By Lisa Carolin
Photos by Lisa Allmendinger
Teaching discipline, respect, self-defense and leadership skills to 4-year-olds right on up to adults is what Chelsea ATA martial arts is all about. The American Taekwondo Association is represented in Chelsea by Dan and Brandy Righter.
Their martial arts studio is located at 420 N. Main Street, Suite 300 around the corner from the Teddy Bear Factory.
Dan Righter is the head instructor and teaches all the classes, and Brandy handles the marketing, scheduling and clerical work.
Dan and Brandy say that their programs encourage younger students to be helpful and do good deeds for their families, at school, and in the community.
“Hopefully through incorporating the skills we teach in their daily lives, children become more aware of others and helpful members of society,” said Brandy Righter.
The interest in martial arts began for Dan Righter when his parents enrolled him in a studio in Tecumseh under then head instructor 4th Degree Black Belt Tomas Sandoval.
“I had an interest and was incredibly shy,” explained Dan Righter, who has been training for the last 20 years. “Sr. Master Sandoval (now 8th degree black belt) is still my instructor and the chief instructor of seven schools.”
Songham Taekwondo is the main martial art taught at ATA. Through martial arts training, Righter enforces life skills like respect, discipline, loyalty and courtesy.
“We include topics such as child safety, stranger danger, anti-bullying, leadership skills, self-defense, and rape prevention as well as traditional Taekwondo,” said Righter.
The goal is to combine physical strength and growth with valuable life skills to lead students to personal successes in life, both in the classroom and beyond.
“Parents have found our top quality instruction has improved their children’s behavior in school and that they’ve gained a greater sense of self-esteem through the teachings of integrity, dedication and perseverance,” said Righter, who adds that the training also increases confidence in adults because they learn to protect themselves in a variety of situations.
For more information on classes at Chelsea ATA Martial Arts, click here.
Please enjoy the slideshow below for more photos from a martial arts class from Chelsea ATA.
