Schafer's ATA: Rohnert Park Taekwondo, Rohnert Park Martial Arts, Rohnert Park Self Defense

My name is Nicholas Schafer and I’ve been involved with the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) since I was twelve years old. By the time I was 14 I received my 1st degree Black Belt and then entered the junior trainee program which is a training program that teaches kids and adults how to be leaders and possibly instructors if that is the path they choose. My job was to assist in Tiny Tiger and Karate for Kids classes by making sure everyone was pumped up and working hard. I also had the task of helping with their techniques and forms, and making sure they were done properly. Now I am a 5th Degree Black Belt, Certified Instructor and School Owner.

In the summer of 1994, our family relocated from Southern California to Northern California. The closest ATA School was 40 minutes away in Marin County. It was a big challenge to stay disciplined and focused and drive down and back 2-3 times a week but we stayed on top of our training and kept it up for 4 more years.

When I turned 18, I decided to test out the waters of the business world and open my own club in Tiburon, a small town just north of San Francisco. I taught there for 4 years, 2 times a week. During that time, I learned a lot about the difficulty of running a business and the pleasures of calling the shots. At the same time the Tiburon club was open I decided to open something more local, so I started a club at the community center of Rohnert Park in December of 2001. After about a year of running both clubs, I decided that I could not commit to either place at the rate I was going so I closed the Tiburon club, which was the most difficult thing I have had to do. I had grown very close to the families down there but it was time for me to really try to spread my wings.

By July of 2004, the Rohnert Park club had grown to 45 students and we were running out of time slots at the center, so we opened our school location about ½ mile down the road. We are now at 200 students and having a great time

My goals for this school are to see it grow to more than 200 students and help all those students reach their goals in life through a little help from their Taekwondo training. Lastly, I just want to enjoy my life with my new wife Bre, train hard and have fun!

Hi, my name is Carol Schafer. I am a 2nd Degree Black Belt Level Two Instructor.

I have been in Taekwondo for seven years although I have been involved with ATA for seventeen years through my children's participation. I was so impressed with what my children were doing and I saw what other men & women my age were able to do, so I decided to join. It has been the best thing for me. I love it and want to share with everyone else the same experience that I've had.