User:Kdarias/AKATO

The American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization

The American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization (AKATO) was originally founded in 1976 as the Southwest Tae Kwon Do Association by Keith D. Yates, one of the original black belts of Allen R. Steen, the acknowledged "Father of Texas Karate."

At first just an association of Yates's own black belts, the membership soon swelled to include martial artists from several states. As the martial arts in America began to diversify throughout the 1970s and 80s, so did the association. In 1996 the name became the American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization, indicating the group's widened stature. Standards of membership for both individuals and schools were set up and two divisions were established—one for arts of Korean background and one for arts with a Japanese/Okinawan origin.

The AKATO was, and still is, committed to the benefits of the traditions of the martial arts while acknowledging that the arts must keep up with the ever-changing society in which we live and practice the various styles and skills of the fighting arts.

The American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization has three main stated purposes:

1. To promote quality education of American martial artists

2. To promote high professional standards for schools and instructors

3. To cultivate friendship and mutual understanding between American martial artists

Instructors and schools within the AKATO maintain an eclectic but traditional approach to American Karate and American Tae Kwon Do. Keeping the emphasis on the "art" of the martial arts, this approach also incorporates techniques from several other styles such as aiki-ju-jutsu and kobudo. AKATO instructors can earn their black belt ranking in these two systems as well.

The organization holds regular continuing education classes for instructors. These classes are all taught by master-level teachers and can lead to an Advanced Instructor's Certification.

School Membership

A majority of the instructor members of the AKATO are direct black belts of Keith D. Yates, or are from his family tree of black belts. Occasionally the organization has allowed other schools to join providing they:

1. are recommended by a senior AKATO black belt,

2. personally train with AKATO instructors, and

3. are voted in by a majority of the AKATO Membership Committee.

The organization does not require member schools to follow a set curriculum—however they do expect the highest standards of martial arts. For a school to be considered an official AKATO "member school," a minimum of ten students must be AKATO members. The senior instructor of each member school receives a free Black Belt Membership to the AKATO. Belt examinations are under the complete authority of the individual school however black belt promotions can be sanctioned by the AKATO.

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