Shannon Kearney has been around martial arts most of her life. Her father practiced the Korean-based taekwondo, and her sister worked her way to earning a blue belt.
After she was the victim of an armed mugging during her student days at the University of Pittsburgh, Kearney got involved as well.
“I liked it, and I especially got into the competitive side of it,” she said.
These days, Kearney is a third-degree black belt and a brand ambassador for ATA Martial Arts, which will hold its annual fall nationals tournament Oct. 23-26 at Pittsburgh’s David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The tournament is organized by age, rank and gender. There are competitions for performing the sport’s various forms and for proficiency with weapons, and there are bracketed tournaments in sparring and combat sparring.
The ATA tournament has been in Pittsburgh for the past few years.
“We have ATA Grandmaster Michael Caruso in Murrysville, and I think his presence has helped with keeping the tournament here,” Kearney said.
Caruso, who operates ATA locations in Murrysville, Greensburg and Vandergrift, has been practicing martial arts since he was 15.
“Martial arts training creates a culture for change in an individual,” he said. “I know I’ve changed a lot, and I still have changes I want to make to improve myself. The culture surrounding it teaches that you have to have discipline, but also show kindness and compassion for the community where you live.”
In addition to the competitions, the ATA tournament includes continuing education for students and teachers.
“There are a bunch of training seminars, from gun disarming to perfecting your training mentality,” Kearney said. “A lot of the people who attend are instructors, so we’re trading techniques and training styles.”
The ATA builds a tournament curriculum for its first two days that includes training sessions, business seminars and physical training workshops.
Caruso said the tournament, which will also be in Pittsburgh next year, typically draws more than 2,000 people.
“I really enjoy the camaraderie and competition,” he said. “It’s great to see people you’ve met over the years as they grow and become successful. Even if they don’t place in the tournament, they’re improving and that’s the greatest function for me — seeing folks do well and attain their goals.”
Kearney said taekwondo is a versatile discipline that allows practitioners to adapt to their capabilities.
“I’ve seen 6-year-olds do it, and I’ve seen 80-year-olds do it,” she said.
For more information, visit ATAmartialarts.com.