I believe the ATA's website has the contact information for our HQ. I recommend that you contact them and inform them of what is going on. Since I have not witnessed it I can not, and will not, accuse other instructors of wrong doing without witnessing it. You have witnessed it though.1. Second Degree Black Belts - There are 2nd Degree Black Belts in the ATA organization at 7 years of age. To me this is crazy. It's my view that 7 is too young for a first degree. I too have seen many of the young people with really good technique, but not the ones this young. There are numerous BB in the ATA schools in Jax. that can't punch or kick correctly.
Personal expierence - My son received his BB at age 10. They tried to rush him through the testings. He did not know a single form all the way through until he was a Blue Belt (the only reason he learned this was he wanted to start to compete in tournaments). Also, they discouraged him from going to any tournament other than the closed ATA tourneys. In "several" testings he did not know what to do, didn't know all the forms or one steps and still passed with flying colors. It was sad, but at 10 and a BB he didn't even know how to punch correctly.
My instructor's school has never had a 7 year old 2nd degree. Because of how we set up the program, 9 or 10 is the youngest possible and those two kids could beat the snot out of kids their age. These kids know how to kick and punch and they know all of the forms. They had to know all of the forms to pass their black belt test.
We have this tiny 8 year old little girl who has tested for her black belt 4 times. We have failed her 4 times. We have a set standard and we will not lower that standard. Both of her older brothers have already passed, but she keeps trying and I know one day she will make an excellent black belt and a sucessful person because of her perserverance and her unwillingness to accept defeat. I don't think of failing a student as a negitive thing. I think of it as a test of character after the belt test and that little girl is passing where I have seen a lot of people fail in life.
Sorry that I am not really answering your questioning. My instructor's area (his school and his instructor's schools) are growing with integrity and honor. I just can't speak for others, but I do know that there are many other schools out there like this.