Westminster Martial Arts

There are currently six Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI) campuses, including the Westminster Campus, serving students in Arvada, Westminster, Leyden, Candelas, Broomfield, and more. Located on 88th Ave, the Colorado Taekwondo Institute Westminster martial arts school is nestled right on the border of Arvada and Westminster. You can find the campus in the southeast corner of the Lake Plaza Shopping Center. Some nearby amenities for students and their families to enjoy are I Heart Sushi, Applauze Salon, Sano’s Italian Kitchen, and Sideways Sports Lounge.  

The CTI Westminster martial arts school teaches Moo Sul Kwan taekwondo, a Korean martial art similar to karate or kung fu. Students at the CTI Westminster campus receive a martial arts education focused on self-defense and good exercise habits. They also receive consistent teachings around the tenets of taekwondo: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. These tenets are at the core of our taekwondo curriculum, and students are encouraged to develop these characteristics in class and in their monthly homework and written tests for their next belt. 

Potential students of all ages can find a high-quality martial arts class at the CTI Westminster campus. Our preschool martial arts students focus primarily on energy release, motor skills, and listening skills in the Tigers class. At the end of every class, the Tigers talk with their instructor about self-control and how to treat others with respect. Tigers learn ‘self-control before self-defense,’ which teaches them when to use the kicks and punches they’ve learned in class. 

Students aged five to twelve can enjoy CTI Westminster’s fun kids’ martial arts classes. The Juniors focus on physical fitness, building self-confidence, and respecting themselves and others. The kids’ martial arts classes also teach students strong leadership skills as they work towards achieving each belt and, ultimately, their black belt. The CTI Westminster Juniors will also benefit from improved study skills as they take their written exams for their next belt. 

Teen martial arts classes at the CTI Westminster campus are a great opportunity for young adults to develop lifelong skills and healthy habits. Teen taekwondo students learn extremely valuable skills in discipline, goal setting, and leadership that they can take with them into adulthood. Teenagers also benefit from increasing physical fitness, building self-confidence, and improving focus. 

Adult martial arts students can benefit greatly from taking taekwondo classes at CTI Westminster. For the adult CTI Westminster student, a strong focus on goal-oriented action is used to help students learn how to stick with an exercise regime. Adult taekwondo students can learn new physical fitness skills, focus, and self-defense in a fun group exercise environment dedicated to supporting new students in reaching their fitness goals. 

The Westminster martial arts school hosts all of these classes in a 4,500 sq ft facility with three spacious workout areas. Each classroom has a custom-built suspension floor to reduce any stress on the body during each workout. The school also has two changing rooms, a water bottle filling station, and a spacious lobby. Each classroom has a viewing area for friends and family to watch their students. 

There are six highly qualified black belt instructors at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute Westminster campus. The head instructor is Grandmaster Erik Albrechtson, certified by the American Martial Arts Sports and Education Association as a 7th-degree black belt, who has 33 years of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo experience. Grandmaster Albrechtson founded the CTI Westminster campus in 2004. 

Martial Arts Classes for Children

By Ivy Jensen, Teen Red Belt

Many people have noticed the slow change in children through the generations. While kids used to be hooked on the outdoors and physical activities, children now have shifted to digital options for entertainment. However, martial arts for children provides a solution to this ongoing problem. Martial arts such as Karate, Aikido, Taekwondo, Jujitsu, and Judo all teach children not only how to defend themselves in dangerous situations, but also many other talents. Martial arts help children's physical health, confidence, integrity, discipline, self control, and teamwork. Below are some reasons why the martial arts classes taught at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute are are great for children

Physical Benefits
Muscle growth is a key part of a developing child’s life. And many martial arts for children will make this one of their goals. Unlike team sports such as soccer and basketball, martial arts focus on individual growth. The dynamic movements found in many martial arts help children work specific muscle groups while consistent practicing will assist in increasing their endurance and strength. Furthermore, warm-ups will include stretches and agility exercises that will enhance a child's flexibility, balance and coordination.

Confidence and Self-esteem
A lack of confidence growing up is a huge roadblock in most kid’s childhood. It may make them insecure and slow down their social life. However, children in martial arts often experience a boost in self confidence as they progress. As they learn and grow alongside others, their self-esteem will increase day by day. As they progress through belt levels, they will feel more and more comfortable in their own body. This will encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and try new things they would never have done before.

Character Building
One of the other benefits of martial arts for children is the character building. Many martial arts stress the importance of integrity, perseverance, humility, and respect in their students. Each trait being reinforced in every class. Martial arts teach children traits that will drastically help them in their lifetime. Such as respect. Teaching children at a young age to respect themselves and others will benefit them in the long run. When making friends, getting a job, or even just ordering food, respect will help them make it a good experience for everyone. Respect, along with many other traits that are taught in martials arts, will help a child mature and grow into a better person.

Discipline and Focus
While other sports are quick moving with split second decisions, martials arts are often slower paced. Many martial arts want each move to be perfect before you learn the next. This encourages children to follow instructions and stay focused and patient as they work towards their next goal. These skills will translate into other areas of their life such as school or home. Students in martial arts will be more focused in school and get better grades than their classmates. While at home they may listen more and follow directions quicker. Additionally, martials arts will help children learn to set goals and reach them. Teaching them perseverance and patience.

Self-Control
Self-control is a crucial skill for children to learn as they grow. As they learn martial arts, they are taught to have self-discipline and understand their actions. They learn how to have a calm and respectful attitude towards everyone. This also means that although they are learning how to defend themselves physically, they know when to use it and when not to use it. Martial arts is also a great way for children to control stress, and other intense emotions. Instead of acting impulsive, children will learn to express their emotions in a calm, respectful way. Children in martial arts are often more composed in stressful situations.

Teamwork
Even though martial arts is often an individual activity, it still supports social interaction and teamwork. People of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels make each community welcoming. Children will be able to make many new friends and connections by helping  and supporting each other reach common goals. Many competitions also involve teamwork. These competitions will let children learn how to work with others towards goals. It will also allow kids to grow deeper connections and understandings of their peers. All together, martial arts environments teach children the importance of sharing knowledge, cooperation, respect, and understanding.

Overall, martial arts for children is a well-rounded way for a child to be active. Promoting physical health, confidence, integrity, discipline, self control, and teamwork martials arts will help a child over many parts of their life. Joining a martial art will not only teach a child self-defense, but many other life skills and values. This will grow each child into a compassionate, strong, disciplined individual. Martial arts is not just about fighting and defending themselves, it is also about becoming stronger physically, and mentally.

Kids Martial Arts Classes at the CTI

By Kayla Albrechtson, 1st dan

Martial arts classes offer numerous advantages for kids. The Colorado Taekwondo Institute offers taekwondo and martial arts classes for kids to give them the greatest advantage in self-defense, physical fitness, leadership, and other advantages they can use throughout their lives. Classes are dynamic, structured, and positive, giving kids the ideal environment to learn martial arts effectively. Kids’ martial arts classes at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute are available for everyone, from preschoolers to adults. 

Kids at the preschool age will have great success in martial arts and taekwondo classes at the CTI. The Tigers classes are structured to provide a comprehensive martial arts education focusing on young children and toddlers’ unique needs. The Tigers martial arts students will work on energy release, listening skills, motor skills, and confidence. Not only are Tigers encouraged to attend regular classes to build these important skills, but they will also attend tests, tournaments, and other events. Tournaments are a fun and safe environment for young students to develop confidence because they perform their taekwondo skills in front of a panel of CTI Black Belts. At the end of every Tigers class, students talk with their instructor about ‘self-control before self-defense,’ which helps them understand when to use the kicks and punches they have learned. 

Juniors classes are kids martial arts classes catering to children aged five to twelve years. Kids will focus on self-confidence, improved study skills, respect, leadership, and physical fitness in these classes. The Taekwondo classes at CTI are great for improving physical and mental skills. Students are expected to prepare for a physical and written test when they test for their next belt. Preparation for these tests begins in the classroom and continues on their own time at home. For the youngest Juniors, the CTI written test is their first real test, and the study skills they develop preparing for it can help them throughout their entire academic career. 

For teens, martial arts classes at CTI offer the same advantages as juniors, with the additional benefits of muscle gain, anger management, structure, and discipline. The teen years are a time of great change, and teenagers must learn essential life skills to prepare for adulthood. In the CTI taekwondo classes, teens are exposed to and expected to understand many important concepts, the most important being the tenets of taekwondo: courtesy, self-control, integrity, indomitable spirit, and perseverance. These tenets are constant throughout martial arts classrooms’ physical and mental teachings. Developing these characteristics within themselves can set teens up for great success in academics, careers, and even their social lives. 

Kids’ martial arts classes offer great benefits for children of all ages. The Colorado Taekwondo Institute’s kids’ taekwondo classes are fun, safe, and structured environments for kids to learn and grow. In addition to classroom instruction, kids can experience and benefit from tournaments and special events that provide extra fun and skills. Families can learn taekwondo together and give their kids a great start to lifelong learning and success.