ATA Martial Arts Sign on display outisde the Academy. /Allen Wegener
Black Belt Student Sarah Black perfoming her form. /Allen Wegener
Class is relieved from being reviewed in front of instructor Dwayne L. Flees /Allen Wegener
Martial arts instructor Dwayne L. Flees has been teaching Taekwondo for twenty years. And on June 26, 2013 six of his students were ready to graduate in to their next belt level.
"I was done with my tour of duty with the Coast Guard located in Chicago in 1993," Flees says. "It just seemed to be the right thing to do."
Flees started his school in 2003 in Eastown teaching the ATA form, or American Taekwondo Assoiciation, of martial arts. When Flees first began, he had no students. That has certainly changed.
"I have 90 students today teaching them martial arts at this present location," says Flees.
Flees Martial Arts Academy is now located at the corner of Leonard and Ball in Grand Rapids. Both youth and adults meet twice a week at the academy to practice their forms, break boards and learn weapons training.
"I needed self defense training for myself and daughter," says Tammi A Frankie a black belt leader. "It helps relieve stress and gives me confidence in unsure situations."
Frankie earned her black belt in April 2013. At the end of the current ceremony, all six students who were ready to earn their next belt did so.
For more information about this academy one may contact them on the web at: Flees Martial Arts in Grand Rapids, Michigan or nationally at www.ataonline.com
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