Waiting to be Uncovered: Westminster CTI

By Eric Evans, 2nd dan

The Westminster location is located one mile west of Wadsworth and 88th avenue at 9020 W 88th Ave, Arvada, CO 80005. Nearby restaurants include a relaxed atmosphere in Sano's Italian Kitchen or sushi from I Love Sushi. While students are attending classes, parents can pamper themselves at the local hair Salon or barber shop and for the parents who enjoy running, Standley lake is just a short drive or jog away. For the pet lovers, a huge off leash dog park is just north of the campus and Standley lake on 105th and Simms street.

Our campus provides classes for all ages and students of all abilities. We serve the Arvada, Westminster and Broomfield areas. Convenient afternoon and evening class schedules are available for students Monday through Friday. Classes are separated by age group and occur twice a week with the same instructor. Opportunities exist for upper belt students to expand their training and leadership by assistant instructing in these classes. Additional makeup classes are available on Friday as well as advanced training in Black belt club.

Each dynamic class takes place in one of the three spacious workout areas. Workout areas contains a custom built suspension floor free of obstructions. New carpet has recently been installed in the main workout area. Viewing areas are available for parents, grandparents and friends and enclosed to minimize any distraction to the class.  The campus’ goal is to provide a safe environment where students can learn.

Students will learn self confidence, self control and leadership through Moo Sul Kwan martial arts traditions. Each class is taught to encourage the students to become thoughtful individuals. Students are encouraged to become leaders in their communities as they progress through each belt level. Each class is a unique journey that includes a warm-up, basic punches, strikes, and blocks as well as the dynamic kicks that Taekwondo is known for. Throughout the student’s training they are taught and reminded that all that is needed is a focus through paying attention and giving 100% every class.

In addition to the classes, the Westminster location hosts after school programs at select Jefferson County elementary schools. Students in these programs are welcome and encouraged to attend additional classes at the Westminster campus during the week. This is a great way to get students and their friends involved with a healthy activity that will educate and help them throughout their life.

All Instructors attend regular training classes as well as advanced training every weekend. The instructor's’ goal is to put the students first by providing a safe dynamic learning environment. These instructors team up 4 times a year with other Colorado Taekwondo Institute instructors to host competitive tournaments. Students are encouraged to attend as the tournaments provide the opportunity to bring their training to a higher level. The tournaments also provide an environment where many friendships are made and students gain self confidence through competition. In addition to the tournaments the Colorado Taekwondo institute hosts a weekend Expo, an upper belt symposium and a week long summer camp in the beautiful Colorado mountains. Additional demonstrations are provided to the community throughout the year as well as seminars for all current students. These seminars include sparring, anti-bullying, self defense and upper belt workshops.

Call us today to learn more. We look forward to helping you!

Family at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute

By Courtney Moen, green belt

At the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, many families go there to learn self-defense, compete, and have fun.  When you train with your family, you have a best friend(s) there to help you learn and understand things, while also teaching the other.  This could be better because you get to have more practice at home with someone else, so you can figure out more things you need to fix from another's eyes.

As a student at CTI who goes with my sister I can say that I definitely feel like I remember more things when we get home and practice.  Training with family is also a bit more of a fun experience, because you can learn alongside your younger or older siblings or parents, and you are treated the same.  You are the same age.  You all learn the same thing eventually.

The best thing is definitely when you can see the progress that you have all made.  It really does show.  You not only learn self-defense, but you also get a better personality.  Respect, Integrity, and humility can be seen in your family when training at CTI.  You can see the progress that you have made, you are proud.  Not only of what you did, but how your family did, even if they did get a higher score on a test or tournament.

Colorado Taekwondo Institute also bonds your family.  The people you think you know the most about come out with new strengths and weaknesses, and being a family, you help fuel the strengths and fix the weaknesses, as they do you.  After a while that younger or older sibling you thought you hated becomes your best friend and you want nothing more than to watch them succeed and make them proud with your own accomplishments. CTI helps build a better relationship with everyone, because here, we are all family.end.

Adult Classes at the CTI - I Can Be an Athlete!

By Deb Denny, red belt

A few years back I looked into adult karate classes. I found a few schools near my house, but I decided on classes at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, and I'm sure glad I did!

Training as an adult in Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo has many health benefits. As I am an adult with adult children, it especially important for me to enjoy health and well-being through my later years. Some of the benefits of martial arts include: increased cardiovascular and respiratory capacity, improved sleep, strong and resistant immune system, emotional mood and self-esteem builder, it keeps your joints moving and flexible, increased strength, dementia prevention through increased blood follow and mental challenges to the brain, and prevents diabetes by modulating blood sugar.

The workouts involve movement through all planes, which uses more muscle groups and does not cause repetitive injury like running (a one plane movement) can. Adult martial arts classes can be considered health insurance: the more involved you are, the less you will need to dip into that high deductible health plan we all carry now.

As a medically inclined person I can go on and on about the health benefits of MSK Taekwondo. So let’s get to the real meat and potatoes here. For me, having been the kid who sat on the bench while team captains debated “Who gets Debbie” in school sports, and years of being told I am uncoordinated and worthless, the CTI has been amazing. The wonderful instructors at the CTI have shown me that I AM AN ATHLETE! Taekwondo has given me the confidence, coordination, and reflexes to perform at a level I never dreamed I’d attain. Everything I accomplish in adult martial arts classes makes me a better at my other leisure activities such as biking, hiking and backpacking.

So what is holding you back?…if I can do it, so can YOU.

Black Belt Symposium a Smash!

The 22nd Moo Sul Kwan Black Belt Symposium took place October 13 - 15 at The Inn at SilverCreek in Granby, Colorado.  The largest symposium group ever assembled, spent the intensive three day weekend training in classes and seminars on Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts.  The special weekend, devoted to the training of Moo Sul Kwan black, red and brown belts, was the 22nd straight year that black and brown belt students got together in the mountains for their own special weekend.

Training in sparring, poomse, one-step sparring, breaking, tournament judging, teaching concepts and much more were covered.  Classes began on Friday evening and concluded on Sunday at noon.  Each day started out with a 6:00 AM workout with Grandmaster Sautel, followed by classes until lunch time.  After lunch and some group photos, excellent afternoon classes took place. 

In the evening, the Symposium Banquet started promptly at 6:00 PM.
Great food and fun entertainment provided by the black belts made for an excellent evening.  There was music, games and even a stand-up comedian performing to the delight of the crowd!

On Sunday, everyone was up early working hard in the pre-dawn workout and the many classes that followed.  Everyone pushed hard till the very end - which was sparring - where they pushed even harder!

The theme of this year's MSK Black Belt Symposium was - "Back to the Future III".  Focus was on the foundation of Moo Sul Kwan martial arts and the principles of movement and strategy.  The Symposium teaching Staff led by Grandmaster James M. Sautel included excellent leaders; Mindy Sautel, 6th dan, John Sautel, 6th dan, Erik Albrechtson, 6th dan, Alice Meyung, 5th dan, Clayton Garner, 5th dan, Andy McDaniel, 4th dan, Dustin Wheeler, 4th dan, Abdu Kikhia, 4th dan, Bridget Sautel, 4th dan, Brian Steward, 4th dan and Brian Steward, 4th dan.

MSK Taekwondo Benefits for Kids Like Me

By Cody Jacobson, age 11, red belt

In Colorado Taekwondo Institute, we do many thing from practicing basics to high level patterns. There are many benefits of our training.  It is a great benefits for kids martial arts.

Kids like me (even younger and older) can get out of control sometimes.  Our classes and events teach them self control while having fun.  A new student should not expect to immediately get your black belt.  Unlike other schools, it takes you longer to progress through the ranks, thus allowing kids to learn more, and have more fun. I, as a student, like Taekwondo.  It helps me develop self control and respect for others. It also helped me learn better in school.

At CTI, we have a variety of events for kids that include summer camp, Expo, tournaments and more!  At all of these we learn.  My favorite event that I have gone to is Camp MSK. It is a week of Taekwondofor all belts. At camp, you do many activities, but most importantly, you do...Taekwondo!  You learn good sportsmanship, self control, and learning skills.  All of these are good for kids.  Tournaments are great events to go to. Unlike Camp MSK, tournaments are for all ages.  If you and your family are starting classes, you can go to tournaments together.  At my first tournament, I got scared. But when you get out there, it is really fun.  No, you will not win first place every time, but the important thing is that you take away the learning experience.  As you progress through the ranks and get older there will be more and more activities available to you.  Our events are a great benefit to younger students, and adults, to learn good sportsmanship, self control, and Taekwondo.

Going to your class is the most important thing about your Taekwondo career.  The only way you can advance through the ranks is by going to your class.  At first, you may think that our classes are all work and sweat, but they can be fun once you get the hang of it.  If you do the two things we ask for, paying attention, and trying your best, you will succeed, and most importantly, have fun.  Sometimes we do races, or fun games, but we usually work out.  Even though that may seem hard it is fun for everyone.  They are a good chance for kids to become healthier and smarter at the same time while having fun.

CTI kids martial arts classes are good for younger kids.  They teach them how to have self control and to know what it is to do your best.  All of this while having fun. You should give the Colorado Taekwondo Institute a call if you're looking for karate classes for kids.

Waiting to be Uncovered: Littleton CTI

By Irene Kim, brown belt

You've decided to live in Littleton, Colorado, nestled close to the foothills enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather.  Life seems pretty good but perhaps there is something missing.  You decide that you would like to try something new, to push yourself and see what more the area of Littleton has to offer.  You never knew how meaningful life would become after walking through the doors of the Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI) right in your Littleton neighborhood.

Located on Simms Street, right between Bowles and Belleview, the Littleton location is easy to get to, and is far from the traffic of Kipling or even Wadsworth.

Not only will you experience the most physical fitness you never thought possible, you will literally be retraining and strengthening your brain, mind, and spirit.  The instructors at the Littleton Taekwondo location and all campuses of CTI will support and encourage you every step of the way and you will feel how they care for you as you attain numerous and never-ending goals.  As you learn the fascinating and intruiging Korean Martial Art of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo (the Korean Art of smashing with the bare feet and hands), you will build strength and confidence you never knew you had.

The tenets you will learn include Self-control, Courtesy, Integrity, Perserverance and Indominable Spirit.  Your training will instill these characteristics into every part of your life and will inspire others around you as they observe your improving strength. Others may question how you attained such respect in the Littleton and Colorado community.  As you advance in your training, the traditions and instruction methods will continually be demonstrated through you to improve our society.

Join us at the Littleton location of CTI and prepare to enjoy the best life has to offer, surrounded by the continual positivity seen in all your fellow students, adult or child age, as everyone advances and enjoys each and every precious day we are given.