AMERICAN TAE KWON DO ACADEMY

20 White Oak Drive, Asbury, NJ 08802 (908) 730-7151

Frank R. Coppola III-President
ATKDA@earthlink.net

Special Publications

Annual American Tae Kwon Do Academy Fall Tournament held at the Somerset Hills YMCA

On Sunday, October 21, 2007 The American Tae Kwon Do Academy held its annual Fall tournament at the Somerset Hills YMCA with approximately 150 people in attendance. The Miller Family of Basking Ridge received this year’s ATKDA “Family of the Year” award.

Frank Coppola, 5th Degree Black Belt, is President of the American Tae Kwon Do Academy. The ATKDA program has served the YMCA since 1993, with their curriculum based on Family Exercise with a Purpose. The Martial Arts school offers classes for tots and kids, but the pride of the school is the family class taught 3 days a week by Coppola.

The tournament showcased the family efforts by allowing the students to compete in Forms (pre-planned movements designed to simulate self-defense) and Sparring (Non-Contact point based fighting). “There aren’t too many activities where parents and kids can participate with each other, yet excel at their own pace,” said Coppola. “There are fewer where kids are in a position to empower their parents, not only furthering the parent-child bond, but fostering confidence as well.”

This year, Coppola presented the Miller Family of Basking Ridge with the “Family of the Year” award. Father Scott, 1^st Degree Black Belt, teaches classes at the YMCA with eldest son Zach, 2^nd Degree Black Belt, who has been with the ATKDA for 10 years. Younger brothers Derek, 1^st degree Black Belt, and Lucas, Brown Belt; performed a board-breaking demonstration in front of the tournament crowd.

Coppola presented the award and feels the family epitomizes the academy’s mission. “The Millers are one of the most gracious, humble, yet hardworking & martial-arts-tough families I know,” said Coppola. “What the Miller’s have achieved together shows their dedication and obvious enjoyment which energizes and motivates fellow students.”

The Miller family was thrilled that they were selected as this year’s recipients. “We all felt very honored because there are many other families in the program deserving of the award,” said Brenda Miller. “We know how much Frank’s focus on family has become a big part of the program, which aligns itself with the Y’s principles, and we are proud to help promote that.”

The American Tae Kwon Do Academy offers classes at the Somerset Hills YMCA for ages 4 and up. For more information please visit www.somersethillsymca.org or call Dan Reeve at 908-630-3502.