The Importance of Physical Fitness

By Kim W, white belt

The CDC states that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense exercise every week. Many American adults struggle to meet this recommendation though.  Prioritizing time for personal exercise can feel daunting or even impossible when faced with other demands from work, family or social obligations. However, heeding the recommendation for physical activity on a consistent basis leads to significantly improved physical and mental well-being, even helping you avoid injury as you age!

The physical benefits of regular exercise are well-documented. These benefits include weight loss, increased muscle tone and cardiovascular health and lower risk of serious illness. We can all feel the impact that exercise has on our bodies when we look fitter or can last longer with aerobic exercise without huffing and puffing, but exercise has a long list of lesser-known physical benefits that aren't always easily seen. Two of these additional benefits are increased brain health and strengthening of bones. The most immediate of these benefits relates to how exercise impacts your brain. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals such as dopamines and endorphins that are shown to increase happiness and lower feelings of stress and anxiety. Physical activity is also shown to have a positive effect on cognitive abilities, so exercise can help you think, learn and problem solve! Scientists are even studying the impact exercise can have on preventing certain cognitive diseases, such as Alzheimers or dementia. Another "hidden" benefit of physical activity relates to bone and joint health. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the rate of bone loss and conserve bone tissue. Your bones react to exercise in a similar way to your muscles. As you continue to exercise, your bones become thicker and denser, which reduces the risk of bone fractures. Exercise also leads to increased balance, which can assist with preventing falls and also reduce risk of fractures. This is especially important for older adults as a bone fracture can be severely debilitating or even fatal. 

Aside from the physical benefits, regular exercise also has significant mental health benefits. We've already learned that the body is producing chemicals as we exercise that improve our immediate feelings of well-being, but exercise is shown to have multiple long-term mental benefits such as improved mood, increased self-esteem and self-confidence, lower levels of stress and depression and improved sleep cycles. Group exercises are also shown to increase sense of community and belonging, also leading to lower levels of depression and isolation. The positive mental feelings associated with exercise have been shown to motivate individuals to continue exercising, leading to even more benefits, both physical and emotional.

As you can see, the physical fitness from classes at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute have many great, lifetime lasting benefits!

CTI Martial Arts: Lakewood/Green Mountain Campus

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI), Lakewood Campus, is one of the six CTI campuses in Colorado. Serving as the headquarters of the CTI, the Lakewood Campus is located on 12354 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, Colorado. This campus was founded in 1991, by Grandmaster James M. Sautel, and has since been the top martial arts schools in the Lakewood, Colorado area. The Lakewood location is an ideal place for anyone looking to take part in Martial Arts.

With over 6,000 square feet of training space, two very spacious work out areas, and suspension flooring, the Lakewood Campus provides students with the quintessential environment necessary for Taekwondo instruction. The Lakewood Campus offers classes for 4 different age groups: Toddlers (ages 2-4), Kids (ages 5-12), Teens, and Adults. With classes taking place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, students will have no shortage of mentoring from the top CTI Instructors. The Lakewood Campus is also equipped with ample viewing areas, allowing friends and family to gain insight on what their loved one is being taught. These unique features allow the Lakewood Campus to exceed in supplying students with the best instruction available.

Also allowing students to receive the highest tier of instruction are the CTI Master Instructors that run the Lakewood martial arts school. Grandmaster James M. Sautel, 8th-degree black belt, teaches the Adult class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 pm-7:30 pm. Grandmaster Merinda J. Sautel, 7th-degree black belt, teaches an advanced class on Tuesdays and Thursdays for Teen and Adult students from 5:00 pm-6:15 pm. Master Alice Meyung, 5th-degree black belt, teaches a variety of classes ranging from a Kids class on Tuesdays and Thursdays to Black Belt Club on Tuesdays. All of these instructors not only coordinate the Lakewood Campus, but also provide students with the highest level of instruction. There are many classes that students can take advantage of to receive additional, and more advanced training. These classes include Black Belt Club, LeAD Team, and Master’s Club. Black Belt Club is a class from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm on Tuesdays. With permission from their instructor, students can attend this class to receive training on various techniques that are not taught in their regular classes. Some of these techniques include Palgwae poomse, advanced self-defense, and escapes. Purple belts and above are invited to attend LeAD Team, which is hosted at the Lakewood location from 9:00 am-10:00 am, and teaches students valuable skills that are not a part of their standard curriculum. Students learn how to lead a class, answer the phone, teach fellow students new moves, and other similar skills. Master’s Club, also hosted at the Lakewood Campus, provides additional training and classes for black belts and above. This is on Saturday morning before LeAD Team. 

Not only are additional classes offered by CTI, but events as well. Tournaments, expos, symposiums, camps, and countless other events are provided. All students are welcome to attend these fun events and further progress their training. Events are a great way for students to put into effect the techniques they have been practicing, and build new relationships with one another.

The Lakewood martial arts school is an exceptional martial arts school that will readily welcome anyone and treat them like family.

Here Comes the Superbowl!

Mark your calendars for the 48th CTI Superbowl tournament, to be held February 24 & 25 at Alameda International High School! This day will include exciting competition for students of all ages and belts. 

The CTI Superbowl has grown over the many years and celebrates the end of our CTI-year with exciting competitions and demonstrations. There will be divisions involving all ages and belt levels where competitors will test their skills with fellow students and instructors from all the CTI programs.

There are CTI Campus locations in Green Mountain, Littleton, Westminster, Golden, Conifer and Craig, CO.  The CTI also provides educational excellence at Alameda International, Montessori Peaks Academy, Red Rocks Elementary, Our Lady of Fatima School, West Woods Elementary, Meiklejohn Elementary School and Westridge Elementary.

Events will include:

• Poomse

• Tiger Poomse & Following Directions

• Self-Defense

• Breaking

• Target Kicking 

• Staff

You can read more about this event by clicking here. You or your student should receive a hardcopy of the brochure in class soon.  You can register for the event by clicking here. Please note: All registrations are due February 11th, and all registrations must be completed online. 

Please contact your instructor if you have any questions!

CTI Martial Arts: Westminster Campus

Martial arts is a universal activity with different origins all revolving around self-defense and self-protection. From taekwondo, to karate, to judo, the physical, mental and spiritual development of martial arts can benefit people of all ages. With the combination of culture, discipline and self-defense, martial arts is useful for everyone and can be enjoyed with all circumstances and lifestyles. Amongst the several martial arts schools in the Westminster, Colorado area, there is one specific school that provides so much more to its students than just increasing belt rankings or learning how to defend oneself; this is the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. For anyone interested in martial arts in Westminster, the Colorado Taekwondo Institute is a great option due to its commitment to developing its students into life-long leaders through educational excellence and martial arts traditions. 

The Westminster Colorado Taekwondo Institute is located on West 88th Avenue and is encircled by several neighboring school areas, making it an easily-accessible campus for children and adults. The CTI has something to benefit people of all ages from the tiger age (2-4 years old) to adults (18+). For all ages, taking classes at the CTI is an amazing form of physical activity and exercise, ensuring physical fitness created by Taekwondo’s utilization of all five components of fitness. Working out at least 2-3 days a week improves everyone’s lifestyles and keeps them in shape for a bright future. Additionally, the CTI teaches several forms of self-defense that can be used at any time when facing a dangerous situation. The realism in the techniques make self-defense easily applicable to reality. 

This Westminster martial arts school stands out because it has so much more to offer than physical activity and self-defense; classes also stimulate the brain, develop the mind and teach social skills.  The instructors at this Westminster martial arts campus are very diligent and caring when working with children starting at a young age, ensuring that their pent-up energy is released through the development of motor skills when punching, kicking and yelling. Along with this, toddlers are encouraged to show respect at a young age by learning how to listen and exercise self-defense to overall build up their confidence and self-esteem. Moving along to youth classes, the CTI applies its values to outside the classroom through the assignment of homework and teaching of the applicability of discipline in every aspect of life like school and home. This starts children at a young age on a path towards leadership and success in education and the future. The teen level has similar benefits to those of a tiger or youth, but are enhanced to fit with the constant change accompanied by maturity, growth and education. Teen classes are a perfect way to exercise anger management and focus, but also build up self-confidence and respect towards everyone. Finally, at the adult level, taekwondo at the CTI is the perfect way to keep up flexibility, relieve stress and focus on reaching goals while managing life outside one’s martial arts training. It’s never too early or too late to start Taekwondo at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute because there will always be benefits to the martial art. If you’re in the Westminster area, this martial arts school could be the right choice for you with its dedication to physical, mental and spiritual development. 

The values of this martial arts school in Westminster serve people of all ages and thus makes it stand out amongst its competitors within the area. By providing educational excellence since 1983, the Colorado Taekwondo Institute’s professionalism in martial arts training makes it a prime candidate when looking for martial arts schools in the Westminster area. Through its many years of experience, the Colorado Taekwondo Institute has proven to take care of its students within the classroom. The CTI promotes a safe and encouraging environment where everyone is welcome. The instructors, especially at the Westminster CTI, care about every person who walks in and out of the school from students to parents to grandparents and guarantee a good atmosphere during martial arts training. At the Westminster CTI, each workout area maximizes the space with their matted or carpeted floors, plenty of space for classes with several students, equipment to practice and improve specific skills, and viewing areas for families to stay in during class. Especially during this time, this martial arts school in Westminster has proved to stay clean and professional by keeping the school sanitary at all times. All interactions within the school demonstrate a great environment that fits with all personalities, welcoming people of all ages for a good time learning martial arts. 

The Westminster martial arts school is dedicated to teaching Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo to anyone willing to partake in the program. This Westminster martial arts school has created the best environment to create the most valuable experiences in life, whether it focuses on martial arts training, social skills or discipline. We hope you check out our school sometime!

January is Friends and Family Month!

January is our special Family and Friends month at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute!

For this month only, family members and friends can participate in classes at any of our CTI Campus locations (Lakewood, Littleton, Westminster, Golden and Conifer), compliments of the CTI!

Here's a special opportunity to experience how our CTI students and instructors train in the Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts.  All you have to do is wear loose fitting workout clothes and be ready to have the best of times!  Official Moo Sul Kwan uniforms are also available for sale if needed.

Check with your CTI Campus instructor on how to get in on the action!  This is a wonderful chance to workout with your friend and/or family member in a very special art that we are so excited about!  Don't think about it - just do it!