About Gold Star ATA Martial Arts

Master Jack Cochnar is a 6th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. He earned his Mastership Title in October 2021! He has multiple state championship titles and martial arts achievements. He has a wide variety of ATA and weapons certifications. Outside of Gold Star ATA Martial Arts, you may know him as the Executive Director at the Crete Chamber of Commerce.

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Master Alyssa Glandt is a 6th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. She earned her Mastership Title in November 2022! She is a 17X World Champion, holds multiple district and state championship titles, as well as numerous martial arts achievements. She has a wide variety of ATA and weapons certifications, and is one of ATA's National Protech Instructors for Gum Do (sword). She also holds a second degree black belt and instructor certification with the World Kummooyeh Federation. Kummooyeh is a traditional Korean sword and archery based martial art. Master Glandt also has certifications in SafeSport and Traliant. She was recognized as one of the top ATA International Instructors of the Year in 2023! She graduated from Doane University with a degree in Business.

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Master Coons is a 6th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. She earned her Mastership Title in July 2026! She is a World Champion, holds multiple district and state titles, as well as numerous martial arts achievements. She has a wide variety of ATA and weapons certifications.

Dr. Mark Meysenburg is a 5th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. He has multiple state championship titles and weapons certifications. He has a PhD in Computer Science, and has been a Professor of Computing at Doane University since 1998.

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Mr. Michael Cochnar is a 5th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. He has multiple state championship titles. He is Gold Star ATA's Media Consultant and previously held the position of Media Production Specialist for ATA Headquarters. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. He has his own production company, Uneta Productions, and enjoys writing screenplays and directing films. He and his wife, Jessica Alexander, also own and operate a children's musical theater company, Class Act Community Playhouse. Michael is a theatre graduate of Doane University.

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Mrs. Valerie Zvolanek is a 4th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. She has multiple state championship titles and weapons certifications. She is not only the Graphic Designer for Gold Star ATA, but she also started her own business, Uneta Boutique, in 2020. She has a degree from Doane University in Art.

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Mr. Jim Essman is a 4th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. He has been in ATA Taekwondo since 1993, and was a prior ATA school owner. He trains alongside his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter. He is a licensed electrical contractor and retired from manufacturing management.

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Mrs. Suzy Cochnar is a 4th Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor. She has multiple ATA and weapons certifications. She earned her undergrad degree from Doane University and has a Master’s Degree in Education from UNL. She taught art and journalism for 19 years for Lincoln Public Schools.

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Mr. Nathan Cochnar is a 4th Degree Black Belt. He has multiple state champs and holds a weapons certification in Gum Do. He is a graduate of Doane University, with a degree in Computer Science. He currently works as a Software Developer/Programmer.

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Mrs. Jenna Lierman is a 3rd Degree Black Belt, Nationally Certified Instructor, and has mutliple state championship titles. She is the Region 105 Co-Team Lead for Data Entry for the Tournament Team. She graduated with a degree in History and Theatre from Doane University. Jenna is proud to be part of a three-generation ATA family.

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Mr. Cayden Glandt a 3rd Degree Black Belt and has multiple state championships titles and a district championship title. He has over 8 years of service and one overseas deployment in the Nebraska Army National Guard as a military police officer and is currently serving as a platoon leader. He has a degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Fisheries and Wildlife.

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Mr. Nick Watenpaugh is a 3rd Degree Black Belt, and assists in teaching at all three Gold Star ATA locations.

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Mr. Richard Lierman is a 1st Degree Black Belt, Legacy Member, and a multi-time State Champion in Forms and Weapons. When he isn't on the mat, Richard works as a Cloud Engineer. He has a computer science degree from Doane University. He first joined ATA to train alongside his daughter, Nora, and remains dedicated to helping students achieve their own black belt goals.

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Mrs. Maggie Essink is the Office Coordinator at the Lincoln Gold Star ATA location.

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