February Tournament Registration is Now Open!

Registration for the 49th CTI Superbowl tournament on February 23rd and 24th is officially open. This event will take place at Alameda International High School in Lakewood.  Black belts will compete Friday evening and all other belts will compete on Saturday. your instructor should be passing out an information brochure in class this week.

Please register by clicking here and then click the blue square that reads 'CTI Superbowl Tournament.'  Please note that even if you have informed your instructor that you will be attending the tournament, you still must register and remit payment via the above link.  Registration is due February 13th; after that a $10 late fee will apply.  

Here are the competition times for that weekend: 

• Black Belts - Friday evening
• Purple, Brown, Red Belts, all ages: Saturday 8 am
• White, Yel, Org, Green, Blue Belts, ages 8 and under: Saturday 10.30 am
• White, Yel, Org, Green, Blue Belts, ages 9 and up: Saturday 1 pm

You will want to check-in about 30 minutes prior to your competition time.  We will detail the check-in process as we get closer to the competition.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your instructor.

Thank you and we hope to see you all there!

Martial Arts Lessons at the CTI

By Meredith Botnick, 1st dan

Are you looking for quality martial arts lessons for yourself or your family? Perhaps you’ve been looking for a karate school and have been inundated with results. Often the various martial arts are referred to as 'karate', but there are differences as well as similarities between and even within the different styles. 

Karate is an art that originated in Japan before being carried to other parts of the world, whereas Taekwondo, the art that is taught at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, originated in ancient Korea. Martial arts programs vary quite a bit and also have many things in common As a result, both Karate and Taekwondo have a basis in using the hands and feet for self defense and use a series of patterns to develop the skills necessary for proper execution of these techniques. The main differences, however, is the school behind the art. The quality of a martial arts school should be the number one factor when you're looking into joining a school for martial arts lessons. 

Colorado Taekwondo Institute specifically has a rich history of bringing quality martial arts and leadership instruction to the Denver metro area and beyond, having been established in 1983 by Grandmaster Sautel. CTI teaches the Moo Sul Kwan style of Taekwondo, which was developed hundreds of years ago in Korea and introduced to the United States by Grandmaster Lee H. Park in 1969. At CTI, the emphasis is placed not only learning the physical side of self defense, but also the mental and philosophical sides through leadership training and education. So if you’ve considered exploring martial arts lessons, including karate or taekwondo, and are looking for a high quality school, schedule a visit the closest CTI campus today!

The Best in Preschool Martial Arts Classes

Martial arts classes are beneficial to people of all ages, but the long-term behavioral benefits are especially prevalent in preschool aged children who start taekwondo at a young age and adopt the concepts of self-control, focus, and confidence. Preschooler martial arts classes differs not in the way it is taught, or the types of techniques learned (as an example a 3-year old and a 30-year old adult will learn the same kicks),  but more in how the disciplines are picked up and what is emphasized to the student by their instructor. And one of the best martial arts schools for preschoolers, is the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. 

In preschool martial arts classes, learning the martial arts techniques as a form of defense is still the main goal, but the focus for the younger children is the body control and mental discipline which is still being developed. Whereas for adults, equal parts technique and and discipline are taught to the lower belts to ensure success as upper belts, the children’s education is centered around mainly the concept of self-control, as well as the body awareness required in class. Large, overarching techniques such as low stances, objective focus and tight hands remain the same, but the nuances in certain basics such as foot position in kicking or focusing before striking come later, once the children have hit the intermediate belts and begun to have the self-discipline required for more advanced techniques.    

Until that point, the emphasis remains on the mental fortitude to become a successful black belt- developing children’s self-confidence, their understanding of their own bodies and how to control themselves. This discipline in class then carries over into other aspects of their lives, encouraging good behavior at school and at home, and making these children of taekwondo almost like little ambassadors of our school’s tenets and beliefs. And creating the habit of having control over their bodies and minds allows for these kids to grow up and continue to grow and develop their skills as they progress through taekwondo. In this way they also become leaders among their peers, even the ones outside taekwondo.

Preschooler martial arts classes is so much more than just an exercise or a sport- it is a discipline, a life-long learning experience that will develop the child into a successful adult. Children, teenagers and adults can all benefit from martial arts in a myriad of ways; through the development of the body, mind and spirit, individuals can learn vital skills to prove as leaders. However, developing these traits early in children is the most beneficial in the long run, shaping them and their choices as they grow and learn about themselves, and blossom into ideal black belts and leaders of their generation.