Marshall's ATA Major disappointment, very misleading, GREEDY Denton, Texas

Did you look at their business license or if they're required to have one and any complaints online and with BBB etc??

1. Are the instructors certified?

2. Is the school an accredited school (if you ask and they say what does that mean run for the door)

3. Is the school part of a National Organization (a governing body with rules and regulations)

First of all who are suppose to be the ones doing the accrediting?

If you have a complaint with an owner or employee and both know already whats going on, what good is it gonna do if you go to the other who's either a friend or relative or gets paid the big bucks by the employer?? lol

You have to go outside the "school" to get opinions and business licensing are only going to tell you if theyre licensed and maybe if they have complaints and BBB are just mediators

Are you going to go to China to get the approval?

There is no governing body in the industry of martial arts for ANYONE and there is rampant scamming and thuggery going on for decades and its a small world so the ones making the big stinks are most likely going to be friends with others who are influential and helping them etc etc

SOOOOO whats the alternative??


Each member certificate has a number and signed by the highest ranking authority at your school or the most senior member (s) of your system. This is how is been done with Kyokushinkai for years. There are many schools that have separated from the parent and still teaches that same system. Separation over political ideals.

It's not that easy. Watch the form. Does it make sense? Will it work? Why does he teach it like this?



Being part of an organization doesnt necessarily mean youre legit
Isiness...people are scrambling to do anything they can to make themselves bigger than they really are

Just ask Al Goldberg and Dan Hect and Eric Kovaleski or better yet Master Alfredo Torella and Soke Frank Sanchez of the World Head of Sokeship Council 

From a California lawyer and martial arts instructor:
We have this concept that when we deal with martial artists, we should expect elevated levels of honor and respect. In a great many cases, that's true. But I've found over the decades that martial artists are basically just people. Some of them have taken the honor aspects to heart, and others have not. Pretty much like anything else. Same with people of faith, pretty much any faith. Some have taken the standards of their faith to heart, and others have not. In short, people are people. That means there are good ones and bad ones everywhere.

If theres fraud involved with hardcore evidence and not just hearsay 
ic3.gov

We read the disappointing report about this particular customer's experience about her child(ren) not being allowed to participate in our school belt testing. We recalled this conversation after we read the quote:

"The day before testing, as we were preparing, we were informed that we wouldn't be permitted to test. We were told that we would have to pay an additional $150 plus testing fees and enter into a 12-month contract. The reason given was that ATA will not allow you to test under an intro period."

This is indeed our school policy on Belt Testings as the results of Belt Testings are a permanent part of a student's profile record and are added to the ATA student database at ATA Headquarters. Belt testing is a privilege of active ATA membership and this is stated clearly on all of our documentation and student membership contracts. 

We regret that even though we actually extended this disgruntled person's 6 week trial period to attempt to accommodate a stated scheduling issue, she somehow did not understand our very clearly stated policy on our school "Belt Testings" 

The other quote: 

"The biggest disappointment was to my 7-year old child that had worked so hard with Robert and Cynthia. He respected them and didn't understand why they wouldn't let him test. He thought he had done something wrong."

As stated, It is very unfortunate that this report was made and that this rebuttal has become necessary but we are happy to have the opportunity to respond and set the record straight. If her child(ren) worked hard, it was not because they were preparing for our upcoming testing as this mother has stated that they were "Going to have to quit at the end of the period because of a scheduling conflict." She knew that they would be quitting so there would be no reason to test. If the experience was so unsatisfactory, why did she choose to continue with the additional 'Introductory Period'? We are a goal oriented ACADEMY and we do reward effort, but Belt Testing is for members of our school and not available to those who are simply trying out classes. We are not a "Belt Factory" that just gives out belts, it is a hard earned privilege and benefit of membership in our school and the American Taekwondo Association (ATA). Every ATA licensed school is individually owned and operated.

We are also very sorry that this parent feels cheated, but we have never represented ourselves dishonestly. We are indeed a very reputable martial arts school as Marshall's ATA Taekwondo & Karate for Kids won the award for 2nd Place as the "Best of Denton" in Martial Arts Schools for 2012 and we are very proud of this honor. This parent was offered an additional 'Introductory Period'  which is something that we very rarely offer and now we regret having done so. It really does not take more than a few classes for a student and/or family to determine if martial arts and our school is a fit for them.

We wish only the best for this parent/family in the future and hope they would give the martial arts another opportunity to serve their needs and this is a wonderful activity and sport that is second to none in helping to develop strong minds, healthy bodies and increased confidence and awareness of our utmost potential.

Thank you,
Mr. Robert Marshall, Sr.
Marshall's ATA Martial Arts
2900 Wind River Lane, Suite 138
Denton, TX. 76210
(940) 271-4217
email: marshallsata@verizon.net
web: www.marshallsata.com
FB:www.facebook.com/marshallstkd