All-City Championships Reaches New Heights

A fantastic two-day championship tournament took place during the last weekend of April at Alameda International Jr/Sr High School in Lakewood, Colorado.

The action began on Friday evening and continued through Saturday.  An All-City Championships attendance record of 350 competitors entered into exciting competitions in poomse, sparring, First Point Wins!, breaking, blindfolded breaking and staff poomse.

Special guest Master Karen M. McHugh was on hand from Dingle, Ireland, along with Moo Sul Kwan black belts Mya and Jacobi Field from Canada. Also in attendance were students and instructors from Missouri, including Master Fred Sautel and Nick Slinkard.

Here are the results from the 2018 All-City Championships:

Poomse

1st place
Hope Morgan, Eileen Lindner, Collin Kreutz, Natasha McKernan
Katie Dahle, Emily Artman, Merrick Olszek, Rachel Wilcox
Jonah Elstad, Jason Stencel, Sr., Katelynn Ward, Joshua Stencel
Jacob Hoenmans, Owen Robertson, Caiden Murphy, Kaddie Williams
Colin Palminteri, Da Minh Tran, Gillian Boswell, Cody Jacobson
Theryn Ochsner, Caleb Ebert, Jacob Bloom, Camila DeGroot
Alex Tan, Amy Krupp, Candice Chandler, Kayla Roberts
Zach Carney, Gabriella Sleight, Emerald Shankin, Eva Welch
Randy Hernandez, Annie Abbink, Katie Minden, Meilani Wilcox
Regan Beaver, Lydia Tan, Jackson Noller, Zoey Krupp
Nathaniel Keckler, Phineas Hallock, Mason Rutz, Andrew Wilcox
Everett Lasater, Dylan Foster, Kaydence Scott, Jackson Feik
Liam Gilmore, Aiden Soule, Layla Trujillo, Lily Strickland
Lennix Chavez, Lily Laird, Marley Powers, Luna Garcia
Hannah Holmes, Logan Keckler, Coco Dailey, Jade Trujillo

2nd place
Brian Steward, Don Johnson, Peyton Brauch, Kathleen Sautel
Ethan Price, Ryan Wyngarden, Nina Madayag , Ella Barron
Phillip Hoenmans, Vivi Brown, Brendan Arink, Christian Lloyd
Bella Lasater, Jack Weichert, Layla Tran, Lindsey Boswell
Colsten Yoder, Julian Marine, Lars den Hartog, Lydia Willis
Colin Cook, Hunter Gray, Justin Keith, Mattox Bubenik
Kim Freeman, Scott Hancey, David Glisson, Sabrina Liu
Tyler Harbaugh, Hayden Welch, Mary Moen, Debra Chandler
Zane Stephenson, India Ross, Adina Johnson, Roland Dander
Rickert Speckman, Malachi Romero, Carter Schucker, Zachary Cotner
Ivy Strickland, Alexis Chavez, Hudson Handlin, Harmony Scott
Bennett Parks, Charlie Booten, Cooper Stephenson, Nate Florence
Xiaoxue Ada Koberlein, Lucas Brown, Thomas Misiak-Kacsh, Erich McCarthy
Jordan Rutz, Benjamin Todd, Oliver Gomez, Beckett Ramsey
Keira Sherman, Anabella Briceno, Judson Ver Beek, Sierra Sanchez

3rd place
Nick Sinkard, Mark Scott, Tyler Murphy, Kenny Brancio
Lynne Dean, Makayla Trapp, Evelyn LaMorgese, Liam Greene
Avery Mitzlaff, William Schwartz, Mariah Cordova, Lance Schwartz
Tyler Cobb, Lucah Meyer, Dylan Soule, Race Sober
Quynn Cotner, Mitchell Oleszek, Miette Jandreau, TJ Tibbetts
Isabella Sandoval, Elizabeth Hawkins, Evan Shacklett, Zane Kaulbach
Khristin Paisley, Jackie Uchiyama, Kayla Romero, Deb Larson
Micah Nelson, Chance Kane, Charlotte Lafler, Hannah Meadows
Alaina Rivera, Caleb Romero, Francesca DeGroot, Soren Vanderstek
Finnegan Handlin, Alejandra Ramirez, Hudson Lo, Hunter Humeniuk
Allan Stanton, Adam Lemmon, Hunter Bates, Ryan Marine
Atom Taylor, Elise Nakamoto, Ali Wolfe, Michael Lemmon
Tegan Moore, Noah Gomez, Lucy Zappe, Averie Chavez
Jensen Cook, Sophie Brinceno, Leto Ochsner, Sophie Philpot
Penelope Cocoros, Eli Eastment, Evan McEwan, Garrett Falk

4th place
Eric Evans, Bruce Dean, Nathaniel McKernan, Ethan Trapp
Sarah Luper, Kameron Evans, Jacobi Field, Gavin Thurman
Konner Evans, Irene Kim, Shaydon Tuttle, Kylee Ruhser
Aidan Sturm, Tristan Garcia, Helen Grenillo, Alex Schwartz
Nik Tibbetts, Brecken Lusk, Meryn Probasco, Paul Paisley
Adam Harkins, Ethan Ebert, Juliana DeGroot, Patrick Stolle
Jen Hancey, Magdalynn Nelson, Beth Wolfe, Amy Daly
Jonathan Wright, Alex Hancey, Sam Wolfe, Justin Coleman
Diego Quezada, Eliseo Bandala, Kyrie Horine, Lex DeHaven
Ryder Nelson, Claire Zappe, Dylan Wellensien, Ryan Kelly
Kaytie Rogers-Rees, Toby Palminteri, Boden Cadwallader, Daniel Merida
Colton Falk, Benny Aguirre, Liam Mulligan, Thomas Sleight
Oliver Martie, Elsie McDonald, Lucy Paisley, Leo Clair
Rowan Lasater, Mia Wolfe, Gavin Scott, Sidney Bratten
Kholdyn McIntosh


Tiger Poomse

1st place
William Crowley, Rue Weerapura, Elvie Aguirre, Lettie Chavez
Ray Clair, Samuel Gomez, Chase Gentry, Amalina Tarr
Rebekkah Copel, Coraline Lizzio, Joseph Eastment, Grace Bubenik
Kora Wilcox, Roxy Codalbu, Kaiden Rogers-Rees, Sammy Powers
Oliver Hovland, Abby Booten, Julia Parrinello, Jacob Mayberry
Brecken Schubert, Rylan Wolfe, Miles Humphress


Breaking

1st place
Fred Sautel, Jacobi Field, Kenny Brancio, Don Johnson
Kathleen Sautel, Emily Artman, Eileen Lindner, Tyler Murphy
Isabella Sandoval, Erick Rodriguez, Bryce Cole, Robbie Crandell
Hunter Gray, Avery Mitzlaff, Irene Kim, Colin Cook
Bella Lasater, Lance Schwartz, Da Minh Tran, Brendon Arink
Lindsey Boswell, Chance Kane, Alex Tan, Diego Quezada
Charlotte Lafler, Hannah Meadows, Alex Hancey, Camila DeGroot
Adina Johnson, Kayla Roberts


Sparring

1st place
Hope Morgan, Ryan Wyngarden, Lexi Johannes, Collin Kreutz
Rick Orton, Nick Slinkard, Makayla Trapp, Chase Wyngarden
Shekina DeTienne, Marley Powers, Erich McCarthy, Lennix Chavez
Theryn Ochsner, Jason Stencel, Jr., Joshua Stencel, Kaddie Williams
Avery Mitzlaff, Dylan Soule, Aidan Sturm, Kylee Ruhser
Caleb Ebert, TJ Tibbetts, Bowen Meyer, Payton Reynolds
Ed Stanton, Miette Jandreau, Mitchell Oleszek, Roland Dander
Zane Kaulbach, Scott Hancey, Daniel Massarweh, Khristin Paisley
Nate Larson, Juliana DeGroot, Sabrina Liu, Leigha Surface
Emerald Shankin, Ethan Ebert, Caleb Romero, Alejandra Ramirez
Evan Charlton, Adina Johnson, Liam Gilmore , Aidan Soule
Bennett Parks, Oliver Hovland, Kaydence Scott, Jordan Rutz
Penelope Cocoros, Grant Shirley, Benjamin Todd, Kaylin Stearns
Evan McEwan, Averie Chavez, Hudson Handlin, Weston Wolfe
Ahas Weerapura, Nate Florence, Eleanor Smagala, Allan Stanton

2nd place
Bridget Sautel, Kenny Brancio, Trish Nguyen, Nathaniel McKernan
Mark Scott, Tyler Murphy, Nina Madayag, Jacobi Field
Eileen Lindner, Ivy Strickland, Matthew Roberts, Adam Lemmon
Lalya Tran, Colston Yoder, Lance Schwartz, Helen Grenillo
Calvin Jensen, Gavin DiNunzio, Lucah Meyer, Lauren Dahlberg
Bryce Cole, Jonah Elstad, Shaydon Tuttle, Sarah Dahle
Jason Stencel, Sr., Gillian Boswell, Da Minh Tran, Chance Kane
Soren Vandersteck, Alex Tan, Ace Garcia, Amy Krupp
Zachary Carney, Olivia Foster, Beth Wolfe, Courtney Moen
Lydia Tan, Jacob Bloom, Brooks Wood, Candice Chandler
Daniel Massarweh, Kaylyn McEwan, Liam Mulligan , Everett Lasater
Lucas Brown, Rylan Wolfe, Keira Sherman, Lucy Paisley
Mia Wolfe, Ryan Marine, Bradley Wangberg, Claire Zappe
Benjamin Crowley, Elsie McDonald, William Crowley, Zach Cotner
Oliver Gomez, Michael Lemmon, Jade Trujillo, Nathaniel Keckler

3rd place
Kathleen Sautel, Josh Miller, Natasha McKernan, Ethan Trapp
Don Johnson, Clayton Garner, Evelyn LaMorgese, Merrick Oleszek
Jennifer McKernan, Sabrina Jensen, Liam Greene, Phineas Hallock
Isabella Sandoval, Christian Lloyd, Tristan Garcia, Vivi Brown
Mateo Piza, Caiden Murphy, Owen Robertson, Bella Lasater
Lars den Hartog, Phillip Hoenmans, Brendan Arink, Elizabeth Hawkins
Lee Tomjack, Lydia Willis, Julian Marine, Jonathan Wright
Richert Speckman, Darrin McIntosh, Randy Hernandez, Nethika Suraweera
Tyler Harbaugh, Melani Wilcox, Deb Larson, India Ross
Felicity Pingkian, Alex Glisson, Alex Hancey, Hayden Welch
Roman Montoya, Katie Minden, Charlie Booten, Boden Cadwallader
Dylan Foster, Mason Rutz, Ali Wolfe, Alexis Chavez
Layla Trujillo, Gregory Smagala, Beckett Ramsey, Harmony Scott
Oliver Martie, Rachel Wilcox, Sammy Powers, Gavin Scott
Rowan Lasater, Kholdyn McIntosh, Luna Garcia, Leto Ochsner

4th place
Katie Dahle, Emily Artman, Freddy Sautel, Eric Evans
Ethan Price, Mya Field, Jameson Healy, Sarah Luper
Quynn Cotner, Colin Palminteri, Nick Tibbetts, Lindsey Boswell
Konner Evans, Will Kennedy, Jacob Hoenmans, Ellie Stanton
Adam Harkins, Erik Rodriguez, Dalton Cole, Christina Manna
Bill Schwartz, Mariah Cordova, Cody Jacobson, Michael Eric Meadows
Finnegan Handlin, Patrick Stolle, David Glisson, Jackie Uchiyama
Justin Coleman, Camilla DeGroot, Jennifer Kautz, Rosario Ramirez
Eva Welch, Malachi Romero, Diego Quezada, Debra Chandler
Eliseo Bandala, Charlotte Lafler, Ryder Nelson, Atom Taylor
Daniel Merida, Hunter Bates, Lucy Zappe, Elise Nakamoto
Hunter Humeniuk, Leo Clair, Rue Weerapura, Thomas Misiak-Kacsh
Lily Strickland, Eli Eastment, Judson Ver Beek, Benny Aguirre
Dylan Wellensiek, Ryann Beaver, Owen Hughes, Noah Gomez


First Point Wins!

1st place
Lynne Dean, Jacobi Field, Nina Madayag, Fred Sautel
Don Johnson, Nathaniel McKernan, Lexi Johannes, Ryan Wyngarden
Bridget Sautel, Aidan Soule, Liam Mulligan, Everett Lasater
Mitchell Oleszek, Moriah Cordova, Jason Stencel, Sr., Elizabeth Hawkins
Bowen Meyer, Erik Rodriguez, Caleb Ebert, Bella Lasater
Owen Robertson, Colin Cook, Avery Mitzlaff, Vivi Brown
Nick Tibbetts, Jason Stencel, Jr., Alex Schwartz, Francesca DeGroot
Evan Charlton, Candice Chandler, Brooks Wood, Ethan Ebert
Emerald Shankin, Rosario Ramirez, Beth Wolfe, Melani Wilcox
Nate Larson, Amy Krupp, Daniel  Massarweh, Alex Tan
Richert Speckman, Chance Kane, Lennix Chavez, Owen Hughes
Marely Powers, Leto Ochsner, Luna Garcia, Nate Florence
Oliver Gomez, Zach Cotner, Hudson Handlin, Rachel Wilcox
Oliver Martie, Toby Palminteri, Benjamin Todd, Gregory Smagala
Penelope Cocoros, Jordan Rutz, Kaydence Scott, Rylan Wolfe

2nd place
Jennifer McKernan, Chase Wyngarden, Makayla Traff, Brian Steward
Eric Evans, Ethan Price, Mya Field, Josh Miller
Sarah Luper , Lucas Brown, Liam Gilmore, Bennett Parks
Julian Marine, Lydia Willis, Melvin Marine, Payton Reynolds
Brendan Arink, Jonah Elstad, Hunter Gray, Ellie Stanton
Jack Weichert, Will Kennedy, Brecken Lusk, Kaddie Williams
Joshua Stencel, Colin Palminteri, Layla Tran, Charlotte Lafler
Daniel Massarweh, Alejandra Ramirez, Diego Quezada, Malachi Romero
Lydia Tan, Leigha Surface, Deb Larson, Juliana DeGroot
Micah Nelson, Kayla Roberts, Ace Garcia, Darren McIntosh
Mattox Bubenik, Roland Dander, Adam Lemmon, Matthew Roberts
Sabrina Jensen, Dylan Wellensiek, Eleanor Smagala, Kholdyn McIntosh
Judson Ver Beek, Andrew Wilcox, Sammy Powers, Elsie McDonald
Thomas Misiak-Kacsh, Harmony Scott, Ryan Marine, Bradley Wangberg
Mia Wolfe, Alexis Chavez, Ali Wolfe, Oliver Hovland


Staff Poomse

1st place
Collin Kreutz, Katie Dahle, Ryan Wyngarden, Brian Steward
Bridget Sautel, Nick Slinkard

2nd place
Nathaniel McKernan, Sarah Luper, Nina Madayag, Hope Morgan
Andy McDaniel, Eric Evans

3rd place
Kathleen Sautel, Kameron Evans, Makayla Trapp, Peyton Brauch
Eileen Lindner

Grand Champions:  Collin Kreutz, Eileen Lindner and Ryan Wyngarden

Your Local, Friendly Martial Arts School: Littleton Campus

By Katie Dahle, 1st dan

Are you on the lookout for a convenient and competent Littleton martial arts school? Maybe you have a young child with boundless energy to burn. Maybe your teenager struggles with team sports or confidence. Maybe you’re someone looking to get in shape or want to try something new. A quick google search shows several Littleton Taekwondo schools but which one is the one for you? If you want a school with world class instruction, a safe learning environment, dynamic classes, and a staff who care, then the Colorado Taekwondo Institute’s Littleton campus is the school for you.

Founded in 1994, this Littleton Taekwondo school has a talented staff of instructors, including two master instructors, who provide a time-tested curriculum tailored for every student. Recently renovated and updated, the campus has three work-out areas with custom made suspension floors and new carpeting, with viewing areas for friends and family to watch classes.

Part of the Colorado Taekwondo Institute this Littleton martial arts school offers classes five days a week in the evenings for students aged 2 and up. The Colorado Taekwondo Institute teaches the taekwondo style of Moo Sul Kwan, established in the U.S. in 1969 by Great Grandmaster Lee H. Park. These quality classes teach body control, self-defense, and healthy habits. Along with the physical benefits of this curriculum, students learn and live positive behaviors like self-control, respect, self-discipline and humility.

There may be many choices for Littleton karate schools, but the Colorado Taekwondo Institute’s Littleton campus offers high quality martial arts and self-defense classes that train each student to be well-rounded and thoughtful leaders within a life-long learning environment. Stop by this conveniently located Littleton Taekwondo school to see in person what this school can offer you and your family.

Taekwondo and Karate Lessons at the CTI

By Collin Kreutz, 2nd dan

Are you looking to begin karate lessons or martial arts classes? Would you like to get in shape, learn to defend yourself, and most importantly, become a well educated learner and leader through consistent martial arts practices? Well, you are in luck, because the Colorado Taekwondo Institute is for you!

There are a multitude of reasons in which taekwondo or karate lessons will benefit you, all of which are offered at the highest level at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. The mission statement of the CTI asserts, “To encourage world-class leadership through educational excellence and Moo Sul Kwan martial arts traditions”, articulating our goal of promoting education in correlation with physical fitness. Not only will beginning your journey in Taekwondo yield a stronger, quicker, and healthier physical self, but a sharper and more thoughtfully apt mental self as well. These physical and mental growths gained from taekwondo compliment and sustain each other, promoting development and progress as a person in life outside of martial arts.

Taekwondo is a great way to develop yourself physically and get in the best maintainable shape for your own body. Involving many different kinds of physical workouts, whether it be engaging in quick intense exercises, or persistent stamina building ones, martial arts is extremely effective in both building physical strength and endurance. One of the prime contributors to the physical developments gained through taekwondo is that of consistency, which is presently available more so in taekwondo than in many other sports and activities. In general, taekwondo classes will be attended twice a week, with consistent tournament and events held alongside those throughout the year. The consistency of martial arts training will ensure that you will not fall into the struggles of losing your physical fitness, even briefly, which can be an incredibly challenging pit to pull yourself out of. Additionally, our workouts are designed to build a foundation of basics in the taekwondo training before moving no to more advanced and physically adept techniques. This ensures that your body will attain a very valuable, strong, and solid physical foundation, which is extendable to the rest of your activities in your life warranting bodily fitness.

However, the CTI is not simply concerned with developing your physical self. Our five tenets of taekwondo, perseverance, self-control, indomitable spirit, integrity, and courtesy, are instructed into our students every single class, promoting their educational and moral developments. Taekwondo students are presented with new challenges every single day, whether it be striving for your next belt, preparing for the upcoming tournament, or even simply fixing a mistake pointed out by your instructor. Learning how to battle through new challenges in effective manners, and being able to maintain control of your mind and spirit through these challenges will be highly provocative of creating a more driven and determined individual. Additionally, students are taught a high degree of respect and honesty through their training, further developing their morally correct social and educational skills, as well as their leadership capabilities. Through training at the CTI, it can be guaranteed that the student will improve mentally as a whole, improve every other aspect of life as a more mentally healthy person.

Training at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute is the best choice anybody could make for themselves, their relatives, or their friends. So, if you are interested in karate, taekwondo, or martial arts classes, the CTI is the best place for you!

Your Family in MSK Taekwondo

By Irene Kim, red belt

The benefits from training in Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo are immeasurable and intensely meaningful when multiple family members train together at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI).   A very unique bonding develops immediately and continually grows stronger, as each member of the family pushes themselves to achieve goals once thought to be unattainable.

The study of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo requires attention to multiple things simultaneously to accurately complete required moves. It is a very challenging but rewarding practice. To recall and implement the seemingly infinite number of techniques is a constant push but also so satisfying when you come closer to mastering even one.

The training also requires continual practice of techniques. While one learns the moves, not only is the physical performance involved but also the attainment of a deep understanding of the rationales behind the moves.  One achieves this by practicing and interacting with others at the CTI.

For multiple family members training in family martial arts, valuable opportunities for even further practice and understanding are appreciated. I am an adult red belt who got my 10-year-old daughter involved when she was around 5. A photo of her in her first uniform with her white belt looks over me as I write this. Her smile is beaming with pride even back then and reminds me of the value of having my family involved.

My 7-year-old son also joined a couple years ago and now he enjoys the competition of tournaments and our family martial arts training together.  We often talk of “kicks nights,” our family’s way of referring to the nights we all go to classes.  The schedule of the household does continually involve these nights and I look forward to seeing them strengthen their minds, bodies and spirits while improving their self-confidence, respect for others, focus and discipline.

As we individually push to understand and perform the beautiful Moo Sul Kwan Martial Art of Taekwondo at the CTI, we ask each other questions to further delve into the details of each move.  We can point out things on which we are doing well, as well as those areas which might need improvement.  We do these things in the living room, at the park, in the kitchen...as well as at the dojang, or workout area, at the Institute.

The benefits of Taekwondo at the CTI extend into all aspects of our lives: at school, work and in the community.  On our way to birthday parties or the store, we talk about where your foot should be on a certain poomse or what the target of a certain punches is.  We practice side kicks in the pool.  We do jumping jacks and stretches at the park.  This type of attention to the practice improves and strengthens our focus and allows success in other areas as we move through our days.  It is also incredibly fun to figure out the details and push each member of the family to success together.

Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo is not just for you, it is something very positive and rewarding to pass onto generations to come. I suggest you check-out the Colorado Taekwondo Institute when you are looking for martial arts schools for families.

Camp MSK

By Cody Jacobson, red belt, CTI LeAD Team Member

Here at CTI, we do lots of activities. One of my favorites is Camp MSK. Some people I’ve met have considered going to camp but decided against it because they were too scared. Some said they would miss their parents, others said it is a long time away from home. I personally was not deterred from going to camp for my first time. I looked at it as a way to grow within Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo. When you do go, it is a tremendous amount of fun.

Camp MSK is one of the best places. You always have fun, and the food is great. It's really not scary. Even if none of the students in your class or your campus (of which I doubt) are coming you always make friends. One way to do so is to become friends with your demo group. The demos at camp are always amazing. Another place to make friends is at the communal meals. There are always people willing to sit with anyone at dinner, lunch and breakfast. You are never alone. If you are afraid that you will forget to put on sunscreen or get hurt, or anything of that sort, you don't need to worry. On the first day of camp, you will receive an upper belt buddie (most commonly black belts) and they make sure that you get on sunscreen and bug spray if you need it. If not, your group leader will. Group leaders will try and make sure you don't get hurt.

I think the best part of camp, even though it is all amazing, is probably the food. I know other students and black belts will agree with me. The food is so good you would not even imagine. This food gives us the energy to tackle all of the days activities. We do hiking, biking, swimming, rock climbing, archery, and of course, MSK Taekwondo. Sometimes, we do classes inside of classes. For example, we might go biking then stop and do poomse, or basics. We sometimes also have one class all day long. It is not uncommon to learn new moves at least once while at camp. You get to have class with different instructors that you are not used to having. Sometimes, people come out from Missouri. It is good to learn from different instructors, it improves your learning area.

Along with all of the MSK Taekwondo activities we do at camp, we also do non-Taekwondo related stuff. As mentioned in the paragraph above, we do rock climbing, and archery. We don't put all of that stuff you bring to waste. On your packing list, it says to bring a bike. We go on lots of rides, and sometimes set our bikes down and do a class. We have classes almost anywhere possible. We also use what's around us. Once, I did a class on staffs and we used sticks instead of staffs. We always take a hike to a waterfall near the end of camp. We take pictures of us at this spot. We also go to a place called the Kiva. We go there on our free time, and we have a lot of fun. There you can play basketball, roller skate or do other gym type activities. We also go to the tubing hill. It is open all year round, and is a lot of fun. We do lots of non-Taekwondo activities.

MSK Summer Camp is one of the best Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo events there is. I would hate to miss out, even if that means losing five days of summer vacation.  I hope you think so too.

Your Local, Friendly Martial Arts School: Lakewood Campus

By TJ Gutierrez, 1st dan

The Lakewood Colorado campus is the headquarters campus for Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI). It is the location for Saturday morning instructor and leadership training. Other martial arts schools might try to "wow" you with posters and banners, but at the Lakewood martial arts school, our state-of-the-art workout rooms, our close and convenient location, and our top notch instructors will make you not want to go to any other martial arts place but the Colorado Taekwondo Institute.

The Lakewood campus is nestled in the beautiful Green Mountain neighborhood right off of West Alameda Parkway and is behind US bank and right next to Faith Mountain Church, which we partner with throughout the year doing service projects to support their local food bank. We have one of the safest and friendliest neighborhoods in Lakewood. One of the cool advantages of being at the Lakewood campus is that is is near really great schools ranging from preschool to high school. Many teens including myself have grown up in this community and around these schools and we can say for certain they are great choices. The other great thing that is near the Lakewood campus is good places to eat like Firehouse Subs, Mad Greens and locally operated Burrito Express. If you don’t want to eat out, that's no problem there is a King Soopers right across the street and Safeway is not far either.

The inside of the Lakewood campus is inviting to visitors and versatile for students. It consists of two workout areas. One in the front and one in the back. The state of the art training rooms are where we practice and do Taekwondo. We also have some of the best equipment. We do many activities with sparring bags and targets. They are in very good condition and are very fun to use. Other aspects of the building is the bathrooms and drinking fountains that students can use after workouts. We have another room where we usually store cleaning supplies and vacuums. Our lobbies have been redone with wood flooring instead of carpet and has a very nice feel and look to the campus. We have benches for parents to sit on and watch their kids do amazing things through the large open viewing windows looking into the workout areas.

But best of all, our campus instructors are outstanding at teaching at the Lakewood martial arts campus.The instructor or teacher of the class is the one that helps you with moves, working out and can answer any question relating to martial arts. We love teaching the community the culture of Taekwondo to as many people as possible. We also love to teach kids and adults the benefits of working out and working hard. There are different levels of classes that students take and each one has a great instructor.

The people of Taekwondo, the campus itself, and the Lakewood area are all amazing. When you combine them all together it is an exceptional combination for you and your kids to work out and enjoy yourself in Lakewood. If you are looking for a Lakewood karate school, come on down to the Lakewood campus at 12354 West Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado or call us at (303)-989-7542.

AMASEA National Convention Bus Trip

By Cody Jacobson, red belt, 12 years old, CTI LeAD Team Member

CAPE GIRARDEAU OR BUST!

The 2018 AMASEA National Convention is one of the best trips within Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo that I've ever been on.  It is a lot of fun and you always learn new stuff.  And like Camp MSK, the food is wonderful!

The convention is a travel trip to Missouri.  So in order to get us all there, we charter our own bus.  We drive overnight to St. Louis.  It is a long bus ride but it is fairly easy to fill the time.   We watch movies.  I also spent a lot of time talking to other students on the bus.  We talked about MSK Taekwondo but we also talked a bunch about our hobbies and interests outside of training.  It was really nice to be able to connect with other students outside of my CTI Campus and be able to learn things about them outside of Taekwondo.  We stop every so often at gas stations to use the restrooms, and get food.  You can buy all kinds of food from healthy snacks to not so healthy snacks.  We stopped about 3 times going there and 3 times coming back.  (It is always a relief to see civilization when we are in Kansas.)  On the way back, we stop at a gas station and break boards.  It is always fun to watch other students break boards, and see the looks of the drivers driving past us.

We go to a lot of classes at the National Convention.  They range from doing poomse to Judo with Great Grandmaster Shin.  You will always learn new things from the class instructors.  This may or may not be new moves on a poomse you are working on, or even starting a new poomse but it is still a ton of fun.  The instructors will give you tips on what you are doing, and show you things that you have never seen before.  I took a class on Moo Sul Kwan Hapkido, something I've never done before, and learned all sorts of new things.  Most of the classes, if not all, will be hard but you will enjoy them no matter what.  The Judo class with Great Grand Master Shin is one of the hardest classes at the convention, but after you get through it, you will find that it was really fun. Although, don't be surprised if you are sore for the next few days. The classes are all really fun and interesting so it is always good to join in and explore them.

On this years trip we went to the City Museum of St. Louis on the first day.  When you think museum, you think hallways lined with artifacts and boring text.  That is the exact opposite of the City Museum.  It is more of a jungle gym than a museum.  You climb on wire and metal structures inside and outside.  The structures span a 10 story building.  Every structure in the building is made out of something found in St. Louis.  There is even a slide running from the top to the bottom of the building, and one that stretches half way.  Knee pads are optional but are definitely a good thing.  Between exploring with your friends and conquering your fear of heights, the museum is a tremendous amount of fun and the non Taekwondo highlights of the trip.

The AMASEA National Convention is a tremendous amount of fun. You would hate to miss out.  You get to learn things that are new, and hang out with your friends.  The AMASEA National Convention is definitely a great CTI Taekwondo trips!