History of
Master Berry’s ATA Martial Arts of the
Woodlands/Spring
Formerly known
as ATA Black Belt Academy & Karate for Kids
The history of
ATA Martial Arts has to start with some of the
history of the founder, David Berry. Master
Berry served in the U.S.A.F. from 1981 through
1985, during which time Master. Berry started
his taekwondo training. It was the month of May
1982 when Master Berry started his Taekwondo
training in Tucson, Arizona. He trained in
Tucson for only eight months and then was
transferred to Little Rock, Arkansas. Master
Berry then met his permanent and current
instructor Mr. Jim Wolff. Master Berry earned
his black belt in April 1984.
During Master
Berry’s training he learned that there was no
ATA School in his hometown of Las Vegas,
Nevada. Master Berry attended his first week
long instructor camp in 1985. During the camp
Master Berry asked the president and founder
Eternal Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee if he could
have permission to bring the ATA to his
hometown. Grand Master Lee had his reservations
about letting someone only 22 years old open a
new city for the American Taekwondo
Association. Grand Master Lee observed Master.
Berry at camp and decided to allow him carry on
his legacy of having ATA schools through the
United States and all over the world. Master
Berry after being honorably discharged from the
Air Force moved back home to Las Vegas in
October 1985. AJ’s Nautilus Fever was where ATA
Las Vegas Schools began.
Master Berry
would try to accommodate his students around the
new nautilus machines and aerobic schedules. No
notice was given and Master Berry was told that
he could no longer teach at this facility.
With no notice
and in a desperate situation, a new training
facility had to be found fast. The date was in
May of 1986 and Master Berry had acquired forty
students with no place to teach them. In a
matter of days a very small studio of only 1200
sq ft was discovered. The studio was so small,
“I remember teaching students on a floor so
small that in order to do the training students
would have to start and stop due to lack of
space”. There was no office and no changing
rooms. All they had was one bathroom and a room
with used carpet and no mirrors!” After only
six months Master. Berry had well over one
hundred students and was busting at the seams.
It was time, once again to expand.
Master Berry
was well on his way during this time and it was
through David Bowe, Master Leland Brandon
(Master Berry’s first Master Instructor June
2007) and literally hundreds of instructors that
the Greater Las Vegas area was developed into
what it is today with over 22 locations and over
3,000 active students. It was because of Master
Berry’s vision that Las Vegas ATA has more
schools per capita than any other city in the
nation. Master Berry has been named the father
of ATA Las Vegas.
One of Master
Berry’s greatest accomplishments was the
building of his Mega Martial Art Facility. This
6,000 square feet Martial Art School was the
largest studio in the state. This studio still
remains at 3270 N. Buffalo Drive in Las Vegas
and has many of Master Berry’s original students
teaching and changing lives.
In February
1993 Master. Berry met his future wife Kimberley
on a blind date from one of his students
parents. Alice Koteas was kind enough to
introduce them and they went to the Outback
Steakhouse in Las Vegas and have been together
ever since. On September 12, 2004 Master Berry
set a new milestone and started his family by
marrying his lovely wife Kimberley. On November
29, 2005 Master Berry had the greatest
accomplishment ever by bringing his awesome
daughter Alexa Kathleen Berry into the world.
After having
their first child Master Berry and Mrs. Berry
decided that they wanted to raise their daughter
in a different city. They found the Woodlands,
Texas and fell in love with the area. The
Berry’s sold the building and the school and
relocated to The Woodlands/Spring area in
October 2006.
On November
13, 2006 Master Berry and Mrs. Berry opened
their newest state of the art Martial Art School
at Cochrans Crossing in The Woodlands, Texas.
Master Berry partnered with the South Montgomery
County YMCA and all area schools to become the
premier Martial Art School in The Woodlands. In
less than one year Master Berry built his studio
to over 150 active students. Master Berry
consistently trains kids to become leaders not
followers and how to believe in themselves at
this awesome academy.
On July 1,
2007 one year ahead of schedule Master and Mrs.
Berry opened their second school at the corner
FM 2920 and Kuykendahl. Again positioning
themselves as the number one martial art school
in the area. In six weeks time they had already
accumulated over 50 students and continue to
teach life skills, child safety, and how to
believe in yourself at this location as well.
Master Berry
is a graduate from Chaparral High School in Las
Vegas (1981)
Master Berry
played football for Chaparral High School all
four years and lettered in Junior Year
Graduated in
Associate in Business through the USAF Community
College
Licensed
Commercial Real Estate Agent since 2000
