[4] Founder Haeng Ung Lee received his first degree black belt in 1954,[8] and began teaching taekwondo to Korean army members.

[9] He then opened a school near a U.S. Air Force base near Seoul and began teaching American servicemen, including an officer named Richard Reed.

The two met in 1961 [9] and Reed would inspire Lee to move to Omaha, Nebraska and open his first taekwondo school a year later.

According to the ATA, practitioners of Songahm Taekwondo study poome sae (forms, a preset combination of offensive and defensive techniques, designed to simulate self-defense techniques being used upon multiple opponents), gyeo-roo-gi (sparring), one-steps (scripted sparring segments), self-defense, board breaking, weapons, and leadership.

The increased number of smaller goals provided by nine levels of colored belt rank was designed for added motivation by giving many short term goals to achieve and eliminating having to remain in a single color for several months at a time.

The honorary rank of 10th degree black belt, also known as "Eternal Grand Master", was bestowed upon Haeng Ung Lee, the founder of the ATA, following his death in 2000.

The rank was sponsored and awarded by Grand Masters of other major martial arts, many of whom attended Haeng Ung Lee's funeral.

Upon attaining the rank of 6th degree black belt, the next step is earning the mantle of "Master Instructor."

To earn this title the 6th degree must undergo a rigorous application and testing process lasting one year.

White, Orange, Yellow, Camo, Green, Purple, Blue, Brown, Red and Black stripes run along the center of the belt from one end to the other.

A form (poome sae) is a series of kicks, blocks and other techniques put together in a set pattern.

According to the ATA, when the outer points of the Songahm star are connected, they form a circle which exemplifies complete balance.

The ATA teaches that forms create a contextual application for new material learned at each belt level.

[11] One steps are a short combination of blocks, strikes and kicks that serve as a precursor to free sparring.

The ATA aims to teach students to put moves into combinations, focus their techniques at a specific target, learn distancing and gain self-control.

At promotional testings and ATA tournaments, Level 3 Certified Instructors have the option to wear navy blue suits in lieu of their doboks.

Lee realized it was necessary to formalize his founder's council and thus "communicate his vision to the other seniors in the organization".