ATA's 2015 World Expo will bring close to 20,000 people from around the world to Little Rock next week, organizers say.
ATA, formerly known as the American Taekwondo Association, has its headquarters in Little Rock and will host its annual World Expo conference July 6-12, officials said in a news release. The week-long event features martial arts seminars, special training sessions and tournament competition.
On July 8, a ceremony conferring masters' titles will be held at the H.U. Lee International Gate and Garden, next to the Statehouse Convention Center. The ceremony will welcome new masters, senior masters and chief masters, ATA officials said. Master is a rank that can be attained after reaching sixth-degree black belt. This event starts at 8 p.m. in the Statehouse Convention Center Governor's Hall and is open to the public.
The Tournament of Champions will be held July 9-10 at the Statehouse Convention Center. The competition includes tricks, flips and martial arts acrobatics, the release states. Competition will run from 1:30-6 p.m. July 9 and from 1-6 p.m. July 10. Students will compete in divisions based on age and rank.
Competitors will vie for the title of ATA World Champion during the World Expo, officials said.
A new tournament season starts at 8 a.m. July 11 and continues through July 12. Passes for the four days of competition are $10 and children ages 5 and under get in free.
ATA members, along with their family and friends, will be able to attend the first Family Fun Night on July 10 with games, rides, food trucks and competitions. Attendees must have an armband to attend the event.
World Expo attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in a blood drive. The Red Cross and ATA have partnered to host a blood drive in the Statehouse Convention Center ballroom from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 11.
For more information and to register for the expo, visit www.ataonline.com.