Self-Defense Classes

By Gavin Vahle, 1st dan

Self-defense lessons can be an important thing to learn. This means finding the right training program is the key to succeeding and being able to learn the necessary techniques to effectively use self-defense. The Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI) is the perfect place to do this because of its varied training area’s, extraordinary instructors, and the ultimate goal to persevere to excellence. 

One of the big reasons that CTI is able to have such success is because of their unique process of training. Trainees start with the exercise of jumping jacks, push-ups and sit-ups. Followed by an extensive stretching routine that then prepares students for what is called basics. These include all the basic movements, strikes, blocks and kicks that will be used in every other area of the sport. Basics will give a good foundation of not only physical and athletic strength, but also an initial repertoire of moves that can be utilized. Then after the foundation is formed, the students proceed forward with poomse, which are made up of a series of moves that are performed against multiple imaginary foes. These apply the skills from the basics and add more emphasis on the stances and balance, as well as combining moves in faster motions to teach mastery of those techniques. Beyond poomse there is much more, but specifically self defense and one-steps are what make the student’s training complete. The series of preset self defense techniques, which teach a student what to do if being grabbed by their wrists, neck, clothes, and more. There are also one-step sparring which relate to more formal attacks and defenses and prioritize distancing and control of the required movements. This entire program then comes together to produce amazing martial artists, but this is only possible with the exceptional instructors.

These exceptional instructors aren't foreign experts, but rather locally cultivated and trained into being the best martial arts instructors out there. Every single black belt in CTI has gone through at least one, and more likely multiple black belt testing cycles. These testing cycles are composed of 9-month long periods where a martial artist who is determined to be ready for black belt goes through dozens of pretests, completes writing articles, an extensive research paper, a black belt project to help their specific campus and both a physical and written test that both separately take an entire day to complete. This extensive process targets a black belt, and the arduous process to even become ready for the cycle, shapes them into becoming amazing people who are knowledgeable in every part of the sport. A lot of them are also school teachers who have an amazing way of managing discipline and responsibility, and can expertly shift their teaching style to different audiences ranging from tigers (0-5 years), juniors (6-12 years), teens (13-16) and adults (17+). These different class levels allow for all ages to be able to train more effectively, and also allows everyone to excel to their full potential. Sections dedicated to the younger ages are more sided with the art of the sport being poomse and advanced kicking, while the older classes still hit the major points of poomse, but focus more majorly on self defense moves, one-steps, free sparring, and breaking. The instructors also do a great job with flexible scheduling and setting up a workout plan that works for anyone. They also help prepare participants for the various events throughout the year, such as the tournaments, expos, and summer camps.

The events held are really what defines CTI’s excellence. Let’s start with the tournaments which are held in the fall, early winter and multiple in the spring. These events contain different parts that relate to each niche of the sport. Really there are two main branches of all martial arts, the art, and the self-defense aspect. These tournaments take each part of that  and display that. The regular events are poomse, sparring, and breaking. The poomse exemplifies superior qualities of precise movements and timing, and encapsulates the art of the sport. Whereas sparring represents quick reflexes and impromptu thinking, and helps plan formulation to succeed. The breaking combines the two, requiring both concentration and power, which are qualities needed for both the art of taekwondo and its self-defense applications. Then in my opinion, the more important events to attend are the summer expo, summer camp and fall upper belt symposium. These events really hone in on specific technical skills and allow more insight on the subjects, by working with different instructors. These events all take place up in the mountains, in a less busy and face-paced world, allowing for pure fixation on the training and improvement of taekwondo values and skills. The different instructors' unique and valuable insights help develop a conceptual understanding of not only how to defend oneself, but the why behind the methodology of CTI’s processes.

Self defense is an essential quality to have, not only to have the confidence to be able to get out of sticky situations and stand-up for others, as this can prove to be difficult at first. A comprehensive understanding of self defense, includes the ability to think fast and have an arsenal of things one can use in each unique situation. CTI promises all of that with outstanding training and instructors, and will help the development of strength (physically and mentally) by providing a calendar of events and competitions, allowing the martial artists to really strive to be their best. The final part of CTI’s general success is the motto, which means "self control, before self defense". It shows that to understand self defense, one must have to utilize control and logic before engaging in reaction. This sentiment embodies the very core principle of CTI, and is why with its six campus locations (Green Mountain, Littleton, Conifer, Westminster, Golden and Craig) and various afterschool programs around the Denver metro area, joining the CTI leads to learning superior self defense.