May 17, 2017

Meet Christy Jackson of Coppell ATA Training Academy

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christy Jackson.

Christy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
We first opened our doors in March 2006 with 13 students and a dream to change lives one black belt at a time.

Over the past 11 years we have been blessed to have my students and their families come through our doors and begin the Martial Arts journey with us.

We believe that anyone, any age, and ability can accomplish this goal. We offer Traditional Taekwondo, Extreme Martial Arts, Self Defense, Kickboxing and much more. We also offer Adapted Martial Arts (AMA) for students with special needs.

Myself and My oldest daughter are 4th Degree Black Belts, certified instructions in the American Taekwondo Association. We are both World Champs in various weapons. I am certified in S.H.A.R.P (Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention) as well as, disruptive student management.

Has it been a smooth road?
NO!! When we opened in Coppell 11 years ago, there were 5 martial arts schools in town. Now there are 9 in a 5 mile radius. So competition has been challenging. In 2008 and 2009 when the economy took a hit, a lot of our parents lost their jobs and had to make tough decisions for their children. We decided to lower our prices for our students during their time in need to help with those decisions.

Summers are also pretty hard here in Coppell. We have a lot of families that leave the for entire summer to visit family or go home. This is a great financial stress for us, but we have always managed to make it through.

But our struggles have made us strong and wiser.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Coppell ATA Training Academy – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a Martial Arts School. We specialize in Taekwondo, but offer a wide variety of self defense, weapon training and cross training, from all styles of martial arts.

I am especially proud of our students and families. When they first sign up we will say “Welcome to the Family” and we mean it. They are not just students!! They are a part of our extended family. We are a heavy competition school, with many World Champs over the past 11 years. We travel together, train together and support one another. We have students who come to us that are dealing with bullying, divorce, tragedy, loss, weight problems, you name it. We like to think that we are making a difference in their lives, by supporting them and giving them the tools to make a difference in the own lives.

I think what sets us apart is our affiliation with the ATA (American Taekwondo Association). ATA is the largest organized martial arts program in the World, with schools all over the world and over a million members.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Coppell is a small town, in a large city environment. It is small enough to get to know your fellow neighbors and business owners. Our city, police, fire and education officials are more than willing to talk to us to see what we need and how to make our community better and safer at all times.

I guess it would have to be the summers around here. They are tough on small businesses.

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