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.

Why Families Choose Our Taekwondo Classes

Choosing a martial arts school is about more than finding a place to punch and kick, it’s about trust, values, and education. Classes at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute develop the whole person, not just physical skill. This has guided our school from the very beginning and continues to define why families choose us year after year.

The Most Established School in the Area

As one of the longest established taekwondo schools in the Denver metro area, we bring decades of experience, stability, and proven success. Longevity matters. It means our curriculum has been tested, refined, and strengthened over time. It means generations of students have grown with us, some returning as parents who now enroll their own children.

Our taekwondo classes aren’t trends or shortcuts. They are rooted in tradition, discipline, and thoughtful progression.

Professional Instructors Who Teach

Our instructors are professional educators as well as skilled martial artists. We don’t simply show techniques; we teach them. Every class is led with intention, clarity, and care, ensuring students understand not only how to perform a technique, but why it matters.

Education is at the heart of our taekwondo classes. Students learn goal-setting, perseverance, respect, and self-control alongside physical skills. These lessons extend far beyond the mat and into school, work, and daily life.

Structured, Dynamic, and Engaging

We believe the best learning happens in an environment that is both structured and dynamic. Our taekwondo classes follow a clear, consistent format so students always know what’s expected, but they are never boring. Classes are energetic, engaging, and designed to keep students focused and motivated.

This balance helps students build confidence while maintaining discipline, making progress measurable and meaningful at every level.

Taekwondo Classes for All Ages

We proudly offer taekwondo classes for all ages, from preschoolers to grandparents. Each program is thoughtfully designed to meet students where they are developmentally, physically, and emotionally.

• Younger students build coordination, listening skills, and confidence
• Teens develop focus, leadership, and resilience
• Adults gain fitness, stress relief, and personal growth

No matter the age, every student is treated with respect and encouraged to grow at their own pace.

A School with a Conscience

Above all, our school operates with purpose. We care deeply about our students, our families, and our community. Success for us isn’t just about belts earned. It’s about character built, confidence gained, and lives positively impacted.

Because we are consistent, professional, and deeply committed to education, our classes continue to stand out. If you’re looking for taekwondo classes that value structure, growth, and integrity, you’ve found the right place at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. 

Why I Think the CTI is Great for Taekwondo Classes

By Averie Chavez, junior 1st dan

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute is an amazing Taekwondo school because not only will it teach you self-defense, but it also has so many learning opportunities. CTI also fits best for being a Taekwondo school rather than any other martial art because not only do you focus on one type of thing like kicks you also get hand drills in rather than just focusing on one thing. CTI is great for a taekwondo classes because not only are you doing Taekwondo but while doing it CTI allows you to be able to make friends when you are practicing Taekwondo.

CTI fits best for being a Taekwondo school because not only do you just have self-defense, but you also have those important learning opportunities. Some examples CTI provides for learning opportunities that make them best for Taekwondo are learning how to use self-control before self-defense. This helps show why CTI is best for a Taekwondo school because in, some martial arts, there is no self-control before self-defense. With taekwondo classes there is a saying that is Ho-Shin, meaning self-control before self-defense. Again this proves why they are best for a Taekwondo school because they help you identify whether to use self-control or self-defense depending on the situation rather than straight up going into self-defense. Another example is they teach you to persevere and have indomitable spirit. This shows why CTI fits the job best for being a Taekwondo school because when CTI teaches you to not give up and keep indomitable spirit you're less likely to give up when you are practicing Taekwondo.

CTI is best for taekwondo classes because at most martial arts schools you mainly focus on one thing but CTI focuses on many different ways to train us. Some examples of this may be when we do basics instead of just hand techniques we do many types of kicks when we do basics. Another example of this is, CTI finds ways to incorporate other types of martial arts styles into what we do. Sometimes like when we do black belt club, during push ups we do different types of push ups that different types of martial arts do. Another thing CTI does to focus on many different moments our pattern movements, in which the CTI does three different sets. With Taekwondo you focus on many things and that's exactly what CTI does. That's another reason why CTI is best for being a Taekwondo school rather than any other martial arts school.

Also, while we focus and practice in our Taekwondo classes we are making friends who help us improve on our Taekwondo skills. Some examples of this are in other martial arts and other schools besides CTI, expect for you to only do your work and make friends outside of practice. CTI shows why they are the best for a Taekwondo school because not only while you do your work they allow for you to make friends. Another example of this is when you're at tournaments no matter how you do or what you place CTI still lets you make friends and they encourage your hard word. People are supportive and friendly, while we all work hard to earn our new belts. 

Taekwondo Classes

If you have been looking to pick up a martial art, you have come to the right place. The Colorado Taekwondo Institute is an outstanding school for taekwondo classes. Coming from Korea, Taekwondo is one of the original oriental martial arts along with karate, hapkido, and judo. Taekwondo is indigenous to Korea, which means this type of self-defense comes from and evolved solely in Korea. It has been around for thousands of years under a few different names such as So Bak. The word taekwondo also means “the art of smashing with the feet and hands” in Korean. While all martial arts share some similarities, taekwondo is far superior to other martial arts. The style taught at Colorado Taekwondo Institute called Moo Sul Kwan teaches great values to students, is a great physical fitness program, and has a friendly and welcoming environment.

The best part about Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo is the strong character it teaches its students. In the student manual, there is a list of the tenets of taekwondo. These values include courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. These tenets of taekwondo can be seen in everything we do. From the regular classes to the tournaments to the social events, we are constantly reminded of and taught these traits. Along with that, there are monthly homeworks that teach about other traits of a black belt such as honesty, healthy eating, and the importance of exercise. The most important value taekwondo teaches is how to work hard and the accomplishments that come with it. So, one great benefit of Taekwondo is the important principles it teaches.

Another important aspect of taekwondo classes is the physical workouts. Not only does Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo make you a better person mentally, but it also makes you physically fit. With all jumping jacks, stretches, and exercise, you are sure to workup a good sweat. There is focus on endurance training and muscular fitness in taekwondo. At the beginning of a typical class, we do jumping jacks, which elevate your heart rate and get you breathing. Then we do stretches, which prevent injuries and energize you. In this section, we do pushups and sit-ups, and these help with all of the techniques and help your muscular fitness. Later on, we do the basic kicking and punching routine, which again helps with endurance. This physical fitness is a great help to other sports as well as living a healthy lifestyle.

Lastly, the environment created by the Colorado Taekwondo Institute is a family friendly and inviting atmosphere. At the CTI, even with the competitions, we are all one big family. Even after your first class, you are guaranteed to meet a few new people. The CTI welcomes almost all ages from your five year old child to your seventy year old grandma. There are many different classes that cater to the varying ages and abilities of students. The biggest sign of the friendly environment though is the act of shaking hands, which students do all the time. At the end of every class, the students shake hands and tell each other good job. Even after a fierce sparring match at one of our tournaments, the competitors have a genuine handshake after and show mutual respect. As you can see, the CTI provides a positive environment to learn the great martial art that is taekwondo.

Taekwondo Classes at the CTI

By Makayla Trapp, 2nd dan

Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo is a great activity for kids of all ages.  The Colorado Taekwondo Institute offers Taekwondo classes that provide physical activity and teach discipline in a fun and safe way to kids of all ages.  At the Colorado Taekwondo Institute kids learn martial arts techniques that can help them defend themselves in certain emergency situations.  Kids also learn how to respect the people around them (parents, instructors, adults, peers, and themselves) and are taught to always try their best and pay attention inside and out of class. 

At the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, all of the instructors aim to teach each and every student in in an effective, fun, and safe way.  Instructors get to know each child individually and know when each child is trying their very best.  Students and instructors learn to gain each other’s trust and each kid really feels that their instructor cares about their progress.  Every instructor’s goal is to teach each child in such a way that they leave feeling great about their abilities.  While instructors correct kids if they are doing something wrong, they also strive to build the child’s self-esteem.  The instructors at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute understand that each kid has different skill levels, and work with each student to bring out the best martial artist in each student. 

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute also offers many different activities outside of classes that students are encouraged to take part in.  These activities and events include tournaments, expos, summer camp, day camps, and many others.  Tournaments provide kids the opportunity to compete against each other in a friendly and safe environment.  All students are encouraged to congratulate their fellow competitors regardless of what place they get in competitions.  Tournaments are a great way to teach kids to be humble if they win and to still keep their head up even if they do not win.  This is because the main focus of the tournaments is not to win, but rather to try your best and participate in the CTI community.  The expo is an event that usually occurs at the beginning of summer and takes place in the mountains.  This event provides kids with the opportunity to learn in an environment outside of class and learn with students who they might have never met.  Along with that, kids take many different classes at expo that are taught by different instructors and cover many different topics and techniques.  Summer camp is a camp where kids stay in the mountains without their parents and provides a fun opportunity for kids to learn taekwondo and do many more fun camps activities.  Day camp is provided in summer, winter, and fall and usually runs for a week.  Students can attend for half days or full days and are given the chance to practice and perfect their techniques.  The CTI also provides other activities and events, such as demonstrations, special workouts and symposiums for upper belts, tests, and family events such as the annual picnic. 

By doing taekwondo classes through the Colorado Taekwondo Institute, both kids and parents meet new people and families.  Kids are exposed to an atmosphere where getting to know their fellow peers is encouraged and most students make many new friends through taekwondo.  By participating in events, the families of students also meet other parents and families, strengthening the bond between their child and taekwondo.  Overall, Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo is a wonderful activity for kids and can help them in many different areas of their life. 

Martial Arts Lessons for You: Littleton Edition

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute has five different locations including Littleton, Lakewood, Westminster, Golden and Conifer, all providing educational Martial Arts training within a positive environment. The different aspects of learning include how to use self-control, build self-confidence, and maintain a healthy lifestyle; definitely the best when it comes to martial arts classes in Littleton.

The Littleton school is located on South Simms Street, in between Belleview Avenue and Bowles Avenue, within a shopping center with other businesses including Iwayama Sushi and Pump N Save gas station. There are also quite a few elementary, middle, and high schools in the neighboring areas, some of which are: Westridge Elementary, Montessori Peaks Academy, Mount Carbon Elementary, Summit Ridge Middle School, and Dakota Ridge High School.

The Littleton location first opened in 1994 with students coming from surrounding areas, especially around the southwest metro-Denver area. Students come to train with many highly educated, experienced, and energetic black belts. The campus provides classes for children as young as 2 years old, along with kids, teens, and adults of all ages. The Littleton school has ten fully accredited black belts that have all been participating at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute for over 6 years, and all began as white belts at this campus. These black belts instruct and assist, and also continue their personal training at the Littleton campus. The head instructor at Littleton is Master John T. Sautel, who is a 6th degree black belt in Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo. He is an exceptional teacher of all ages with over 30 years of experience as a martial arts instructor, and is also a licensed Jefferson County School middle school teacher.

An exclusive attribute of the Littleton school is the design of the workout rooms and lobby. This includes two spacious workout areas with custom-built suspended floors, which allow the students to amplify their work out and participation abilities. These areas are also carpeted to enable a good learning experience in a comfortable environment. The large work out room includes equipment rack shelves for students to put their workout bags on while engaging in class; this gives them easy access to equipment they may need during training. Both workout areas include all utensils that are needed for instructors to ensure an educational and fun-filled class.

There is a pro-shop in the lobby area that includes student manuals, sparring equipment, and required patches. There are also key rings, t-shirts, and equipment bags to complete the fulfilled experience at the CTI Littleton location. There is a TV in the lobby that exhibits screenings of past Colorado Taekwondo events including tournaments, summer Expo’s, and Camp’s that show experiences and immense learning that happen while participating in these events. The lobby area also includes a place for parents, friends, and family to sit and watch as the students participate in classes apart in a setting that won’t interfere with their learning. The smaller work out room for the toddlers also includes a space set aside for parents to watch. The CTI staff and students, along with their families, make it possible to have a family-friendly environment.

The Colorado Taekwondo Institute has a mission to: “Encourage world-class leadership through educational excellence and Moo Sul Kwan martial arts traditions.” The devotion of the CTI black belts and instructors ensures that students will be educated in a positive learning environment to be developed into leaders with many skills that can be carried over to family, school, and the community. With over 30 years of excellence, the Colorado Taekwondo Institute can promise the finest teaching of any educated-based taekwondo classes in Littleton.

For more information on the Littleton school, visit www.coloradotaekwondo.com or call at 303-979-2621.