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AMERICAN TAE KWON DO ACADEMY Frank R. Coppola III-President |
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JIM KRAMER |
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Jim started Taekwondo in 1993 and has always been
interested in teaching. He first
helped with classes as a Green Belt and to this day gets great satisfaction
from working on his technique and helping others improve. In running his own classes, Jim has become aware of
the challenges that teaching presents.
“It’s as if you have to speak a number of different languages. A 5 year old will understand a move
differently from the way an adult will – and this in turn will be different
from a young person. Students are from
quite diverse economic and educational backgrounds and communication is key
when it comes to teaching and sharing Taekwondo”. Jim conducts his classes in much the same way as
Frank Coppola. “Our classes are not as
‘militaristic’ as some that are out there.
There is more of an emphasis on respect and family values. You don’t get commanded to drop and do
knuckle push ups and as a result kids and families thrive at ATKDA. New kids get put right into the middle of the class
and realize that there are people around them who have been in there position
before and want to help. We tend to
focus very much on the individual and their needs and this is something that
particularly gives siblings a sense of their own abilities and confidence.” Jim and Frank have had a long friendship together
and this has led to other friendships at ATKDA. “The people are just great and Taekwondo
also brought my wife and I together – what more can you ask for!” |
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Lucas Miller showing Jim how it’s really done! |
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