LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As nearly 1,000 competitors and their families arrive in downtown Little Rock for a regional ATA Martial Arts tournament, CEO Taekwon Lee says the event is more than a competition; it’s a homecoming.
Lee, who was born and raised in Arkansas, emphasized the deep local roots of Tsong Am Tae Kwon Do, the style taught by ATA Martial Arts and practiced in more than 1,200 schools worldwide.
“Tsong Am actually means pine tree rock,” Lee explained. “Our state tree is the pine, and it’s the symbol behind our philosophy, evergreen through all four seasons. We want students to grow with strong roots and remain evergreen in their journey.”
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The “rock,” he added, was inspired by Arkansas’ granite terrain, symbolizing the foundation on which students build their lives and martial arts skills. “You’ll see the tree growing out of the rock, that symbol was built right here in Little Rock,” Lee said…