Pivot

By Eric Evans, 3rd dan

Agile development has been used in the workforce for the past 22 years. It replaces the traditional waterfall approach for developing software, new features or long running processes. The goal of this type of development is to quickly produce an application or project in iterative steps. This allows customers to review, and provide feedback to the development team. Through this review identification of small development goals, developers are able to produce an outcome that more closely matches what the customer needs. It can also allow the developers to pivot and focus on features that are an immediate need. This methodology is similar to the development of Moo Sul Kwan black belts as we progress in our life long journey.

Much like pivoting in agile development, a student first learns to pivot in basics. This move is essential for proper body position while performing a round house, sidekick and more advanced spinning kicks. Focusing on pivoting in poomse allows the student to elegantly move from one technique to the next. Proper balance and full power can not be achieved without it. 

Pivoting is not only used in basic movements. The CTI motto of ‘Go with the flow’ is the heartbeat that keeps our Demos and trips moving in a positive direction. It allows us to experience new opportunities and experiences that would not have been available if the status quo was our norm. When we step out of our comfort zone and pivot, we can achieve a greater level of success. This is one reason why it is so important to switch up your personal training. 

The basics in our weekly class are our foundation. They are a tried and true tradition of our Colorado Taekwondo Institute classes. By sticking to our basic routine in every class, students have a solid foundation that they can build on in their life long learning journey. The self directed learning that is built on this foundation is where a student must learn to pivot. Doing the same routine at home is important, but a student must have a different focus each week. This may mean they are focusing on a new poomse, or pivoting back to focus on a middle level poomse they need to sharpen up. For example, this method of building and pivoting on the basics led to the wonderful success of the Missouri Taekwondo Institute. As soon as Mr. Slinkard pivoted with the basic routine for each class, the school exploded from 30 students to over 100 in two years. Great Job and congratulations!

Learn to pivot when a change is needed. This may be a change at work or school. It is one of the reasons why I believe Moo Sul Kwan students are so successful outside of class. We are able to learn from multiple Black belt instructors at our CTI Expos, Camps and seminars. Each instructor teaches the same basic routine, and each instructor provides a unique opportunity for the students to learn and grow. This teaches our students how to quickly adapt and learn in a dynamic environment that will directly translate to their success in school or the workforce. When you find yourself in a lull at work, school or training, pivot for success!

The 33rd Denver Martial Arts Champs is a Success!

The last weekend the Colorado Taekwondo Institute hosted the the 33rd Denver Martial Arts Champs at Alameda High School and it was a huge success! With over 293 students coming together to learn, compete, and share knowledge, it was an amazing day!

Congratulations to our Grand Champions: Mark Scott and Collin Kreutz!

POOMSE

1st Place
Collin Kreutz, Kathleen Sautel, Mark Scott, Cody Jacobson, William Schwartz, Meryn Probasco, Katie Minden, Marley Powers, Diego Quezada, Jordan Rutz, Meredith Botnick, Ahas Weerapura, Emma Burden, Tristyn Cvanciger, Lillian Eichelberger, Lily Strickland, Kaylyn Mcewan, Keira Sherman, Aspen Henderson, Conner Cook, Ryan Marine, Aarush Venkat, Alex Kirt, Kensington Clark, Jackson Foster, Zach Trujillo, Franco Ramirez, Daniel Gray, Landon Adams, Ada Lekan, Bill Graves, Dalila Lopez, Giovanni Stone, Lyra Bratz, Amallia Chapman, Omar Platero Mancia, Emerson Holmes, Truc Nguyen, Dylan Kiser, Aylani Lopez, River Manuelito, Jack Wicken, Maddie Cureton, Henry Chiabotti, Isabel Cole, Veronika Lesyk, Mila Olivares Castro, Sebastian Schuster, Olivia Ivie, Ailani Lopez, Emery Hetzel, Max Botello, Luca Dimarco, Dominic Ditallo, Peter Montano, Zane Farrier, Tallen Garramone, Lamija Imsirovic

2nd Place
Peyton Brauch, Hope Morgan, Eileen Lindner, Ed Stanton, Abbey Salamera, Quynn Cotner, Alex Tan, Lance Schwartz, Allan Stanton, Gavin Vahle, Ivy Strickland, Zachary Cotner, Kayla Albrechtson, Josie Landis, Paul Paisley, Hannah Holmes, Dale Sanders, Logan Martin, Joel Hall, Rebekkah Copel, Kaleb Guffey, Ellie Pechon, Connor Burgin, Zachary Kahan, Ella Laird, Laura Martinson, Rose Basnet, Weston Evarts, Amelia Martinson, Landon Woodland, Issay Mendoza Cruz, Elijah Mack, Cristian Campos Cruz, Dan Copel, Everett Ungar, Duncan Zook, Jase Hessler, Hayden Jeffries, Finn Deiotte, Violet Wondel, Ellie Combs, Millie Hessler, Garrett Thomson, William Lopeman, Sheen Pandita, Presley Hobler, Shreeyan Khatri, Elijah Yushka, Kay Sarpu, Timofii Lesyk, Austin Gross, Cyrus Khatri, Lily Rosetta-Mcbryde, Caroline Fogg, Marisha Lamont-Manfre, Naomi Kaup, Beti Hanzel, Jay Karkula

3rd Place
Nick Slinkard, Katie Dahle, Kyle Feagans, Konner Evans, Deb Denny, Lauren Dahlberg, Colston Yoder, Sarah Dahle, Thomas Burden, Andra Vieru, Lily Laird, Zoe Economou, Ivy Jensen, Mason Zerbib, Brody Mitchell, Evan Zdechlik, Rue Weerapura, Ace Garcia, Sam Powers, Selah Hall, Dennis Mack, Katie Harding, Olivia Towe, Avery King, Elliott Myers, Dean Barrieau, Max Margulies, Connor Thomson, Anna Copel, Ezra Wine, Binuj Ghimire, Keegan Christenson, Ender Wine, Theron Bearce, Christina Sanders, Alexander Aguilar-Glaub, Kira Rhyden, Calvin Bossard, Torin Dimascio, Henry Lewis, Desmond Bearce, Dawson Portera, Seth Raymond, Gwen Spilling, Mykah Garrett-Duquette, Haley Holley, Saheli Sinha, Bryce Yushka, Isaiah Sanchez, Anastasia Contreras, Elias Amann, Brady Tozier, Nirajit Dhakal, Mary Turpin, Kolbe Pries, Anika Hanzel, Thomas Mcnair, Asher Whalen

4th Place
Don Johnson, Tyler Murphy, Shekina Detienne, Ethan Price, Lydia Willis, Darcy Stanton, Aidan Sturm, Caiden Murphy, Alexis Chavez, Joshua Ranjit, Elsie Mcdonald, Evan Mcewan, Logan Keckler, Ace Ashworth, Carrie Chauhan, Lucy Paisley, Thomas Sleight, Keatyn Adams, Jaxson Hipsher, Stella Reyniers, Oliver Garner, David Cruz Barajas, Landon Sidley-Mercado, Cole Robertson, Ronan Haydon, Kendrick Toney, Nora Kivett, Alice Burgin, Ezekiel Oliveira, Carol Wilsey, Standish Kingsbeck, Sam Czaikowski, Kennedi Foreman, Savine Sinha, Lorenzo Gomez, Ari Maggard, Kara Koster, Dylan Huckaby Rap, Keira Teska, Jack Arland, Asher Gearhart, Gabriel Kahan, Asher Yushka, Jj Defelice, David Enriquez, Evan Clough, Leia Johnsen, David Moyer

TIGER POOMSE

1st Place
Andrew Kahan, Charlie Lopeman, Oliver Yurka, Paolo Stone, Will Wiedmeyer, Aleina Evarts, Natalie Teska, Margaret Rodriguez, Clesse Hilton, Graysen Stanko, Mila Smirnov, Dustin Hill, Zaida Whorton, Neev Pandita, Hudson Wiegand, Abram Gearhart, Ben Newhouse, Luke Hilton, Braydon Lineback

SPARRING

1st Place
Collin Kreutz, Hope Morgan, Cody Jacobson, Ed Stanton, Konner Evans, Katie Minden, Quynn Cotner, Darcy Stanton, Caiden Murphy, Diego Quezada, Meredith Botnick, Ahas Weerapura, Allan Stanton, Thomas Burden, Alexis Chavez, Joshua Ranjit, Ivy Jensen, Aspen Henderson, Ryan Marine, Rue Weerapura, Thomas Sleight, Keatyn Adams, Kensington Clark, Jackson Foster, Elliott Myers, Max Margulies, Hope Wilcox, Dalila Lopez, Lyra Bratz, Omar Platero Mancia, Emerson Holmes, Cristian Campos Cruz, Everett Ungar, Theron Bearce, Ezekiel Oliveira, Aliyah Huckaby, Eli Anceravicius, Jack Wicken, Violet Wondel, Ellie Combs, Millie Hessler, Garrett Thomson, William Lopeman, Calvin Bossard, Torin Dimascio, Gwen Spilling, Mykah Garrett-Duquette, Haley Holley, Savine Sinha, Lorenzo Gomez, Luna Bratz, Sophia Palfreyman, Dominic Ditallo, Brady Tozier, Nirajit Dhakal, Kolbe Pries, David Enriquez, Evan Clough

2nd Place
Kathleen Sautel, Nick Slinkard, Don Johnson, Abbey Salamera, Lauren Dahlberg, Colston Yoder, Aidan Sturm, Averie Chavez, Mateo Piza, Gavin Vahle, Elsie Mcdonald, Evan Mcewan, Brandon Kirt, Kaylyn Mcewan, Zachary Cotner, Kayla Albrechtson, Zoe Economou, Selah Hall, Dennis Mack, Jaxson Hipsher, Ellie Pechon, Zachary Kahan, Stella Reyniers, Rose Basnet, Connor Thomson, Anna Copel, Binuj Ghimire, Kendrick Toney, Eddie Garner, Bill Graves, Giovanni Stone, Amallia Chapman, Truc Nguyen, Elijah Mack, Jase Hessler, Hayden Jeffries, Standish Kingsbeck, Nikoli Kingsbeck, Maddie Cureton, Henry Chiabotti, Isabel Cole, Presley Hobler, Shreeyan Khatri, Henry Lewis, Seth Raymond, Bryce Yushka, Ari Maggard, Kara Koster, Dylan Huckaby Rap, Keira Teska, Max Botello, Luca Dimarco, Naomi Kaup, Beti Hanzel, Mary Turpin, Thomas Mcnair, Asher Whalen, David Moyer

3rd Place
Zach Greaves, Mark Scott, Katie Dahle, Deb Denny, Lydia Willis, Marley Powers, Alex Tan, Lance Schwartz, Nathaniel Keckler, Jordan Rutz, Emma Burden, Lily Strickland, Mason Zerbib, Logan Keckler, Conner Cook, Logan Martin, Ace Garcia, Sam Powers, Jennifer Kautz, Franco Ramirez, Connor Burgin, Ella Laird, Olivia Towe, David Cruz Barajas, Daniel Gray, Landon Adams, Dean Barrieau, Ezra Wine, Keegan Christenson, Cole Robertson, Nora Kivett, Armando Gomez, Ariana Lamb, Dylan Kiser, Aylani Lopez, Issay Mendoza Cruz, Dan Copel, Christina Sanders, Kira Rhyden, Carol Wilsey, Alec Rhyden, Veronika Lesyk, Mila Olivares Castro, Desmond Bearce, Dawson Portera, Saheli Sinha, Isaiah Sanchez, Anastasia Contreras, Jack Arland, Asher Gearhart, Stryder Martin, Geovannie Andrade, Peter Montano, Lily Rosetta-Mcbryde, Caroline Fogg, Marisha Lamont-Manfre, Sebastian Pickett, Hassid Mendoza Cruz

4th Place
Peyton Brauch, Shekina Detienne, William Schwartz, Jasmine Salamera, Alex Schwartz, Tristyn Cvanciger, Andra Vieru, Lily Laird, Josie Landis, Paul Paisley, Aarush Venkat, Alex Kirt, Rebekkah Copel, Zach Trujillo, Avery King, Cooper Curry, Laura Martinson, Weston Evarts, Amelia Martinson, Landon Woodland, Ender Wine, Alice Burgin, Hayden Green, Duncan Zook, Finn Deiotte, Sam Czaikowski, Akshay Chauhan, Sebastian Schuster, Olivia Ivie, Sheen Pandita, Elijah Yushka, Kay Sarpu, Timofii Lesyk, Austin Gross, Gabriel Kahan, Asher Yushka, Zane Farrier, Jay Karkula, Anika Hanzel, Leia Johnsen

1ST POINT WINS!

1st Place
Collin Kreutz, Mark Scott, Shekina Detienne, Konner Evans, Katie Minden, Darcy Stanton, Aidan Sturm, Marley Powers, Nathaniel Keckler, Meredith Botnick, Allan Stanton, Jordan Rutz, Ivy Jensen, Logan Keckler, Aspen Henderson, Ryan Marine, Rue Weerapura, Ace Garcia, Aarush Venkat, Ellie Pechon, Olivia Towe, Avery King, Landon Adams, Dean Barrieau, Cole Robertson, Ronan Haydon, Dalila Lopez, Lyra Bratz, Ezekiel Oliveira, Aliyah Huckaby, Eli Anceravicius, Bill Graves, Giovanni Stone, Elijah Mack, Dan Copel, Carol Wilsey, Alec Rhyden, Jack Wicken, Violet Wondel, Ellie Combs, Millie Hessler, Garrett Thomson, Calvin Bossard, Savine Sinha, Luna Bratz, Maddie Cureton, Henry Lewis, Desmond Bearce, Dawson Portera, Stryder Martin, Brady Tozier, Nirajit Dhakal, David Enriquez, Evan Clough, Max Botello, Mary Turpin, Lily Rosetta-Mcbryde, David Moyer

2nd Place
Nick Slinkard, Katie Dahle, Abbey Salamera, William Schwartz, Ethan Price, Caiden Murphy, Averie Chavez, Lance Schwartz, Sarah Dahle, Diego Quezada, Ahas Weerapura, Emma Burden, Andra Vieru, Lillian Eichelberger, Zachary Cotner, Zoe Economou, Selah Hall, Conner Cook, Jennifer Kautz, Alex Kirt, Joel Hall, Kensington Clark, Jackson Foster, Stella Reyniers, Connor Burgin, Zach Trujillo, Cooper Curry, Elliott Myers, Connor Thomson, Anna Copel, Ezra Wine, Laura Martinson, Cristian Campos Cruz, Theron Bearce, Amallia Chapman, Truc Nguyen, Issay Mendoza Cruz, Duncan Zook, Alexander Aguilar-Glaub, Mia Martinez, William Lopeman, Torin Dimascio, Lorenzo Gomez, Seth Raymond, Ari Maggard, Kara Koster, Dylan Huckaby Rap, Keira Teska, Saheli Sinha, Geovannie Andrade, Sheen Pandita, Emerson Havens, Luca Dimarco, Peter Montano, Caroline Fogg, Marisha Lamont-Manfre, Sebastian Pickett, Anika Hanzel 

BREAKING/TARGET KICKING

1st Place
Collin Kreutz, Mark Scott, Katie Dahle, Ethan Price, Darcy Stanton, Aidan Sturm, Marley Powers, Quynn Cotner, Alex Tan, Meredith Botnick, Allan Stanton, Jordan Rutz, Diego Quezada, Emma Burden, Gavin Vahle, Brandon Kirt, Tristyn Cvanciger, Zoe Economou, Kaylyn Mcewan, Aspen Henderson, Conner Cook, Logan Martin, Sam Powers, Kensington Clark, Oliver Garner, Daniel Gray, Bill Graves, Issay Mendoza Cruz, Christina Sanders, Violet Wondel

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS

1st Place
Charlie Lopeman, Zaida Whorton, Neev Pandita 

2nd Place
Will Wiedmeyer, Mila Smirnov, Luke Hilton

STAFF POOMSE

1st Place
Collin Kreutz, Kathleen Sautel, Mark Scott, Shekina Detienne, Lydia Willis, Alex Tan, Caiden Murphy 

2nd Place
Nick Slinkard, Peyton Brauch, Ethan Price, Ed Stanton, Quynn Cotner, Katie Minden, Lauren Dahlberg

3rd Place
Don Johnson, Zach Greaves, William Schwartz, Cody Jacobson, Meryn Probasco, Averie Chavez, Mateo Piza

Kids Martial Arts Classes

By Bridget Sautel, 5th Dan

Enrolling your child into kids martial arts for could be a life changing event. Out of the many benefits of this art of Taekwondo, a few of the most essential benefits include building confidence, learning self-control, and self-directed learning. In addition, kids karate or kids martial arts encompasses the development of the body, mind, and spirit through physical and mental educational lessons. Not only can martial arts be positive for kids, but it’s also a physical sport that a parent can do and learn along with their child. There’s not many other places, if any, where a parent and child are able to have this kind of special interaction and bond. And when looking for the best kids martial arts school, look no further than the Colorado Taekwondo Institute! 

One of the greatest benefits that kids martial arts classes at the CTI teaches a child, is how to build up self-confidence and carry this skill over into other parts of life such as school and home life. Whether it’s giving a speech one day in school in front of the class, being confident in chores at home and being responsible, testing for your next belt, or performing at a tournament. Another benefit of kids karate is learning how to gain self-control in all different settings. Self-control can be a difficult skill to manage and master especially when kids are put into different environments, like school or the playground. Taekwondo teaches this skill through practice in every single class, and then teaching how to carry it over to school and personal interactions. Another prime benefit of kids martial arts is self-directed learning. Children are able to learn early on how to work hard for something that will make them better. They learn that working hard is a choice and with this hard work they will be able to achieve whatever they want to.

The wonderful fact that kids martial arts encompasses body, mind, and spirit is what ties it all together. Each and every class the student will get a thorough physical work-out, and at the same time be able to exercise the mind and have spirit too. The Taekwondo curriculum includes memorization that builds over time to make a stronger mind, and along with this comes coordination skills. Children can learn how to work hard at an early age and learn how to have a passion for something they love. The students earn each belt and put lots of effort and commitment into the art, all while having fun!

Possibly the finest part about all of this, is martial arts is a place where a kid and the parent can do something together. The bond is one that you can’t find anywhere else, and being able to learn the curriculum together will boost the learning as a whole. It is very different when a parent just watches from the other side of the glass, compared to being immersed in the class and learning close-up what martial arts has to offer. If a child sees their parent learning what they are, it motivates the child more than anything else could and really gives them a chance to be successful. 

Kids martial arts classes have endless benefits for a child that all lead to improving the body, mind, and spirit while having a blast doing it. This physical and mental sport will bring positive and essential lessons into a child’s life. The parent can have a considerable, if not the greatest, impact on this learning if they themselves participate in this martial art. 

An Upper Belt Weekend Workout: the 27th MSK Black Belt Symposium

All brown belts and above mark your calendars for the 27th MSK Black Belt Symposium, to be held October 13-15, 2023 at Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado. The theme of this exciting weekend is going to be “Shaping the Future!” as we are celebrating our 40th year of teaching in Colorado. 

The Moo Sul Kwan Black Belt Symposium began in 1995 and was designed to be an Expo-like weekend  devoted solely to the training of our upper belts and instructors. Over the years, the MSK Black Belt    Symposium has taken place at different places, and this year we will train in beautiful Breckenridge, Colorado at Beave Run Resort! 

Symposium participants will strengthen their Moo Sul Kwan techniques and strategies with hard work and top focus throughout the weekend. Development of CTI teaching and leadership concepts also takes place.  

All registration can be done online and found here: coloradotaekwondo.com/register-for-an-event

All Black, Red and Brown belts are encouraged to attend the Symposium! If you have any questions, please talk to your instructor!