they train in their Taekwondo journey and how what they do beyond the belt.

Yeah, I love that.

I mean, that's one of my favorite things I've been hearing is what it means to each of these athletes to go beyond the belt.

Brady, do you know any of these athletes in person?

Have you competed against any of the ones that we've talked about.

Well, just like you said, you were interviewing Omar, that was my athlete of the week.

I saw that he's been working hard and staying consistent with his training, so I was like, if he's going to stay consistent, he should be highlighted.

Yeah, excellent.

Well, I love that, that you guys have some personal connection to these guys as well.

So speaking of being a brand ambassador, because you guys are getting to highlight these other people, which is fantastic because we know ata nation is full of amazing athletes.

You guys are kind of getting to be highlighted, you know, for.

For a long time, a bigger period of time getting to be out there.

Liara.

What's it been like for you to be a brand ambassador?

Well, to me personally, being a TBR ambassador means to inspire, encourage, and motivate others.

I love that.

I'm so happy to be a part of letting everyone's light shine and encouraging that.

Aw, very good.

I love that.

Augustus, what about you?

What's it been like for you to be a brand ambassador?

Has it been something that has been really exciting?

Are there times that you're really nervous about it?

What's it like?

There's times I've been nervous, but I let people speak and tell me what I should do and like, if I'm training, I need to, like, if I.

I need to hear what they're saying to execute.

So.

And when people are talking to me, I have to, like, listen.

If I don't listen, I'm not going to exit.

I love that.

You need to let the people that.

Are athletes and trying to become a brand ambassador.

Let them speak.

Let them show their light.

Yes.

Yeah.

It's that communication that we talk about as a life skill, you know, helping.

We have to be great listeners to be communicating, making sure that we are highlighting these people and showing off that super cool.

Hana, you were a brand ambassador like a billion years ago when you were a tiny little person.

What's it been like for you as a brand ambassador and getting to see all these other brand ambassadors, it's gonna.

Make me tear up these.

I mean, I've gone through a few generations of ambassadors, and particularly this group has been my favorite because we were just talking about this the other day.

They've gone from being little kids to growing up to be young adults.

And they are just so inspiring, so talented, so hardworking.

And adding on to Gus is what he was saying is I've seen their light shine through them.

They are just so inspirational and so just talented young adults.

And I love you guys so much and I Can't wait to see what your future holds.

Oh, that is super cool.

Brady, what about you?

What's it been like this year being a brand ambassador?

I mean, for me, I.

For being AJ Brand ambassador has been.

It's given me the opportunity to share my passion to others, inspire them to go even past master, to getting to that almost grandmaster spot, never giving up and staying consistent.

Love it.

And Kyrene, what about you?

Yes, sir.

It means that I have the opportunity every day to share the visions and the values of Sangham martial arts to so many people all around the world.

But it's not just current martial artists, but also sharing it with people that haven't even considered trying martial arts.

And it gives the opportunity for me to go beyond the belt and reach for them, and it keeps me accountable and to be my best.

And I'm so ready to continue my ATA journey, and it has taught me so many life lessons, and I've enjoyed every step of the way.

That's super cool.

I was thinking the other day I was interviewing one of your athletes of the week, and they said one of their goals is to be a master.

And I was like, man, you know how cool it's going to be when I can look back at these interviews and be like, I remember interviewing that kid when they were a kid and look at their amazing.

I mean, I'll be an old man with all gray hairs and beard and all that, but I guess I already have a beard, but.

Okay, so here's some rapid fire questions.

Be prepared.

Yep, here we go.

Pretty easy.

I'm gonna start with.

Let's go, Liara.

Favorite weapon.

Ooh, my favorite weapon.

So originally I started off doing the nunchucks, and I love them, but then I tried both stuff and I loved it even more.

Okay.

BO staff is definitely my favorite weapon.

Bo staff.

Very good.

Okay, Brady, combat sparring or traditional sparring?

I said traditional sparring.

Traditional sparring.

Very good.

Okay, Augustus, Traditional forms or extreme forms.

Probably traditional.

Traditional.

Very good.

Okay.

Ms.

Cox.

Yes.

Extreme or creative?

I will have to say extreme, sir.

Extreme.

Hannah, what about.

Let's go with a hard one.

Creative or extreme or no weapons.

Creative or extreme weapons?

Extreme weapons for sure.

Extreme weapons.

Extreme.

Okay.

Okay, here we go.

Let's go.

You're going to have to raise your hands if you are.

Let's go.

More sparring.

Focused or more forms focused?

More.

Augustus is more sparring.

Who's more sparring?

Raise your hand if you're more sparring.

Okay.

Gus and Kyrene, Very good.

Okay.

What about weapons?

Over.

You like weapons more than open hand?

Kyrene, Hannah, Brady, Augustus.

Oh, liar, you're the one out.

You like open hand better than weapons?

Very good.

Okay.

I love it.

I just think it's super cool to see all the different kinds of athletes we have in ATA Nation.

So I've been asking most of the athletes, like, what event they don't like to do as much.

And I think sometimes that's like a question that I don't.

I don't love to.

To broadcast because, like, for myself as an instructor, I don't want my students to not like part of it.

Yeah, but we all have parts that we.

We just don't like as much as we like the other parts.

And I think it's nice to see some of you people who are out there in limelight who also have things that they like.

Yeah, that's not my favorite either.

So let's do one.

Not a tournament event.

Let's go forms, which is a tournament event, obviously.

So if you like forms better or board breaking.

So raise your hand for forms over.

Board breaking.

Hana's over.

Hana.

This is a tough Irene, Brady.

Gus is like, no, I.

I want to break some boards.

Liar is like.

She's like one of those Grandmaster presentations she want in her form.

That's what she wants.

That'd be super cool.

Okay, last one.

Oh, actually, you know what?

Let's go one by one so far favorite.

This is gonna be hard.

1.

I didn't prep you for this, but kind of like favorite experience so far, being a brand ambassador.

Like, maybe you get to go to a tournament, you know, a specific tournament that was something, you know, filming something with this Grandmaster or whatnot.

What would be your, like, the top thing that you've gotten to do as an ambassador?

Who wants to raise your hand if you want to go first?

Oh, look, everybody wants to go.

I love it.

Gus, you go first.

There's two times Grandmaster Lee I saw him and I forgot about, so I was like.

And then you maybe go to the back of the line.

And then when I came back up, I bowed and then he signed a shirt for me.

And I like watching my friends compete and winning.

Ah, I love that.

Very good.

What about you, Brady?

I gotta say, World 2024, introducing all of us as a new ATA brand ambassadors was a good experience.

That's super special.

Yeah, that.

That's pretty awesome.

Liara, what about you, ma'am?

So I actually also have two things.

One is when I get to inspire others and people come up to me and say how much I've inspired them.

It makes me feel on the inside.

And two is meeting all of you guys and like, getting to form this relationship.

It's really, truly amazing.

Oh, that's a great answer.

I.

That's.

That's really cool.

Hana, what about you?

Probably filming the beyond the Belt little campaign.

I think that was just so beautiful and just like inspirational to me personally.

I just.

I loved it.

Love it.

Those were very cool.

They turned out really great.

I heard some, lots of people really enjoy those.

Yeah.

What about you, Kyrene?

Yes, sir.

I think it's kind of what everyone said.

Meeting the HA Nation and getting to know more about everyone and being like, meeting everyone last year or two years ago at Worlds and being introduced, it was such an amazing moment and it was so much fun.

Awesome.

Well, hey, I want to thank you guys for being such great junior brand ambassadors.

It is awesome to see all of you out there on social media, at tournaments.

I love when we're at like Worlds and Nationals and you guys are the greeters when you go into the events.

I just think it's so great.

Thank you so much.

Thank your parents for all the time that they have given in helping you guys as well.

We really appreciate it.

Want to see you continue to grow as athletes, as leaders, as martial artists.

Just thanks for being an inspiration.

Yes, thank you so much.

Thank you guys.

Have a great rest of your day.

Oh, Mr.

Brady.

Go for it, man.

I have one question for you, sir.

Oh, no.

Most important thing for you.

For you.

Being a senior master has been the most important thing to you?

For me?

Oh, man, that's.

That's tough.

I've got to do so much cool things.

I mean, I.

I've been really lucky in just getting to meet so many amazing people, you know, get to.

To be part of, you know, helping promote ATA and things like that.

I don't know.

I'll tell you one really, really neat experience I had when I was getting ready to go for Mastership.

A couple of masters in our class, in our master's class, got to spend the weekend in a cabin with Grandmaster Soon Ho.

It was just Grandmaster Soon Ho.

And like, like nine of us, you know, we went on hikes, we did workouts outside, fasted did some calligraphy with us.

And that was an experience that, like, I will not ever forget.

That was.

That was so great.

So, Gus, did you have a question, sir, too?

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

What?

Go for it.

What was the best moment that you had?

Oh.

Oh, man.

Guys, you Guys, I'm supposed to be the interviewer.

What's going on here?

The best moment.

Oh, man, I really just.

I mean, there's so many.

That is.

There's so many moments, because as a.

As a instructor, you have those moments of in your school, you know, that kid breaking their board and that kid getting their black belt.

You know, I have a student that is going through the mastership process this year, you know, which is crazy to think of.

He started with me when he was, like, 11 or whatnot.

And then all the things that I have gotten to do, you know, last.

This last year, I got to go down to ATA headquarters and interview Senior Master Lee and Grandmaster Tammy and stuff.

I don't know if I could pick just one.

It has been just a lifetime of awesome opportunities, and I'm like, I'm just getting started.

I'm going to keep doing this stuff forever.

Please, please keep doing it.

I personally love it.

I think it's so amazing.

And I think just please keep on this amazing podcast.

You know, ATA is such a great organization.

You guys are great representations of ata.

We all know that it's more than just a tournament circuit, more than just a martial arts tool.

You know, this is a giant family I look forward to.

I was telling the last guy I interviewed that I want to go to the Pan Am Championships, I want to go to the European Championships.

And I'm like, think about going to these other countries and still being with a bunch of family, because it's all ATA people.

So we've got the best organization.

We all know it.

We do.

Yeah.

Thank you for supporting us and thank you for bringing us on here.

It's.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Well, thank you, guys.

You're great brand ambassadors, great martial artists.

Keep up the great work.

Keep.

And keep highlighting those awesome other athletes across atNation.

Thank you for that.

Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, how cool was it to have all of those brand ambassadors with us?

We've got all these athletes that they've been talking about and highlighting on the show, which has been so much fun.

We've got another one coming out this Friday.

Just keep tuning into those.

Make sure you're sharing online.

And here's what I want you to do.

Head over to YouTube and make sure that you hit the subscribe button on the ATA Martial Arts YouTube page so you are getting notified each time one of these episodes come out.

You want to watch the video, or, of course you can watch.

Listen to the audio on your favorite podcasting device.

But still go over to YouTube, hit the subscribe button we need.

There's no reason not to have a ton more subscribers on the ATA page.

Come on, people, let's go.

ATA nation, let's hit that subscribe.

But that's going to take care of it for us today.

I am really excited we've got these athletes coming up, but then we're just a couple of weeks from seeing all of our friends at spring nationals in Fort Worth.

So you see me there, make sure you stop and say hi until next time.

Get out there and go beyond the bell.

Now that we're doing a lot more of this on video, I really need some, some video to go along with those intros and outros.

Just have to stare at me on the screen.

Just like dancing around.

It's just not as cool.

So got to look into that.

Getting us some animated video.

Okay, guys, take care.