Why Martial Arts Classes Are Great!

By Emily Green, 1st dan

Looking for high-energy training with traditional discipline, skilled instruction, and a welcoming community? Check out the Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI). The CTI is a fantastic facility designed to help students of all ages build strength, confidence, and focus. With two spacious training rooms, a seating area for parents to view classes, and cubbies for storing personal items, everything about the school is designed to make the learning experience comfortable and convenient. People new to martial arts, as well as those with experience, are all welcome. Families often comment on the friendly atmosphere, which makes starting a new activity less intimidating for beginners.

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute has been a leader in martial arts education for decades. At the CTI, students study Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art known for its powerful kicks, precise hand techniques, and respect. Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo blends the best aspects of exercise, self-defense training, and character development, making it an ideal choice for families seeking a complete martial arts experience. Students train under qualified and experienced black-belt instructors who are passionate about teaching. Each member of the team is trained in both Taekwondo techniques and the art of instruction, ensuring that classes are safe, organized, and tailored to each student’s needs.

The curriculum emphasizes more than physical skills. Students learn traditional martial arts etiquette, self-discipline, and respect for others. These lessons carry over into school, work, and daily life, helping students become more confident and focused individuals. For families seeking a wholesome, character-building activity or adults wanting to continue their fitness journey, the CTI's martial arts classes are a natural choice.

Classes work on flexibility, strength, and endurance, but they also challenge the mind. Learning traditional Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo forms and techniques develops memory, coordination, and focus skills. Self-defense is another key element of the program. Students at the CTI learn age-appropriate self-defense skills that give them confidence and help them stay safe. Children learn to understand when and how to respond responsibly, while teens and adults develop practical strategies that can be applied in real-world situations. Leadership skills are woven into every class. Students work with partners and gradually take on responsibilities such as leading warm-ups or demonstrating techniques. These experiences build self-confidence and teach students how to guide and motivate others—skills that benefit them in school, at work, and in life. Students starting as young as preschool age, as well as teens and adults, are all welcome. Many say that training at the CTI martial arts classes becomes the highlight of their week.

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute operates multiple campuses throughout the region. This means you’re not just joining a single class- you’re becoming part of a larger community of martial artists. The school hosts regional events, seminars, belt promotions, and tournaments, where students from all campuses come together to learn, test their skills, and support one another. This broader network provides students with more opportunities to grow, connect, and experience the full spirit of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo. 

Parents and adult students alike report that training at the CTI brings benefits beyond physical fitness:

• Improved confidence and self-esteem as they master new skills
• Better focus and discipline, which is helpful for kids in school and adults at work
• Leadership and perseverance learned through belt testing and regular practice
• Practical self-defense skills that build awareness and personal safety
• Respect and courtesy reinforced in every class
• Stress relief and mental clarity through active, mindful movement

When you train at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, you’re joining a community dedicated to excellence in martial arts. Its combination of professional instruction, a welcoming environment, and regional events makes it the top choice for martial arts classes.

If you’re searching for martial arts classes for yourself or your child, visit the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. The programs are about much more than kicks and punches—they’re about developing the whole person. Whether your goal is self-defense, improved fitness, or personal growth, the CTI provides the structure and support needed to succeed.

Martial Arts Classes for Preschoolers

By Ahas Weerapura, Jr 1st dan

Are you looking for martial arts for preschoolers? The Colorado Taekwondo Institute offers high quality, fun classes for preschoolers ages 3 and up! Through our martial arts classes for preschoolers, your child can learn important skills like self control and listening skills from a highly qualified instructor.

One of the best benefits of our martial arts for preschoolers is the physical exercise and energy outlet that preschoolers get from it. Our taekwondo classes let preschoolers express and release their energy in a fun, safe and positive environment and help teach important physical skills like balance and coordination in a safe, low-risk environment. Preschoolers are also taught self-control and discipline and develop the ability to control their energy and emotions through a positive and fun learning medium.

In martial arts for preschoolers, kids get to learn important skills like following instructions given by an instructor, which are extremely important in development and learning abilities. This is done through the instruction of the class, where the instructor will direct the students to do different things, building the ability to follow instructions and respect for instructions. Preschoolers will also learn the importance of following the rules, and develop respect towards the rules and will learn to understand that rules are beneficial for them and others. For example, if the students are playing a game, the rules and expectations are explained to them, helping them learn to follow rules and understand rules are there to keep them safe. Over time, martial arts for preschoolers helps children develop virtues like discipline, self-control, and a proper sense of sportsmanship through instruction, ensuring that kids will internalize and express these values. 

Martial arts for preschoolers also helps kids develop better cognitive abilities, like memorization, recall, and interpretation through martial arts training. This is done through movement patterns like poomse, which helps kids develop control of their bodies, learn about the techniques that they practice, and develop memorization and recall skills. Learning in this way promotes better learning ability and brain health while also physically stimulating the muscles through the movements being performed, improving coordination and motor control. Kids will also develop a sense of how their musculoskeletal system works, the way their bodies move, and movements that are safe and don’t put strain on joints through the movements that are performed in training and the things that affect those movements.. This significantly aids in reducing the chance of injury in the present and future due to having knowledge of the movement limitations and abilities of the body.

Through martial arts for preschoolers, children also develop self-confidence and self-esteem through martial arts achievements like promotions and competitions. For example, an instructor might assist a student in setting a realistic goal in their martial arts relating to something that they could improve in. In achieving this goal, students will feel proud of themselves, and as a result, feel more confidence and self-esteem. Through these developed senses of self-esteem and confidence, students will be enabled to think well about themselves, interact easier with peers, and do things with healthy attitudes toward themselves. Self-directed learning and goal-setting is also highly encouraged in our program, and will help children develop knowledge on how to improve in the activities they are enthusiastic about and want to get better at.

In addition, CTI classes also teaches kids valuable social skills, like cooperation and competition. This can be seen in things like our tournaments, where students are taught to practice good sportsmanship towards their peers and also develop a competitive attitude in competitions that can be applied to other things in their lives. Activities like team tournaments are also incredibly valuable because students have to work with an assigned team to perform well. Students will also be part of an uplifting, positive community that understands and appreciates them as well, fostering a sense of belonging and community in students. For example, students develop many connections just through class with their peers and instructors, but even more so through things like our day camps and activities. Martial arts for preschoolers helps them learn to respect, understand, and empathize with other kids as well, increasing their social skills and ability to make friends.

Martial arts for preschoolers are massively beneficial for their physical health, mental abilities, self-respect, and confidence. They help in the development of children’s brains, bodies, and minds and provide positive connections and communities. At the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, we offer programs that will help your child accomplish these things with a trained instructor who understands children and the diverse needs of different types of children, with locations in Conifer, Green Mountain, Littleton, Westminster, Craig, and Golden. Come try one of our classes for free at a location near you and sign up for your child to reap the many benefits of martial arts.

2026 All-City Champs Results!

The 2026 All-City Championships, hosted by the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, took place this past weekend at Alameda International Jr/Sr High School & Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado. This annual event brought together students of all ages and belt levels for two days of spirited competition, camaraderie, and personal growth.

Participants showcased their skills across various disciplines, including Poomse, sparring, self-defense, and board breaking. The tournament emphasized not only technical excellence but also the core values of Taekwondo: respect, perseverance, and sportsmanship. 

The All-City Championships served as a platform for students to challenge themselves, learn from their experiences, and celebrate their achievements with peers and instructors alike. The success of the tournament reflects the commitment of the Colorado Taekwondo Institute to nurturing both the physical and personal development of its students. 

Congratulations to the Grand Champions, Quynn Cotner & Zoe Economou!

Here are the final results!

POOMSE

1st Place

Henry Lewis, Rebekkah Copel, Rue Weerapura, Owen Eberhard, Cooper Curry, Katie Harding, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Kendrick Toney, Daniel Gray, Joshua Stephenson, Jase Hessler, Stella Reyniers, Alice Burgin, Ellie Combs, Colin Williamson, Dylan Kiser, Gwen Spilling, Lorenzo Gomez, Rahi Rauniyar, Mila Olivares Castro, Yuvan Rauniyar, Taylor Crane, Keira Teska, Luna Bratz, Aaron Botnick, Avery Liu, Jordan Lawyer, Cory Balk, Natalie Teska, Quinn Hetzel, Veronika Lesyk, Loxley Mcelhaney, Terrance Sanders, Tommy Jacoby, Chad Williamson, Tucker Mercier, Cooper Goldcamp, Grayson Keck, Alexander Meyers, Luna Rivera, Zyler Martin, Anthony Hanson, Forrest Zilliox, Olivia Madruga, Leighton Evarts, Jacob Bernier, Paul Ji, Blake Macon, Marcus Cassimus, Ruth Moore

2nd Place

Jaxson Hipsher, Shiven Venkat, Joel Hall, Nethika Suraweera, Logan Martin, Keatyn Adams, Amallia Chapman, Jack Wicken, Christopher Cochenour, Henry Andonov, River Manuelito, Weston Evarts, Kim Williamson, Pierce Baker, Leo Duffey, Sheen Pandita, Milo Conner, Olivia Ivie, Cyrus Khatri, Lyra Bratz, Nirajit Dhakal, Dominic Ditallo, Andrew Kahan, Easton Ellender, Timofii Lesyk, Stryder Martin, Eric Phillips, Natalie Huntley, Anitej Narumanchi, Aleina Evarts, Dawson Portera, Sebastian Schuster, Nicholas Johnson, Soren Chartier, Chase Downham, Oliver Rackl, Luna Duran, Sahithi Pappu, Laz Logan, Rory Duffy, Zachary Wolf, Walker Meyers, Turner Blanchard, Clay Zilliox, Skye Zilliox, Jonah Weisfield, Gracelyn Flueck, Ezekiel Onyun, Leo Ramirez, Lance Templin

3rd Place

Aarush Venkat, Sam Powers, Armando Gomez, Ellie Pechon, Lucy Paisley, Anna Copel, Landon Adams, Franco Ramirez, Hilde Groff, Landon Sidley-Mercado, Bill Graves, Millie Hessler, Zane Farrier, Thomas Mcnair, Siri Molnar, Reid Baker, Asher Yushka, Gabriel Kahan, Jack Arland, Ben Buteyn, Tyrion Bieker, James Daly, Hugh Dionne, Noah Buteyn, Alina Madruga, Ruth Berry, James Klausner, Oliver Yurka, Desmond Bearce, Matthew Decross, Grayden Craig, Arnav Narumanchi, Neev Pandita, Emma Moncrief, Lily Carrillo, Genevieve Johnson, Freya Mixon, Brie Rivera, Lila Story, Jasper Walsh, Bradley Zutman, Silas Corbett, Julia Giddons, Ben Alek, Adrian Cruz, Cooper Collentine, Lennon Story, Finley Becker, Ethan Mccarroll

4th Place

Carter Hoffman, Josie Landis, Dan Copel, Ryan Marine, Henry Chiabotti, Eddie Garner, Rose Basnet, Mary Groff, Shreeyan Khatri, Elijah Yushka, Presley Hobler, Anastasia Contreras, Hadley Wilkins, Carlos Ramirez, Carol Wilsey, Sophia Palfreyman, Olivia Roberts, Quintyn Upshaw, Jj Defelice, Vesper Gaczol, Josephine Phillips, Stephen Mines, Felix Kelson, Adeline Alayash, Jenny Powers, Delta Warner, Iris Kuhlman, Wyck Gaczol, Sarah Phillips, Adeline Karkula, Gabriella Suarez, Declan Upshaw, Chase Bernat, Bev Spilling

TIGER POOMSE

1st Place

Leo Claveau, Declan Yurka, Atticus Albrechtson, Sigmund Kelson, Violet Lopez Martinez, Aryan Bhatt, Vince Kuhlman, Elsie Bearce, Emilia Newberry, Knox Randolph, Cash Hanson, Crew Bernat, Wynston Gaczol, Luke Hannon, Savannah Roberts, Beau Roberts, Kai Clark, A.J. Lucero, Rowan Doehring-Debus, Harlie Donnell, Ishika Pappu, Cora Bearce, Sawyer Doehring-Debus, Gracelynn Moncrief

POOMSE BREAKING

1st Place

Erik Albrechtson, Bridget Sautel, Quynn Cotner, Meredith Botnick, Kirun Agarwal, Zoe Economou, Diego Quezada, Alexis Chavez, Evan Mcewan, Zachary Cotner, Susan Burgstiner

2nd Place

Clayton Garner, Kathleen Sautel, Ellie Stanton, Marley Powers, Darcy Stanton, Emily Green, Henry Rumph, Logan Keckler, Jordan Rutz, Ivy Strickland, Mason Zerbib

3rd Place

Collin Kreutz, Eileen Lindner, Lydia Willis, Nathaniel Keckler, Vivi Brown, Ivy Jensen, Elsie Mcdonald, Tristyn Cvanciger, Allan Stanton, Ace Ashworth, Kayla Albrechtson

4th Place

Peyton Brauch, Hope Morgan, Averie Chavez, Sarah Dahle, Emma Burden, Dale Sanders, Warren Mcdonald, Lily Strickland, Kaylyn Mcewan

SPARRING

1st Place

Kathleen Sautel, Collin Kreutz, Quynn Cotner, Ellie Stanton, Matthew Roberts, Diego Quezada, Alexis Chavez, Tristyn Cvanciger, Henry Lewis, Shiven Venkat, Nethika Suraweera, Armando Gomez, Carter Hoffman, Josie Landis, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Kendrick Toney, Daniel Gray, Jase Hessler, Amallia Chapman, Alice Burgin, Ellie Combs, Colin Williamson, Gwen Spilling, Weston Evarts, Pierce Baker, Zane Farrier, Elijah Yushka, Rahi Rauniyar, Mila Olivares Castro, Yuvan Rauniyar, Taylor Crane, Cyrus Khatri, Lyra Bratz, Timofii Lesyk, Ben Buteyn, Tyrion Bieker, Carol Wilsey, Cory Balk, Anitej Narumanchi, Aleina Evarts, Desmond Bearce, Grayden Craig, Alexander Meyers, Oliver Rackl, Delta Warner, Anthony Hanson, Olivia Madruga, Paul Ji, Blake Macon, Rory Duffy, Silas Corbett, Julia Giddons, Marcus Cassimus, Ezekiel Onyun, 

2nd Place

Tyler Murphy, Shekina Culberson, Marley Powers, Zachary Cotner, Emily Green, Henry Rumph, Allan Stanton, Emma Burden, Rebekkah Copel, Logan Martin, Keatyn Adams, Aarush Venkat, Sam Powers, Ellie Pechon, Dan Copel, Stella Reyniers, Jack Wicken, Hilde Groff, Henry Chiabotti, Eddie Garner, Lorenzo Gomez, Kim Williamson, Reid Baker, Asher Yushka, Anastasia Contreras, Torin Dimascio, Aaron Botnick, Avery Liu, Easton Ellender, James Daly, Noah Buteyn, Alina Madruga, Sophia Palfreyman, Peter Morehead, Quinn Hetzel, Terrance Sanders, Tommy Jacoby, Felix Kelson, Tucker Mercier, Cooper Goldcamp, Luna Rivera, Chase Downham, Luna Duran, Forrest Zilliox, Jacob Bernier, Zachary Wolf, Walker Meyers, Adeline Karkula, Gabriella Suarez, Declan Upshaw, Lance Templin, Beck Zaback

3rd Place

Hope Morgan, Kyle Feagans, Meredith Botnick, Nathaniel Keckler, Ivy Jensen, Elsie Mcdonald, Ace Ashworth, Warren Mcdonald, Rue Weerapura, Owen Eberhard, Joel Hall, Ryan Marine, Landon Adams, Franco Ramirez, Rose Basnet, Jennifer Kautz, Zachary Kahan, Dylan Kiser, Leo Duffey, Bill Graves, Millie Hessler, Thomas Mcnair, Siri Molnar, Gabriel Kahan, Presley Hobler, Rylan Lamkin, Ailani Lopez Martinez, Keira Teska, Nirajit Dhakal, Dominic Ditallo, Andrew Kahan, Stryder Martin, Ruth Berry, Olivia Roberts, Natalie Teska, Veronika Lesyk, Dawson Portera, Sebastian Schuster, Nicholas Johnson, Matthew Decross, Chad Williamson, Grayson Keck, Iris Kuhlman, Leighton Evarts, Turner Blanchard, Clay Zilliox, Skye Zilliox, Ben Alek, Adrian Cruz, Chase Bernat, Leo Ramirez, Bev Spilling

4th Place

Peyton Brauch, Kirun Agarwal, Evan Mcewan, Logan Keckler, Jordan Rutz, Ivy Strickland, Bob Padget, Lucy Paisley, Paul Paisley, Joshua Stephenson, Christopher Cochenour, Henry Andonov, River Manuelito, Landon Sidley-Mercado, Sheen Pandita, Milo Conner, Olivia Ivie, Jack Arland, Shreeyan Khatri, Hadley Wilkins, Luna Bratz, Jordan Lawyer, Eric Phillips, Natalie Huntley, Quintyn Upshaw, Loxley Mcelhaney, Neev Pandita, Stephen Mines, Adeline Alayash, Sahithi Pappu, Jonah Weisfield, Cooper Collentine, Ruth Moore

FIRST POINT WINS!

1st Place

Kathleen Sautel, Tyler Murphy, Nathaniel Keckler, Emily Green, Henry Rumph, Ivy Jensen, Logan Keckler, Zoe Economou, Rebekkah Copel, Aarush Venkat, Rue Weerapura, Jaxson Hipsher, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Kendrick Toney, Jack Wicken, Landon Adams, Joshua Stephenson, Alice Burgin, Ellie Combs, Colin Williamson, Kim Williamson, Bill Graves, Millie Hessler, Rylan Lamkin, Shreeyan Khatri, Rahi Rauniyar, Mila Olivares Castro, Yuvan Rauniyar, Cyrus Khatri, Lyra Bratz, Carol Wilsey, Nirajit Dhakal, Dominic Ditallo, Andrew Kahan, Anitej Narumanchi, Desmond Bearce, Quinn Hetzel, Natalie Teska, Matthew Decross, Tucker Mercier, Chase Downham, Chad Williamson, Iris Kuhlman, Anthony Hanson, Rory Duffy, Silas Corbett, Forrest Zilliox, Zachary Wolf, Leighton Evarts, Beck Zaback, Bev Spilling, Ruth Moore

2nd Place

Shekina Culberson, Kyle Feagans, Ellie Stanton, Averie Chavez, Alexis Chavez, Zachary Cotner, Emma Burden, Evan Mcewan, Dale Sanders, Henry Lewis, Josie Landis, Sam Powers, Dan Copel, Joel Hall, Paul Paisley, Amallia Chapman, Henry Chiabotti, Eddie Garner, Franco Ramirez, Rose Basnet, Jennifer Kautz, Weston Evarts, Dylan Kiser, Leo Duffey, Thomas Mcnair, Siri Molnar, Presley Hobler, Sheen Pandita, Taylor Crane, Ben Buteyn, Easton Ellender, Keira Teska, Stryder Martin, Luna Bratz, Eric Phillips, Hugh Dionne, Aleina Evarts, Grayden Craig, Veronika Lesyk, Loxley Mcelhaney, Stephen Mines, Delta Warner, Cooper Goldcamp, Grayson Keck, Olivia Madruga, Julia Giddons, Jacob Bernier, Walker Meyers, Turner Blanchard, Ben Alek, Ezekiel Onyun, Lance Templin, Leo Ramirez, 

STAFF POOMSE

1st Place

Ivy Jensen, Collin Kreutz, Quynn Cotner, Matthew Roberts, Marley Powers, Meredith Botnick, Elsie Mcdonald

2nd Place

Kathleen Sautel, Nathaniel Keckler, Zoe Economou, Averie Chavez, Evan Mcewan, Vivi Brown, Jordan Rutz

3rd Place

Tyler Murphy, Shekina Culberson, Alexis Chavez, Zachary Cotner, Kirun Agarwal, Diego Quezada, Lily Strickland

4th Place

Henry Rumph, Logan Keckler, Peyton Brauch, Darcy Stanton, Ivy Strickland

FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS

1st Place

Declan Yurka, Aryan Bhatt, Cash Hanson, Kai Clark, A.J. Lucero

2nd Place

Atticus Albrechtson, Vince Kuhlman, Rowan Doehring-Debus, Harlie Donnell, Ishika Pappu

SELF-DEFENSE IN WALKING DRILLS

1st Place

Vesper Gaczol, Soren Chartier, Zyler Martin, Gracelyn Flueck, Lennon Story

2nd Place

JJ DeFelice, Freya Mixon, Lila Story, Bradley Zutman, Finley Becker

BREAKING

1st Place

Carter Hoffman, Carol Wilsey, Sophia Palfreyman, Cory Balk, Arnav Narumanchi, Chad Williamson, 

TARGET KICKING

1st Place

Henry Lewis, Armando Gomez, Ellie Pechon, Cooper Curry, Anna Copel, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Kendrick Toney, Eddie Garner, Jase Hessler, Stella Reyniers, Henry Andonov, Colin Williamson, Presley Hobler, Zane Farrier, Lorenzo Gomez, Jack Arland, Hadley Wilkins, Carlos Ramirez

Education

By Aarush Venkat, Teen Red Belt

Education is one of the most important foundations to academic and practical success in any society. Though many people may not choose the traditional or “standard” route of going to college and pursuing a degree, education comes in other forms such as through real-life situations and experiences. This contrast may also be known through the simple phrase “book smart versus street smart.” Summarized perfectly by American comedian and actor J.B. Smoove, “There’s book smart, there is street smart, there’s relation smart, there’s too many different kinds of smarts to know them all.” Through Taekwondo, all of these different forms of education are strongly emphasized in our Moo Sul Kwan campuses. From memorizing rules to learning different moves and adapting to surroundings, education truly is a genuine factor that creates any CTI student.

Every CTI student is encouraged to familiarize themselves with a plethora of rules, regulations, and information about all aspects of Taekwondo from the CTI manuals. However, this is not simply a matter of pure memorization. Through these guidelines, students are encouraged to understand the broader meanings of these rules, and apply them in their own lives. Through this more academic form of education, students learn to connect the words on the paper to their physical practice in Taekwondo and elsewhere. Through constant reinforcement this also strengthens the student’s ability to evaluate and apply these rules and regulations in their everyday lives, thereby improving their effectiveness in and beyond martial arts.  Furthermore, the memorization of the CTI manual ensures that students are accustomed to performing and executing movements and techniques confidently and without hesitation. By internalizing these rules, students don’t have to focus or worry about simple techniques that are of second nature, which will allow the student to focus on learning advanced, detailed, and complex techniques that require more experience and practice.

Other than excellence through academic learning, education learned through external teachers, instructors and other mentors are equally valuable in providing high levels of practical experience for the CTI student. A mentor or instructor can not only be a brilliant source of inspiration and learning, but they can also shape the worldview of the student’s perspective. This means that in addition to learning techniques and forms by the instructor, students can also take away themes like discipline, leadership, respect, and perseverance through following the example set by upper belts and instructors. This form of education can also be a form of personal development, where the student can use their instructors as role models to help them advance their technical skills and personality. Although this type of education is most successful with younger kids or lower belts, it is still a vital form of learning that is applicable to all belts and all ages, as long as the students are open to being positively influenced by the external factors around them. 

A final source of education and learning is self-learning, or learning through experience and adaptation. This form of education is vital to a student’s growth,  and plays an important role  in their success in the future. By learning independently through experiences, students don’t always have to rely on instructors and mentors for guidance, but rather find solutions to  challenges on their own. Challenges faced in one’s everyday lives creates resilience and makes the student ready to face similar situations with confidence. This type of education can come especially useful during sparring, self-defense, poomse, and even fields outside of taekwondo, such as academics, where students can explore the possible resolutions to problems themselves. In addition, through student’s repeated self-paced practice, they can learn useful skills, like how to adapt to unfamiliar situations, how to deal with pressure, and how to make quick decisions based on their own judgement as well. 

Ultimately, education goes far beyond earning degrees and certificates. It can be obtained in a plethora of different ways, most notably academics or through self-experience. With a combination of all of these methods, the CTI student can truly excel in many areas of knowledge, and they will be prepared to face any obstacles that might occur by using these different skillsets to their advantage. By embracing all forms of education, CTI students will gain the knowledge, wisdom, and character necessary to succeed in all aspects of life. 

Taekwondo for Kids & Adults

By Henry Rumph, 1st dan

If you're thinking about getting started with Taekwondo, then you want to find a school that safe, has a quality program, and has a structured program for both kids and adults. The Colorado Taekwondo Institute (CTI) is exactly what you are looking for. And CTI has many various campus in the Denver  metro area, making them conveniently located for your family. They are safe, they build character, and they are amazing with kids and adults.

One of the things that the CTI taekwondo classes does an exceptionally good job at is promoting development, both physical and mental, in their students. They do this through a variety of rules, expectations, and responsibility. When a student joins CTI, the first thing they will be introduced to is the rules that they are expected to follow. All of these rules center around either respect for their teacher, respect for the room, safety, or respect for their fellow students. These rules, and the fact that the instructors hold the students accountable for following them, prompt discipline and a respectful attitude in the students at the campus. Furthermore, every class that the student attends will begin with exercise and stretching, and then the class itself is also extremely physically active, though the instructors tailor it so every level of physical ability is able to participate and join. This results in not only mentally strong students but physically strong students who have learned to respect their peers and act in a responsible manner. Yet classes can only achieve this feat because of their wonderful instructors.

Every instructor at CTI is an experienced, high-level black belt who has not only had years of training in taekwondo classes but years of experience teaching it as well. Even more so, each instructor is experienced and capable of teaching any age group, from the youngest of children to the oldest of adults. There are classes for every age group, from toddlers, to children, to teenagers, to adults. These wonderful instructors have had experience teaching all of these age groups, and it is clear that they deeply care for each of their students of all ages. In fact, it is not uncommon for them to go out of their way to help their students if they are not meeting the goals that are set for them. They often do this either by helping them before class, after class, or, if necessary, they are also willing to offer private lessons so that no one person falls behind.

One of the biggest pros for attending the CTI taekwondo classes is that there is nearly no risk for injury in any of their classes. CTI is a taekwondo organization, which means that, though they teach a martial art, there is a significant emphasis on first understanding form and body language before a student is allowed to begin doing anything that may result in injury to another student. Furthermore, all students are required to wear proper pads and equipment when sparring, which has resulted in an injury rate of almost zero over their more than 30 years of teaching. Furthermore, each and every instructor is fully aware that their top priority is the safety and well-being of their students, and they will all go to great lengths to keep their students safe while still turning them into competent and effective martial artists. When one takes all of this into consideration, the chance of your child getting injured at the CTI is almost nothing, while all the while they will be growing both as a person and as a martial artist.

Overall, as martial arts organizations go, CTI is easily one of the best choices because of their convenient location, safe atmosphere, effective character building, and amazing instructors. All of these things make certain that CTI is a trustworthy institution that is everything anyone could ever want in a martial arts organization.

Modesty

By Ahas Weerapura, teen 1st dan

Modesty is a quality that is extremely important in nearly every aspect of life. Modesty is important to our mental and emotional health, healthy interactions with other people, and to our self-improvement as a taekwondo student. Modesty can be defined as the quality of not having arrogance regarding your own abilities, accomplishments, and qualities. Modesty is also closely intertwined with humility, which is the internal part of modesty, or being modest with yourself. Modesty also falls into the affective domain of Lee H. Park’s model concept, and affects both of the other domains as well.

Modesty is incredibly important to the individual’s mental and emotional (or cognitive and affective) health as well. It fosters a sense of self respect and satisfaction that doesn’t require any external validation and can't be broken down by other people. This trait is extremely valuable and increasingly so. Modesty can result in benefits like increased self-esteem and reduced self-hatred, and can even assist in better decision-making skills due to having a more grounded and realistic self-image.

Another aspect that modesty is important to is interactions with other people. Modesty is an important social mechanism that makes an individual more likable to other people. Additionally, people who are arrogant and lack modesty are often irritating to the people that they interact with. Modesty can often also assist in the efficiency of social interactions as well. Arrogant people can often say contradicting things to make themselves look good, and when they feel the need to make themselves look good, they can often obstruct interactions that are trying to accomplish understanding. When people are modest and have the aforementioned self-respect and satisfaction, they are better able to convey and delineate ideas, which is especially useful in the professional setting.

Additionally, modesty is important to becoming a better student and improving. Having modesty is an important part of being able to accept mistakes and things you did wrong, letting you fix them and improve. A lack of modesty can cause your level of performance to stay static because you won’t take feedback on the things you did wrong. This also extends to work, school, and even hobbies due to how essential modesty is to improvement.

Modesty is an incredibly useful and pleasant trait to have. It has become exceptionally absent in society, and remarkably valuable as a result. Modesty helps in mental health, interactions with other people, and getting better at the things that you do. I highly encourage you to at least attempt to practice modesty in your daily life, as the benefits will be immeasurable.

Martial Arts for Children

By Jordan Rutz, Jr 1st Dan

Are you looking for martial arts for children? Come check out the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. We have 6 campuses all around Colorado. Martial arts for children is very beneficial for the development of their brains, their development, and development in other aspects of their life.  In taekwondo, your child will learn self-defense, respect, courage, and kindness, among many other wonderful aspects. We have classes for ages 2 and up and have specialized classes for each age, so that each student is getting the learning that they need. We offer Moo Sul Kwan traditional Taekwondo through classes and events. We encourage world-class leadership through educational excellence and Moo Sul Kwan martial arts traditions. We have excellently trained Moo Sul Kwan black belts who teach classes at all of our campuses. In Taekwondo, we have five tenets. The tenants are courtesy, integrity, perseverance, indomitable spirit, and self-control. 

Taekwondo is a Korean word that means the art of smashing with the bare hands and feet. It originated in Korea. When humans saw animals defending themselves with their hands and their feet. They survived without weapons, and we figured out that we can as well.

For your toddler or preschooler, Taekwondo is a really good way to get rid of your kids' energy and to give them something new and fun to do. Especially during the summer, we know how challenging it can be with a preschooler at home with nothing to do when you are trying to work. You can bring your child to class, and we play games, and we have lots of fun while also teaching our preschoolers important things that they need to know, like how to keep themselves calm in certain events, and that it's okay to be frustrated, but we can't take it out on people in the form of kicking and punching. 

Martial arts for children is really important for getting the exercise that they need to stay healthy. Taekwondo also helps them gain confidence, whether that's outside at the park, at school, or even at home. Outside of Taekwondo, we have our students do a monthly homework. They have important topics like modesty, friendship, teamwork, and more. These help our students learn important life skills that they can apply outside of their life in Taekwondo. 

For your teen, discipline is one benefit of enrolling them in classes. Teens should learn how to behave in school and how to behave in life in general. Taekwondo classes help build confidence and focus within our students and give them ideas of goals in their lives that they wish to accomplish. This also provides an incredible opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Whether they are from your campus or not, through our tournaments and other events, you meet many people from around Colorado who may become your best friends. 

For adults, Moo Sul Kwan is a good way to get exercise and helps you learn new ways to set goals and try to achieve them. It also becomes a really great way to have something that you do with your family all the time. If you are retired, it gives you a really fun thing to do that helps you get exercise. We also offer online classes for those who struggle with exercise and who can't do traditional exercises.

Personally, I have been doing Taekwondo for 10 years, and I can say for sure that it has made me a better person. My parents knew that martial arts for children was extremely beneficial, and so they looked into many schools, but the CTI was the most promising. Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo is not the kind of school where the richest person gets their belt. At the CTI, everyone gets treated the same, no matter how much money you have or any other differences. As long as you pay attention and try your best, you have the best chances of reaching your black belt. Reaching your black belt is a difficult process, but it just goes to show how truly educated and supportive our black belts are because of our Taekwondo school. I started at the CTI in 2016 when I was 4 years old. I started with my younger brother, and I think that was an incredible bonding experience for us, and I think that it gave us a stronger connection to each other.

Moo Sul Kwan martial arts for children not only values being physically strong, but we also value being mentally strong. We have many exercises that help us develop and grow our brains. In class, we learn about the presidents of the United States, and we learn the state capitals. We also take written tests before we get our belt to help us understand the importance of our history and where we come from. It is important to be physically strong, but it is also important to be mentally strong. Especially when you are in a martial art, you have to understand where and when not to use martial arts. The phrase that we say after every class when we bow out is “Ho-shin,” which is Korean for “self-control before self-defense”. 

So if you are looking for good martial arts for children, teens, or adults, come check out the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. We have everything that you need to help you and your child get in shape, stay in shape, make everlasting friendships, and create bonds with the people around you. 

The Superbowl Results Are In!

The 51th CTI Superbowl tournament was held on February 27-28 at Alameda International School. Over 300 students of all belts and ages competed, learned, and had a memorial day. Photos will be available soon on our website's Photo page.

Special thanks to all family members and friends for their support to make this special day possible!

Congratulations to our Grand Champions: Haley Holley and Ron Meyer!

Poomse

1^st Place
Collin Kreutz, Kyle Feagans, Meredith Botnick, Quynn Cotner, Katie Minden, Elsie Mcdonald, Jordan Rutz, Dale Sanders, Mason Zerbib, Zachary Cotner, Rebekkah Copel, Ellie Pechon, Cooper Curry, Owen Eberhard, Katie Harding, Landon Dulmage, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Henry Andonov, Oliver Garner, Stella Reyniers, Ailani Lopez Martinez, Daniel Gray, Henry Chiabotti, Gwen Spilling, Ron Meyer, Elijah Yushka, Dominic Ditallo, Avery Liu, Cyrus Khatri, Timofii Lesyk, Leo Duffey, Leuyen Nguyen, Sheen Pandita, Laurel Robinson, Aleina Evarts, Mila Olivares Castro, Jay Karkula, Madison Janecek, Luna Duran, Terrance Sanders, Alexander Myers, Adeline Alayash, Lila Story, Matthew Decross, Anthony Hanson, Tommy Jacoby, Ronan Long, Clay Zilliox, Nicholas Johnson, Zyler Martin, Oliver Rackl, Saoirse Meyer, Luna Rivera, Jacob Zilliox, Ethan Mccarroll, Hudson Wiegand, Jaden Danhorn, Walker Meyers, Rosie Mclaughlin, Chase Downham, Kamila Hernandez, Blake Macon, Zachary Wolf

2nd Place
Kathleen Sautel, Eileen Lindner, Lydia Willis, Matthew Roberts, Bill Schwartz, Evan Mcewan, Henry Rumph, Warren Mcdonald, Ace Ashworth, Alexis Chavez, Rue Weerapura, Carter Hoffman, Josie Landis, Anna Copel, Joshua Stephenson, Landon Adams, Jase Hessler, River Manuelito, Torin Dimascio, Alice Burgin, Hayden Jeffries, Lorenzo Gomez, Dylan Kiser, Christopher Cochenour, Ellie Combs, Weston Evarts, Anastasia Contreras, Nirajit Dhakal, Dawson Portera, Ruth Berry, Austin Gross, Shreeyan Khatri, Hadley Wilkins, Aaron Botnick, Cash Parker, Quintyn Upshaw, Austin Janacek, Maryn Meyer, Jenny Powers, Desmond Long, Vesper Gaczol, Arwyn Robinson, Brie Rivera, Rowan Meyer, Luke Wingate, Lehan Nguyen, Forrest Zilliox, Rory Duffy, Veronika Lesyk, Pippa Rueter, Kolbe Greenmyer, Iris Kuklman, Rahi Kapoor, Romy Burnett, Quentin Enns, Isaac House, Ben Alek, Khloe Burger, Adeline Karkula, Grayson Keck, Maverick Besaw, Adrian Ibarra, Lemai Nguyen

3rd Place
Tyler Murphy, Deb Denny, Kirun Agarwal, Marley Powers, Abbey Salamera, Ivy Jensen, Logan Keckler, Kaylyn Mcewan, Ahas Weerapura, Kayla Albrechtson, Shiven Venkat, Henry Lewis, Khristin Paisley, Paul Paisley, Haley Holley, Amallia Chapman, Hilde Groff, Armando Gomez, Franco Ramirez, Eddie Garner, Leanh Nguyen, Makenzie O'Connell, Milo Conner, Presley Hobler, Asher Yushka, Kira Rhyden, Luna Bratz, Sophia Palfreyman, Mckenzie Farmer, Keira Teska, Cory Balk, Lily Rosetta-Mcbryde, Eoin Daly, Asher Whalen, Desmond Bearce, Tyrion Bieker, Andrew Kahan, Natalie Teska, Felix Kelson, Tucker Mercier, Skye Zilliox, Skylynn Benefield, Ben Godwin, Theodore Fuselier, Wyck Gaczol, Declan Upshaw, Felicity Greenmyer, Ollin Johnson, Sophia Lamphere, Michael Doherty, James Burger, Lily Carrillo, Lennon Story, Kaitlyn Doherty, Neev Pandita, Leighton Evarts, Olivia Madruga, Charlie Farmer, Trey Herbst, Elyn Brown, DJ Macri, Theo Peterson

4th Place
Peyton Brauch, Nathaniel Keckler, Vivi Brown, Sarah Dahle, Lily Strickland, Zoe Economou, Bob Padget, Emma Burden, Thomas Burden, Ryan Marine, Dan Copel, Jaxson Hipsher, Mary Groff, Kendrick Toney, Siri Molnar, Olivia Ivie, Zane Farrier, Kim Williamson, Lyra Bratz, JJ Defelice, Millie Hessler, Gabriel Kahan, Peter Morehead, Celia Lunardi, Olivia Roberts, James Daly, Selam Dusharm, Kolbe Pries, Alina Madruga, Nathan Czaikowski, Loxley Mcelhaney, Holden Bassett, Mae Michuda, Miles Wingate, Lachlan Cooke, Jacob Bermier, Rowan Hui, Amelia Tait, Debra Lavezzari, Silas Corbett, Quinn Meyer

Tiger Poomse

1st Place
Violet Martinez, Atticus Albrechtson, Aryan Bhatt, Leo Claveau, Sigmund Kelson, Miraak Gohil, Wynston Gaczol, Savannah Roberts, Avian Abdin, Colin Bentley, Arlo White, Emilia Newberry, Knox Randolph, Vince Kuhlman, Jade Gamon, Cash Hanson, Asher Lampher

Sparring

1^st Place
Tyler Murphy, Lydia Willis, Meredith Botnick, Matthew Roberts, Averie Chavez, Henry Rumph, Ivy Jensen, Logan Keckler, Rebekkah Copel, Ellie Pechon, Josie Landis, Shiven Venkat, Ryan Marine, Keatyn Adams, Joshua Stephenson, Jase Hessler, Haley Holley, Amallia Chapman, Armando Gomez, Daniel Gray, Eddie Garner, Ron Meyer, Elijah Yushka, Dominic Ditallo, Ellie Combs, Lyra Bratz, Eli Anceravicius, Leo Duffey, Leuyen Nguyen, Nirajit Dhakal, Ruth Berry, Austin Gross, Hadley Wilkins, Sophia Palfreyman, Luna Duran, Alexander Myers, Matthew Decross, Tommy Jacoby, Ronan Long, Clay Zilliox, Nicholas Johnson, Arwyn Robinson, Brie Rivera, Tucker Mercier, Alina Madruga, Nathan Czaikowski, Jaden Danhorn, Felicity Greenmyer, Sophia Lamphere, Jacob Bermier, Maverick Besaw, Lemai Nguyen, Leighton Evarts

2nd Place
Peyton Brauch, Kirun Agarwal, Marley Powers, Abbey Salamera, Nathaniel Keckler, Jordan Rutz, Warren Mcdonald, Bob Padget, Cooper Curry, Owen Eberhard, Carter Hoffman, Khristin Paisley, Dan Copel, Jaxson Hipsher, Lucy Paisley, Landon Adams, River Manuelito, Mary Groff, Ailani Lopez Martinez, Henry Chiabotti, Torin Dimascio, Alice Burgin, Siri Molnar, Olivia Ivie, Avery Liu, Asher Yushka, Laurel Robinson, Shreeyan Khatri, Mckenzie Farmer, Peter Morehead, Olivia Roberts, Adeline Alayash, Austin Janacek, Desmond Long, Desmond Bearce, Tyrion Bieker, Selam Dusharm, Sebastian Schuster, Jacob Schuster, Saoirse Meyer, Luna Rivera, Jacob Zilliox, Skye Zilliox, Declan Upshaw, Holden Bassett, Hudson Wiegand, Walker Meyers, Kolbe Greenmyer, Iris Kuklman, Romy Burnett, Michael Doherty, James Burger, Rowan Hui, Olivia Madruga, Silas Corbett

3rd Place
Collin Kreutz, Vivi Brown, Dale Sanders, Alexis Chavez, Ahas Weerapura, Kayla Albrechtson, Zoe Economou, Tristyn Cvanciger, Rue Weerapura, Paul Paisley, Sam Powers, Nethika Suraweera, Landon Dulmage, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Oliver Garner, Hilde Groff, Hayden Jeffries, Lorenzo Gomez, Leanh Nguyen, Milo Conner, Weston Evarts, Kira Rhyden, Luna Bratz, Millie Hessler, Thomas Mcnair, Aleina Evarts, Mila Olivares Castro, Jay Karkula, Dawson Portera, Cash Parker, Cory Balk, Lily Rosetta-Mcbryde, Eoin Daly, Asher Whalen, Celia Lunardi, Terrance Sanders, Kolbe Pries, Anthony Hanson, Oliver Rackl, Rowan Meyer, Lehan Nguyen, Skylynn Benefield, Loxley Mcelhaney, Rosie Mclaughlin, Chase Downham, Kamila Hernandez, Blake Macon, Zachary Wolf, Ezekiel Onyun, DJ Macri

4th Place
Ed Stanton, Elsie Mcdonald, Evan Mcewan, Lily Strickland, Emma Burden, Thomas Burden, Ivy Strickland, Henry Lewis, Lee Tomjack, Stella Reyniers, Franco Ramirez, Jennifer Kautz, Gwen Spilling, Makenzie O'Connell, Presley Hobler, Zane Farrier, Vincent Andonov, Theodore Peterson, Cyrus Khatri, Timofii Lesyk, Anastasia Contreras, Gabriel Kahan, Madison Janecek, Quintyn Upshaw, Keira Teska, James Klausner, Bryce Yushka, Andrew Kahan, Forrest Zilliox, Rory Duffy, Veronika Lesyk, Ben Alek, Khloe Burger, Adeline Karkula, Grayson Keck, Adrian Ibarra, Trey Herbst

First Point Wins!

1^st Place
Collin Kreutz, Lydia Willis, Matthew Roberts, Vivi Brown, Ivy Jensen, Logan Keckler, Dale Sanders, Elsie Mcdonald, Shiven Venkat, Keatyn Adams, Rue Weerapura, Henry Lewis, Joshua Stephenson, Haley Holley, Amallia Chapman, Dalila Lopez Martinez, Hilde Groff, Daniel Gray, Torin Dimascio, Alice Burgin, Hayden Jeffries, Vincent Andonov, Ron Meyer, Dominic Ditallo, Ellie Combs, Avery Liu, Weston Evarts, Anastasia Contreras, Leo Duffey, Leuyen Nguyen, Nirajit Dhakal, Dawson Portera, Celia Lunardi, Luna Duran, Desmond Bearce, Matthew Decross, Arwyn Robinson, Alina Madruga, Nathan Czaikowski, Skye Zilliox, Anthony Hanson, Loxley Mcelhaney, Felicity Greenmyer, Jacob Bermier, Walker Meyers, Kolbe Greenmyer, Rosie Mclaughlin, Chase Downham, Zachary Wolf, Ezekiel Onyun, Maverick Besaw, Olivia Madruga

2nd Place
Ed Stanton, Meredith Botnick, Nathaniel Keckler, Henry Rumph, Warren Mcdonald, Alexis Chavez, Ivy Strickland, Kaylyn Mcewan, Rebekkah Copel, Ryan Marine, Khristin Paisley, Jaxson Hipsher, Lucy Paisley, Lee Tomjack, Landon Adams, Mary Groff, Landon Dulmage, Ailani Lopez Martinez, Henry Chiabotti, Siri Molnar, Lorenzo Gomez, Leanh Nguyen, Milo Conner, Asher Yushka, Cyrus Khatri, Ruth Berry, Sophia Palfreyman, Shreeyan Khatri, Mckenzie Farmer, Peter Morehead, Keira Teska, Aaron Botnick, Austin Janacek, Tyrion Bieker, Selam Dusharm, Sebastian Schuster, Terrance Sanders, Andrew Kahan, Natalie Teska, Brie Rivera, Tucker Mercier, Saoirse Meyer, Holden Bassett, Oliver Rackl, Rowan Meyer, Skylynn Benefield, Ben Godwin, Jaden Danhorn, Iris Kuklman, Rowan Hui, Lemai Nguyen, Silas Corbett, DJ Macri, Neev Pandita

Staff Poomse

1^st Place
Collin Kreutz, Quynn Cotner, Katie Minden, Ivy Jensen, Elsie Mcdonald, Warren Mcdonald, Evan Mcewan, Ace Ashworth

2nd Place
Peyton Brauch, Kyle Feagans, Ed Stanton, Meredith Botnick, Marley Powers, Logan Keckler, Kaylyn Mcewan, Jordan Rutz

3rd Place
Kathleen Sautel, Nathaniel Keckler, Kirun Agarwal, Abbey Salamera, Ahas Weerapura, Zoe Economou, Mason Zerbib

4th Place
Tyler Murphy, Deb Denny, Bill Schwartz

Breaking/Target Kicking

1^st Place
Kyle Feagans, Kathleen Sautel, Quynn Cotner, Kirun Agarwal, Evan Mcewan, Jordan Rutz, Henry Rumph, Tristyn Cvanciger, Lily Strickland, Susan Burgstiner, Rue Weerapura, Carter Hoffman, Dan Copel, Sam Powers, Haley Holley, Amallia Chapman, Hilde Groff, Landon Dulmage, Henry Andonov, Torin Dimascio, Ailani Lopez Martinez, Leanh Nguyen, Eddie Garner, Makenzie O'Connell, Dylan Kiser, Ron Meyer, Elijah Yushka, Atticus Albrechtson, Sheen Pandita, Terrance Sanders, Lila Story, Maryn Meyer, Jenny Powers, Leo Claveau, Zyler Martin, Mae Michuda, Miles Wingate, Wynston Gaczol, Rahi Kapoor, Ollin Johnson, Knox Randolph, Cash Hanson, Elyn Brown

2nd Place
JJ Defelice, Sigmund Kelson, Luke Wingate, Theodore Fuselier, Wyck Gaczol, Lachlan Cooke, Savannah Roberts, Avian Abdin, Quentin Enns, Lily Carrillo, Lennon Story, Vince Kuhlman, 

3rd Place
Violet Martinez, Aryan Bhatt, Vesper Gaczol, Ethan Mccarroll, Isaac House, Amelia Tait, Jade Gamon, Asher Lampher, Charlie Farmer, Colin Bentley

This Weekend: the 51st Superbowl Tournament!

We are looking forward to our 51st Superbowl tournament this Friday and Saturday, February 27 & 28!  

Private Lesson Extravaganza: 

The Private Lesson Extravaganza will begin at 4.30 pm on Friday night. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your scheduled time to get checked in and warm up. 

At this point, drop-ins are welcome, but we cannot guarantee the availability of 3rd dans and above for drop-ins. If you wish to schedule with a 3rd dan and above, come at 4:55, 5:20 or 5:45. The 4:30pm slots are full for 3rd and above. The 20 minute private lessons start at 4:30pm, 4:55pm, 5:20pm and 5:45pm. You can use this link through Thursday to sign up. 

For the private lesson extravaganza only, students will enter the gym directly through the gym doors near the black belt parking on the map below.  On Saturday and other future events, students will enter through the entrance described below. 

Competition and Arrival Times: 

Black Belts will compete on Friday night at 6 pm. Spectators are welcome.  

All other students (white through red) will compete on Saturday. You will find details on your competition time below. You will need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start time of your competition to check in, etc. Some divisions may begin early, so please be at Alameda at your arrival time. 

Purple, Brown, & Red belts, all ages: 8 am start time, 7.30 am arrival time

Ages 8 and under; white, yellow, orange, green, blue belts and all tigers: 10.30 am start time, 10 am arrival time

Ages 9 and up; white, yellow, orange, green, blue belts: 12.30 pm pm start time, 11 am arrival time

Tournament Collection:

For this tournament, we are collecting new underwear, new socks, hats, gloves and new or clean, used blankets for the Brown Bag Ministries. You can bring them to the tournament or through next week at your campus locations.

Location details, parking:

The tournament will be at Alameda International High School which is located at 1255 S Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80232.  

Please park in the large parking lot on the southwest corner of Louisiana and Allison St. (There is another parking lot on the northwest corner of Arizona and Allison / north of the tennis courts that can be used for overflow parking).

Please do not double park and/or block someone in. If both parking lots are full, there is a lot of neighborhood street parking available in the area or you can see if there is room in the main entrance parking lot.  

You will enter the school through the doors facing west. The title 'ALAMEDA INTERNATIONAL' is written in large block letters above the doors. 

Checking students in, getting them to their rings, their competitions:

Once you enter, you will be directed to a check-in table. The check-in will be divided up alphabetically by last name so please proceed to the table marked with the first letter of your last name.

While checking-in, someone will write ring numbers on your hands. You will have a green number on your right hand and a red number on your left hand. Once you have your ring numbers, you will head to the upper bleachers of the gym to settle in. You will be called down to the floor for the group photo and will proceed to the green ring number after the group photo.

Parents of younger students competing at 10.30 am, you will take your student down to the gym floor when called for the group photo. After the group photo, announcements, etc., black belts will take the students to their correct ring number which will be the GREEN number on their right hand. The ring number will be labeled with big signs. These ring signs are not color coded, so please look to the ring number on your student's hand that is green and disregard the color of the ring sign.  

Once students are settled at their rings, we ask that spectators stay in the upper bleachers and off the gym floor for safety and to provide more room for the competitions. Please show your students where you will be so they know where to find you. If you have a very young child (tigers ages 2 - 4) who needs assistance, it is okay if you need to stay nearby on the gym floor.

Tiger students (2-4 and some 5 year olds who attend 30 minutes classes) will compete in two divisions in the same ring and then will be dismissed for the day. Please come pick them up at the photo podium after their Most Kicks division.

All other students will compete in poomse first. We ask that parents remain in the upper bleachers during these competitions, please. After poomse competition ends, students will then go to the RED ring number on their LEFT hand for sparring. 

Parents of students ages 7 and under, please come down to the podium to collect your student after their first competition and to help them get to their second. You are welcome to take photos at the podium.

After-school program students will compete in poomse and most kicks.  After most kicks, they are free to leave.

All other students will compete in poomse, sparring and first point wins. 

After your student is done competing in all of their divisions, please come down to the edge of the gym floor to collect them. Thank you.

Students ages 9 & up will compete in three or four events. Please do not leave until your student has competed in everything (poomse, two sparring divisions, and then students ages 12 & up, ranks orange and above will also compete in breaking). After sparring divisions conclude, please stay in the gym and listen for their name to be called to their additional divisions and ring numbers.

Etiquette and Uniform:

All students should arrive already dressed out in their uniforms with their belts tied.  Anyone with long hair will need to have it tied back securely. No jewelry is permitted, and freshly pierced ears need to be covered from front to back with medical tape and/or bandaids.  Students should wear a white crewneck t-shirt beneath their uniform top. Students should not wear jeans or secondary pants underneath their uniform pants as this will inhibit their ability to kick.

Lastly, please do not attend the tournament if you or your student is ill. Thank you.  

If you have any questions at all, please reach out to your instructor. We are so proud of all of our students' hard work and preparation, and we look forward to this weekend!  Thank you.

Martial Arts for Classes for Families

By Lydia Willis, 3rd dan

Are you interested in martial arts lessons for yourself or a family member? Why not everyone! The Colorado Taekwondo Institute offers a unique opportunity for families to participate in the same sport, while still having their individual needs met. We have 5 different campuses located in the Denver-Metro area, each offering a variety of classes for all age ranges. This allows families to enroll not only younger children, but teens and parents as well! By participating in family martial arts, you are all learning the same discipline, emotional, and physical skills, taught at age appropriate levels. At the Colorado Taekwondo institute, we have many families who are all taking classes and are enjoying these benefits.

I started at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute when I was just four years old because my younger sister was taking classes at the time, and it piqued my interest. When we started, she was 2 years old, and I was 4 years old. We began in the same class, ages 2-4, learning the basic movements of martial arts and ideas of discipline. I loved being in the same sport as my little sister, we got to spend more time together in a structured manner, meaning we weren’t getting into little sibling arguments. Another benefit of having my younger sister in class was being encouraged to practice more at home. It’s important to practice Taekwondo skills at home as it helps to solidify the complex movements that are learned in class, but also to build up physical endurance. Being in classes with my younger sister, we were motivated to go home afterwards and practice together, or even put on little performances for our parents in the living room. As we got older, I moved out of the “tigers” class, but having the opportunity to be able to train with her at home helped us both to continue working on those discipline skills. The more motivated one of us got to practice and learn new moves, the more the other one also felt motivated. We had learned to be disciplined and spend time learning together at home, which meant it was easy for us to learn to get home and get our homework done right away, or to practice our instruments for music lessons. Family martial arts was an essential part in developing who we are as people.

Along with pushing each other to become better martial artists and more disciplined, having a family member in class helps to create a sense of competition that pushes training to a higher level. Healthy levels of competition are incredibly helpful in creating improvement in martial artists, each member of the family has a small part of them that wants to be “better” than everyone else, and that helps to push everyone further. It creates a higher interest in participating in events like tournaments, expos, and symposiums, as well as attending extra classes and events. This healthy competition also teaches family members important emotional skills like self-control and sportsmanship. It’s easier to make a mistake with a family member than it is to make a mistake once you’re in the real world, so having healthy competition with family makes it easier to learn those skills. It provides an opportunity to practice being a good sport and being kind within the safety of people you already know and trust.

If your family is looking for a sport to participate in, family martial arts at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute is a perfect option. With classes for all ages that help train physical fitness and self-defense skills as well as emotional skills like discipline, respect, and kindness. 

Responsibility

By Evan McEwan, teen 1st dan

Responsibility is a cornerstone fundamental in most everything you will encounter. Responsibility teaches you so many lessons through hardship, mistakes, and other processes. Responsibility grows in importance as you go up the belt ranks in our program being a quintessential part of every individual's Moo Sul Kwan career. Responsibility also shows integrity and builds strong bonds and connections.

The lessons responsibility teaches are so important to growth in any aspect. You start to understand what those who are responsible for you need to sacrifice, having to make the same sacrifices yourself. You give up time, money, and energy when you are responsible which gives you great respect for your caretakers. Responsibility has many facets and applications, there is responsibility for others just as much as there is for yourself. Self-responsibility teaches necessary fundamentals like how to work by yourself, time management skills, and the ability to have balance in between different tasks. These three skills are some of many that come with being self-responsible and are essential to success. 

Beyond its educational properties, responsibility has incontestable vitality within the Moo Sul Kwan institution. It walks in tandem with every student along their career, growing in presence as they climb the ranks. A Moo Sul Kwan student’s first class holds minimal responsibility, however it is still present, having the responsibility of learning and remembering protocol and custom of the class. As one progresses however, they must become responsible for their behavior, practicing their moves and forms at home, do the monthly excellence homeworks, balance taekwondo with other aspects of life, and so much more. When moving up the ranks you gradually gain all of this knowledge and eventually you may get the opportunity to teach a class. 

Responsibility fosters meaningful and valuable relationships through trust. If one gives someone responsibility for their belonging and they perform well then trust is built, this principle is applicable everywhere and helps one climb ranks and earn positions. In Taekwondo it’s important to build bonds with others to develop as a student, having the skill of responsibility will ensure that you can effectively advance. Moreover in any developmental aspect in life connections are so important to growth so having that responsibility will be so valuable to anyone climbing the ranks.

All things are encompassed by responsibility, being a key to success, among many other things. It teaches you how to adapt, develop, persevere, and push through hardship. It is also a necessary part to development i n Taekwondo, growing in importance as you go through the belt ranks in Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo.  Responsibility also helps you build relationships through integrity and trust. All in all, responsibility is one of the most key things to any development at all.

Holiday Day Camp: Dec 29 -31st!

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute will be hosting our regular Holiday Day Camp over Winter Break this year! 

We will be hosting three days of Holiday Day Camp at the Green Mountain Campus over Winter Break!  The Day Camp will run Monday, December 29th - Wednesday, December 31st.  You can register for this event on our website and then selecting the red box that reads 'Holiday Day Camp.'

Day Camp is a super fun event and a great way to keep your student active during the break. It's a great way to add excitement and to make strides towards your or your student's next belt. There is no cap or limit to participants for this event.  

All students ages 5 and up are invited to attend Holiday Day Camp at the Green Mountain Campus Dec 29 - 31. This fun and exciting event is packed full of all types of Taekwondo activities.

• WHO – All Students Ages 5 and Up
• WHAT – CTI Spring Break Day Camp
• WHEN – Dec 29 - 31 
• WHERE – Green Mountain Campus
• COST – 
• $190 all sessions, all 3 days
• $70 for 2 sessions (full day or 2 half days)
• $40 per single session (half day)
• TIMES – 
• MORNING SESSION: 8:30am  - 11:00am
• AFTERNOON SESSION: 12 noon - 2:30pm
• (Students planning to stay all day need to bring a lunch.)
• WHAT TO BRING:  Uniform, belt, sparring gear, tennis shoes, snack, water bottle, board(s), notebook & pen/pencil, lunch (if staying all day)

Please note: A full day of Day Camp (from 8.30 am - 2.30 pm) is 2 sessions (a morning and afternoon). 

Please note: There is no cap or limit to participants for this event. It is not like day camps from other organizations where you have to book months in advance. We take walk-ins the day of as well. Thank you!

This Weekend - The 26th Lee H. Park Team Champs!

We are looking forward to our Lee H. Park Team Champs tournament this Saturday, December 13th! 

Important: Don't forget our CTI Stocking Stuffer Toy Drive! We are collecting new and unwrapped stocking stuffer gift donations for Brown Bag Ministries. We are seeking items for ages 1- 12 in particular. Saturday at the tournament is our final day for collection. We will have a box for donations at the check-in table when you arrive. Thank you!

Competition and Arrival Times: 

Everyone will compete on Saturday. You will find details on your competition time below. You will need to arrive 30 minutes prior to the start time of your competition to check in, etc. Some divisions may begin early, so please be at Alameda at your arrival time.  Thank you.  

• Black belts (6.30 am start time, 6 am arrival time)
• Everyone is welcome to spectate Black Belt competitions. The gym will be open at 6am.
• Tigers, ages 5-7 and ALL Elementary School Program students of all ages (9.30 am start time, 9 am arrival time) 
• There are a few exceptions to the ages here. If you are an 8 yr old on a team with all 7 yr olds, you might need to come at this time, please. Check with your instructor if you are unsure. If you are competing on a team from MPA, Red Rocks, West Woods, Meiklejohn or Westridge, you will report at 9 am even if you are older than 7 years old.
• Ages 8 - 11 (11 am start time, 10.30 am arrival time)
• There are also a few exceptions to ages here. Check with your instructor if you are unsure.
• Ages 12 and up (must arrive at noon)
• There are also a few exceptions to ages here. Check with your instructor if you are unsure.

Location details, parking:

The tournament will be at Alameda International High School which is located at 1255 S Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood, CO 80232.  

Please park in the large parking lot on the southwest corner of Louisiana and Allison St. (There is another parking lot on the northwest corner of Arizona and Allison / north of the tennis courts that can be used for overflow parking).

Please do not double park and/or block someone in.  If both parking lots are full, there is a lot of neighborhood street parking available in the area or you can see if there is room in the main entrance parking lot.  

You will enter the school through the doors facing west. The title 'ALAMEDA INTERNATIONAL' is written in large block letters above the doors.  It is marked with a red star in the graphic below.  

Checking students in and getting them to their rings:

Once you enter, you will be directed to a check-in table. While checking-in, someone will write ring numbers on your hands. You will have a green number on your right hand and a red number on your left hand. Once you have your ring numbers, you will head to the upper bleachers of the gym to settle in.  

Parents of students ages 11 and under, you will take your student down to the gym floor for the group photo. 

After the group photo, students will go to the green number on their hands and black belts will help them get to their rings. 

Once students are settled at their rings, we ask that spectators stay in the upper bleachers and off the gym floor for safety and to provide more room for the competitions. Please show your students where you will be so they know where to find you. If you have a very young child (tigers ages 2 - 5) who needs assistance, it is okay if you need to stay nearby on the gym floor. 

Due to the large amount of space required for team competitions, we are asking students to please leave all equipment bags in the upper level bleachers and off the gym floor. Thank you.

Competition Information:

Please note: If this is your first team tournament, please be aware that due to the nature of the team competitions, ring supervisors sometimes need slightly more time to organize the rings once students report. Thank you for your patience and flexibility. The students have practiced hard for this tournament so please "go with the flow" during the day. There is a method but group competition is very different from individual competition so it can feel a bit chaotic dealing with the teams - especially the youngest teams.

Students ages 11 and under will compete in poomse first.  

Students reporting at 9 am: After the poomse competition ends, students will then be going to their basics and kicking competitions, which will likely be in a different ring. This is the RED ring number on their LEFT hand. After your student is done competing in all three divisions, then please come down to the edge of the gym floor to collect them. Thank you.

Please note that tigers (students in 30 min classes, ages 2 - 4, some 5 yr olds) will do both their poomse and kicking competitions in the same ring or in two rings near one another, and they will do their competitions one right after another so they don't have to wait. They will then be released after the kicking competition.

Students reporting at 10.30 am: After the poomse competition ends, students will then be going to their self-defense and kicking competitions. These competitions may or may not be in the same ring; please follow the RED ring number on their LEFT hand. After your student is done competing in all three divisions, then please come down to the edge of the gym floor to collect them. Thank you.

Students reporting at noon, come down to the gym floor for the group photo. We will then direct you to all of your rings. All students are in 4 competitions.

Etiquette and Uniform:

All students should arrive already dressed out in their uniforms with their belts tied. Anyone with long hair will need to have it tied back securely. No jewelry is permitted, and freshly pierced ears need to be covered from front to back with medical tape and/or bandaids. Students should wear a white crewneck t-shirt beneath their uniform top. Students should not wear jeans or secondary pants underneath their uniform pants as this will inhibit their ability to kick.

Boards:

If your student is competing in breaking (all students competing in the noon time frame, orange belt and above), they will need to provide their own boards for this competition. Please touch base with your instructor with any questions you may have here.

Lastly, please do not attend the tournament if you or your student is ill or has tested positive for Covid.  

If you have any questions at all, please reach out to your instructor. We are so proud of all of our students' hard work and preparation, and we look forward to Saturday!

Martial Arts Classes

By Zach Cotner, junior 1st dan 

All kids need a healthy place to express themselves, exercise their energy, and feel like they have a place to belong. Families seeking a healthy activity for their children will appreciate what martial arts training will provide them. Martial arts classes benefit kids (and adults) by teaching discipline and self-control, by providing exercise that’s both healthy and fun, and by creating opportunities for positive social interactions. 

An important benefit that taekwondo provides to kids is discipline. One main benefit is learning how to act around adults/teachers/mentors/elders. This is important because it will serve you throughout life. It is a great skill to learn respect and communication. In Moo Sul Kwan, we demonstrate our discipline by addressing instructors by ‘ma’am’ and ‘sir’ when we see them. In CTI we follow the rules of etiquette which include things like taking off your shoes before entering the workout area, bowing before entering, and paying attention in every class. These rules support kids ability to follow directions well and teach them to listen to everyone in their lives. Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo helps children become role models for their peers at the taekwondo campus and school. Students are taught to treat others with kindness, sympathy, and courtesy. When we are working in class we acknowledge other students’ progress and congratulate one another’s successes. These actions encourage others to follow in the same path and start behaving similarly. Leading by example is an easy way for students to learn self control and discipline. From a young age, kids are taught how to be good role models for their peers both in and outside of the workout room.

Likewise, martial arts classes allow students to move their bodies and it is a great way to exercise and be active at a young age. Getting energy out, as a kid, is important because it helps them to think and act better in school and at home. Taekwondo is very active and we get our energy out by doing warm ups, poomses (martial arts patterned movements), sparring, and basics (punching and kicking). Students are able to use their energy in a positive way and in a controlled environment while also learning and processing their actions. In CTI students do weekly classes, which builds a good habit of exercising and is crucial for their bodies’ health. Taekwondo builds strength because the workout/class has a routine focused on learning how to use your body. This is great for kids because they learn control while being active. Kids also have a lot of energy, taekwondo is a good way to use spare energy because it has a healthy impact on the body. Taekwondo also helps kids to get in the habit of exercising healthily because as they get older the importance of exercising also grows. Also, it’s fun! Taekwondo is a great way for kids to have fun and meet new people through sport.  

Moreover, taekwondo is very good for kids because it can help build new friendships. By learning to communicate through similarities and time spent in taekwondo kids also build relationships with others. 

I have made lots of friends throughout my time in Moo Sul Kwan taekwondo and they go back many years. I started taekwondo when I was 5, and I still see many of the same people to this day. CTI specifically has many events where students get to spend time with their peers like the Expo, Summer Camp, and Friday Fun Nights. It is very easy to make friends when everyone is in a workout and working together in games, self defense and more.

In conclusion, martial arts classes provides an amazing and beneficial sport for kids because of its helpful teaching tools that teach kids discipline and self-control Through fun workouts and games. Well simultaneously giving social skills that they will be able to use outside of taekwondo.

Why Martial Arts and CTI Are Great for Preschoolers

By India Ross, 2nd dan

When people think of martial arts, they often picture kicking and punching. But for preschoolers, martial arts offer so much more. Preschooler martial arts help young kids grow in every way: physically, emotionally, socially, and mentally. And they get to do it in a fun, safe, and positive environment.

While teaching martial arts to toddlers and preschoolers, I saw how much it helped them. I watched shy kids come out of their shell, kids with excess energy learn to focus it in a calmer way, and all kinds of kids feel proud of themselves as they learned and progressed. It’s more than just exercise it’s a powerful way to help kids become their best selves.

Preschoolers are still learning how to control their bodies mentally and physically. At Colorado Taekwondo Institute, kids can learn to kick, punch, stretch, and moving in ways that build balance, coordination, and flexibility. These basic moves help kids become more aware of how their bodies move and grow stronger every day. Martial arts also builds strength and energy. Even simple movements help kids learn ways to get the energy out. The more they practice, the more endurance they gain, which means they can play, learn, and move with more ease and confidence. Preschooler martial arts also helps with brain development. When preschoolers learn new moves, forms, or patterns, they’re using their memory and building focus. These skills help them do better in school and other activities. Each class gives kids the chance to focus their attention on one thing at a time. Whether it's standing still, remembering a move, or copying a pattern, they’re training their brain as much as their body. Over time, this helps them pay attention better in other areas of life too.

Preschooler martial arts also helps students grow emotionally. Every time a child learns something like new moves or earns their next belt, their confidence gets a boost. Reaching goals and progressing  makes them feel proud, and that feeling helps them believe in themselves not only in class but everywhere outside of class. Discipline is another important part of martial arts. In this case, discipline means being able to listen, follow directions, and stay focused. It also means showing up and trying your best even when something is hard. These lessons help kids in school, at home, and anywhere else they go.

Martial arts may seem like a individual sport, but preschoolers actually learn a lot about working with others. At Colorado Taekwondo Institute, kids are encouraged to cheer for each other at tournaments, learn to take turns, and practice learning with others. As well as learning good sportsmanship students learn all about respect. Preschoolers learn to respect their instructors, teachers, classmates, and themselves. They learn how to listen quietly, raise their hand and wait their turn, and treat others kindly. Martial arts can also help preschoolers learn how to cope with big feelings. Instead of getting angry or upset and throwing a tantrum, they learn to stay calm and use their words. They practice patience and learn that it's okay to feel frustrated, but that there are better ways to channel that energy.

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute isn’t just about teaching kicks and punches, it’s about helping preschoolers grow to be the best possible version of themselves. The teachers understand how get down at their level to help kids learn and to make every class fun, supportive, and full of learning. Whether you want your child to build confidence, stay active, or learn how to focus, martial arts is a great place to start. And at Colorado Taekwondo Institute, your child will be supported every step of the way.

Conifer Martial Arts

By Matthew Roberts, 2nd dan

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute is a great taekwondo organization, with various people, cultures, and so much more. With five campuses for learning Moo Sul Kwan martial arts educational excellence, you can't go wrong. Every school follows Moo Sul Kwan tradition while still teaching the core fundamentals of Taekwondo. While every one of the five campuses in Green Mountain, Littleton, Golden, Westminster, and Conifer is great, if you live in Evergreen, Conifer, or the surrounding Foothills region, the Conifer campus is the one for you!

First, the Conifer martial arts location has some of the finest instructors in all of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo. Our two main instructors are Ms. Eileen Lindner and Grandmaster Jim Sautel. Eileen Lindner is a fourth-degree black belt in Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo. She has been practicing Taekwondo for over 15 years and teaches students as young as two years old. She's also Conifer Campus' New Student Coordinator! 

Next is Grandmaster Jim Sautel, an 8th-degree Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo black belt, who has been practicing martial arts since 1975. Grandmaster Jim Sautel is also the founder and president of the Colorado Taekwondo Institute and has certified over 390 educated Moo Sul Kwan Martial Arts black belts. With over 65 years of martial arts experience combined, these two instructors can help anyone achieve their martial arts goals!

Secondly, the Conifer martial arts campus culture makes this campus a great and healthy learning environment. Here, everyone is ready to learn, pay attention, and try their best. To help each other, everyone here is caring and loving. For example, when I joined the teen/adult class, everyone was super welcoming and ready to help me become a better taekwondo practitioner. Plus Conifer campus is far into the mountains, being the campus at the highest altitude, we all have to push ourselves and help each other at this high altitude, making for a far stronger feeling of resilience and community. 

All of these different attributes, and more, come together and blend to help make learning Taekwondo and Martial arts far more fun. I have been working out at Conifer Campus for over 8 years now, and I can say that I will always love working out at Conifer. Every time I walk in through the doors, I feel a sense of relief and belonging I can't feel anywhere else, not even at a different campus, and especially at a different Martial Arts school. Why don't you come over to the Conifer martial arts campus and learn Taekwondo in a meaningful way that you will never forget?