The Colorado Taekwondo Institute mission statement is the organization’s ultimate goal with its implementation strategy stated as firmly rooted in its foundation. To examine the objective which is to foster world-class leaders, you can’t help but be struck by the ambition. How many martial arts organizations can aspire to such a daunting task? Wouldn’t it be easier to just say CTI is here to generate black belts (and the money associated with them coming and going through the revolving pay-me-for-a-belt door)? Perhaps this is what frustrates or turns away those people who are looking for just that? Developing a world-class leader is not something you just show up for. It requires a lot of training, direction, and energy from both the student and the teacher! It requires more than just showing up to class. It requires teachers who are equipped to develop their student and a receptive student who is willing to put in the work for the reward – not of a belt but of the life lessons that lead to developing leadership skills.
Go a bit further and the mission statement focuses on the implementation through educational excellence and Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts traditions. Knowing that the CTI is founded by educators who have a passion for teaching, it is not surprising then to see that advancement in the CTI curriculum requires study, practice, and not just physical but also written test performance. The material is rooted in the MSK traditions with studies across the spectrum of knowing your poomse details and history, Korean and CTI history, exercise benefits and “rules of engagement”, to understanding Great Grandmaster Park’s (founder of Moo Sul Kwan) model concept (the integrated mind-body-spirited student) and the how our training develops his 5 components of health related physical fitness (muscular strength and endurance, cardio endurance, flexibility, and body composition) as well. Not to mention the creative flair of forcing yourself to make the attempt at a self-portrait – a daunting task for me at least! Our education across the integrated person sets us apart from just martial artists who break boards and do poomse; it makes us unique; it prepares us to be leaders in our schools, work, and community – and within our dojang.
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