Knowledge, Creativity and School Pride

By Kyle Feagans, purple belt

Black Belt Team in Munich, Germany

There are many different ways to gain knowledge and creativity.  The process of gaining knowledge and creativity begins at an early age.  We gain knowledge and creativity from our elementary, junior high, high school and college teachers and professors.  They teach us to listen, read and think.  They encourage us to keep pushing, to be persistent to achieve our dreams and goals.  Fortunately and unfortunately knowledge, at times, is gained through life experiences.  Many of our most difficult life challenges are the ones that provide us with the most knowledge…knowledge that one day we can pass along to those we encounter through our life journey.

We gain and share knowledge and creativity in our work and home environment.  We are always surrounded by leaders, mentors, friends and family with years of experience.  They teach us the knowledge and creativity that they have gained in raising a family or in the occupation, business and industry we choose to pursue from their journey through life.  Like those before us, we will gain knowledge and creativity from the “School of Hard Knocks.” Then, at some point in time we will be provided with the opportunity to pass our experience along too.

Advancement of knowledge also brings creativity.  Creativity in itself is a sign of knowledge.  The art of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo is an example of Knowledge and Creativity that has been passed along from generation to generation and from person to person.  Many of the poomse we learn are very old.  They have been created by a diverse group of people.  Their knowledge and creativity is evident in the line of movements, pattern and meaning of the poomse.  If it were not for the passion of those that posses the knowledge and creativity of taekwondo to pass it along to those with the passion to gain the knowledge and creativity the art would not be what it is today.

School pride can be shown in many ways.  It can be shown by the way we care for and encourage our fellow students.  It can be shown by our ability to listen to the upper belts, black belts and instructors that have a passion to help us meet our MSK Taekwondo goals.  School pride is seen because we treat others the way we want to be treated.  Our school pride can be seen in the way take care of the school itself.  We keep the changing and workout rooms as well as the workout equipment clean and organized.  We keep the lobby area clean for family, friends and guest so that they have an enjoyable and comfortable place to watch their family and friends workout.

I am very thankful for my family and home.  Being a father of two, while it has many challenges, it also bring a lot of joy and laughter to my life.  I continue to learn just how much knowledge and creativity it takes to raise children.  A creative solution to a problem that worked one day may not work the next day.  It always fascinates me when getting together with friends that conversations regarding our kids always comes up.  We talk about their happenings at school, their hobbies and discipline struggles.  It is during these conversations that I gain knowledge and get creative ideas that may work in my home.  I am thankful for the knowledge and creative advice that I get from my  family too.  Much of the advice they give is to remind me that they are a lot like me…now I understand why I have to be so creative and must gain so much knowledge.

What I Try to Do

By Don Symington, blue belt

From the August Homework - Knowledge, Creativity and School Pride

I often share my knowledge by teaching or mentoring others, especially in areas where I may be considered an expert or have greater knowledge.  This is related to my position at work where I often have to provide leadership and technical advice or direction.  I share by showing, advising, developing training materials and teaching.  I also share overall knowledge by how I act and approach situations.  I share knowledge at MSK by helping others or practicing with others, often answering questions or directing them to those with the knowledge and skill, if it is above my knowledge.

I try to act as a role model to others, both at the CTI Campus where I have younger students, or those of a lower belt as well as those that may be looking up to me as an adult.  I try to lead by example at work and home with great work ethics, working hard to achieve what I have set out to achieve.  By doing this I hopefully am helping show others what is right and how they can show the school pride.  I never disrespect the school or people and would not be afraid of standing up for the school or those wanting to be supported in showing school pride.  I hopefully help represent what the school pride is and strives to achieve.

I will try and spend more time and effort treating my family in ways that I would want to be treated.  As our family grows older my sons have gained much knowledge and experience and I need to understand that they have learned and developed into individuals that should be treated as peers more than children.  I should apply the training I have developed to listen more and lead by example more while maintaining a lighter side that takes time to try more creative things such as cooking and laughing more.

CTI Picnic Time

The summer season of 2011 - starting to wind down . . . what a fantastic summer!  Thinking back on the last couple of months makes your virtual CTI head spin . . . we got so much accomplished this summer that the fall promises to be something special.  Some of the things we did in the past past sixty days . . .the Moo Sul Kwan Summer Expo XXVII in Colorado Springs, Camp MSK '11 at Snow Mountain Ranch, the CTI Black Belt Team World Tour '11 in Germany / Austria, the Buffalo Bill Days Parade in Golden, CTI Promotion Tests, Water World, Special Workouts and Events.  We were so busy, the summer seemed to go by extremely fast.

Taekwondo Kids Having Fun!

So how do we end up a summer such as this?  Rest?  No!  We have a picnic!

Around 250 students, instructors, family members and friends attended our 4th Annual CTI Picnic at Tanglewood Park in Golden!  There were games, contests and some of the best food of the summer at our annual get-together.

At the picnic, we competed in throwing games like the Softball Toss, Frisbee Toss, Shoe Kickin
g, Ultimate Frisbee and the Football Toss.  Later, everyone's favorite, the Catch the Water Balloon Slingshotted by Three Dads, got everyone soaked and laughing as they tried to catch water filled balloons launched to the stratosphere!

Special thanks goes to everyone who came.  The food that was brought was outstandingly delicious and we had perfect weather and the best of company.  Thanks to the Golden Campus and Mr. Evans for hosting us in our annual day in the park.

Parade Poetically Projected

By Holly Madayag, red belt

The students woke early Saturday morning to a beautiful sunny day
Not a single cloud to threaten rain;
We donned our uniforms in the usual way
And prepared to show the masses how hard we train.

We anxiously waited for our turn

Our Parade Demo Team!

On a back street in downtown Golden;
And ever so quickly we did learn
That we were third in line and holdin’.

There were lots of folks and little shade
Excitement filled the air;
It was the annual Buffalo Bill’s Day Parade
And the CTI was proudly there!

We were honored to see some of the many other groups paradin’
Such an amazing sight;
Cowboys on horseback masqueradin’
Gymnasts backspringing with all their might!

And then it was time, it was our school’s chance
We marched in tall and proud;
Then each of us assumed our best low stance
With kihaps bold and loud!

As we neared the judges, we stood entirely still
Then Master Albrechtson gave the commands;
And we began breaking, poomse and a walking drill
You could hear a pin drop in the stands.

And in the crowd there was a little boy
We’ll just call him Tommy;
He watched in awe as the black belts broke
Then I saw him tug her shirt, point and say, “Look, Mommy!”

It was at that moment I surely knew
As I watched him hold his hand out for a flyer;
That this is why we do what we do –
And why our spirit will never tire.

I hope “Tommy’s” mom will sign him up
And he trains hard and becomes strong;
And then in next year’s parade he could march with us
And the crowd would get a chance to see his best Tae Geuk Il Chang!

CTI Taekwondo: A Journey to 30 - Something Again

By Jim Intriglia, orange belt

“Hey Dad, want to go with us on a day hike to the Square Top summit by Guanella Pass? It'll be fun! So were the thoughts of my seventeen year-old son, Dakotah. It was my son’s birthday; he was looking for something unique and fun for us to do on this special day

I thought back in the not too distant past, when the family drove up to Mt. Evans one bright sunny day. Upon arrival at the summit of Mt. Evans, I stepped out of the car and took a few steps. It then occurred to me that I could barely breathe. After walking a short distance, I suddenly began to feel dizzy, and though I would pass out at any moment. I sat down and tried to catch by breathe and shake the feeling of dizziness that was growing worse by the minute.

When I last visited Mt. Evans, I was 49 years old, weighed 235 pounds and sported a 38 inch waist. With a BMI index over 30, I was considered obese for my height (6’ 0”) and in poor physical shape. I suffered from asthma and was just diagnosed with sleep apnea a few years before, due mostly to being obese. Skipping forward to the present day, at 53 years of age, I weigh 213 pounds, have a 36-inch waist, and a BMI of 28. So what changed? In 2009, I decided to get back in shape, so I joined the Colorado Taekwondo Institute (Conifer campus) and began training.

Fast-forward to the present day, and back to my son’s question as to whether I wanted to hike to Square Top, at  an elevation about 13,800 feet above sea level. The last time I had completed such a day hike in the high country, I was thirty-something and in much better shape. I tipped  the scales at only 190 pounds. “I dunno, son. I am in much better shape since I began Taekwondo two years ago, but I don't know if I am in any kind of shape to do even a short high-altitude day hike. What's the elevation at the top of “Square Top”?

“13, 800 ft,” my son replied, “but you don't have to hike all the way up to the top if you don't feel up to it.”. So off we went, accompanied by a good friend, his seven-year old son, and their trusty mountain-hiking St. Bernard, Gracie.

Arriving at the top of Guanella Pass, we parked the Jeep and had a look at the peak we were going to attempt to top that day.

“That looks to be a good half-day hike to the top”, I shared with our group. “It's actually a couple of hours hike... not very far; a good preparatory hike for a fourteener”, said Deron, our good friend and hike guide for the day.

Looking at the summit and the long trail to it, I thought of the last time I had successfully completed a day hike like this: ten or fifteen years ago.

It wasn't long before I was caught-up in all of the beauty that surrounded us as we hiked to the summit. After hiking about an hour, we arrived at the steep part of the ascent to Square Top. “Now it will get a little tougher”, our friend Deron observed. As we hiked toward the top, I was looking mainly down at the ground, figuring out where I should place my foot next to get a good grip on the ever-increasing slope.

As we ascended, my breathing was quickening, though my muscles were not all that stressed. My day pack didn't seem all that heavy, even after walking a mile or so on varying terrain. We still had a hour or so to go, and I was still concerned that I would not be in any kind of shape to make it all the way to the top.

“That wasn't so bad, was it Dad?”

Huh? What? I glanced at my watch and realized that an hour had passed. Wow - how time flies when you are having fun!

I was having no trouble breathing, the muscles in my legs were barely tired, and I had barely broken a sweat during our trek. Glancing up at my son, I realized we had nearly reached the summit.

“What's our altitude?” I asked. “13,400 ft; I scouted a path to the summit; it about a hundred yards ahead,” said Dakotah.

Three hours later, we were all back at our vehicles looking at where we had all been-- the summit of Square Top, Guanella Pass. This hike was a piece of cake compared to one of our typical Taekwondo workouts, I thought to myself.

From my trek in the mountains, I learned that my Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo training had conditioned me in mind, body and spirit, much more than I had expected. I surely would have never been able to complete such a day hike several years ago, before I began training at the Colorado Taekwondo Institute. I am thankful for the results I have achieved thus far, and look forward to getting into even better shape as I progress in the CTI Taekwondo program.

Big Rocks

Time Management

Franklin Covey has an excellent video of time management entitled “Big Rocks” used in the book and training series 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. In this video a person from the crowd is asked to place several large rocks in a container already full of sand. For a few minutes the participant tries to no avail. Fast forward a bit and we discover the key to fitting it all into the container is to place the big rocks in the container first. Not only do they all fit, but the sand and a gallon of water will also fit in the same container.

This concept is the basis of the Franklin Covey time management system. It also has its practical application within Taekwondo. Some of our “Big rocks” in life might be Quality time with family, Work, School, Homework, Meals and personal upkeep. As a Taekwondo student aspiring to become a black belt or achieving the next level of Black Belt, daily workouts need to be a big rock. How do you fit it all in?

Start with making a plan for success. For everyone, a proper diet, rest and time quality time with family need to be our top priority. If we do not feed and rest our body properly we will be unable to accomplish anything else with a measure of a high level of success. Family is also very important. I wonder if we truly appreciate just how much our family and friends play into our success in life.

A student’s next priority should be homework and studying. Without acceptable grades, we are missing a vital piece of our Colorado Taekwondo Institute mission statement, “Educational Excellence.” For adults, work is often the next priority. Between sleep, personal upkeep, work and spending time with our family, it does not leave much time for anything else. But consider this. Even if we are left with 10 minutes at the end of the day, it is enough time to complete all of our Chang Han Poomse. 10 minutes even allows for up to a 30 second break between each poomse. In fact you have enough time to do almost a minute and a half of pushups and sit-ups at the end. What type of impact would an extra 10 minutes of Poomse a day have on our training?

I believe this concept of big rocks can even be applied within the task of practicing Taekwondo. Discuss it with your instructor, but the primary “Big Rocks” would be Jumping Jacks (Cardio), Basics, Poomse and Monthly homework. If these more important tasks are attended to, we would be amazed at how easily it would be to fit in tasks like self defense, one steps, advanced self defense, advanced kicks, articles, etc.

As with anything, in order for this concept to work we must consider three things:

• Take care of our “Big Rocks” first.
• Everything must have balance and be done in moderation.
• Family is our key to success. 

CAMP MSK TOPS THE LIST!

Camp MSK '11 was definitely one to remember!  The Camp started out with perfect weather and it only got better.

We started out with a flurry of action and learning.  By the time the first two days were over, we had ridden our bikes, tested our black belt candidates, started putting together our team demonstrations, hit the zip line, rode the horses, climbed the wall, tye-dyed our shirts, worked on one-step sparring, self-defense, basics, exercise, poomse, sparring, swam in the pool, went to an outside movie, played the CTI Kickball Championships, performed musical breaking and so much more!

Throughout the week, Cindy Tusa kept us well fed as always with the help of Pam Sautel and Master Jones.  (Master William R. Jones, 5th dan, was our special guest at Camp.)   After each meal, one of the Camp Teams was responsible for clean-up.

Square dancing took place on Tuesday evening at the Legett building for the older campers, and it was up to it's usual excitable pace.  People could hear them for miles around as they laughed and shouted the session away to the sounds of a professional square dance caller.

As the Camp MSK week rolled on, everyone go a lot accomplished.  The best way to find out about everything that happened is to ask the lucky ones who had the chance to attend this year's Camp MSK.

Best Taekwondo Camp to Date!

Here is a list of the participants by teams.  (Note that each team was named after one of our first six Vice-Presidents of the United States of America)

Team John Adams - Freddy Sautel, Chris Wallace, Brendon Dodson, Kelly Franson, Nate Watkins, Riley Leischner, Emma Pinsinski, Andrew Madayag, Zach Greaves, Kameron Evans, Richie Tusa, Nicholas Boender, Caela McCartney, Jacobi Field and Lydia Lincke

Team Thomas Jefferson - Erik Albrechtson, Bridgest Sautel, Claire Snyder, Damian Rupp, Kai Wong, Caleb Feagnas, McKenna Louth, Nathan Rockenfeller, Justin Lautryp, Owen Hartmann, Alan Fernandez, Anna Sparlin, Zachary Boender, Torrey Tusa and Beatrice Lincke

Team George Clinton - Karissa Mowry, Stephen Sautel, Sierra Field, Maggie Wingate, Coghan Spery, Michael Madayag, Kathleen Sautel, Emma Hartmann, Peyton Brauch, TJ Gutierrez, Johnny Williams, Mitchell Kelley, Kelsey Smith and Zachary Outcalt

Team Aaron Burr, Jr.  - Alice Meyung, Michael Sandusky, Annie Sautel, Delaney Zandin, Bryton Jones, Ian Randall, Cody Crawshaw, Cole Ernst, Allison Lawrence, Addie Spery, Lauren Lundeen, Nico Trilk, Dante Hulin and Baxter Wilson

Team Elbridge T. Gerry - Jamie Sautel, Brian Steward, Patrick Vargo, Erik Ondrejko, Ryan Lindner, Jocelyn Wallen, Zac Johannes, Collin Kretz, Rachel Rockenfeller, Julianne Todd, Thoedore Lincke, Nathan Orwick, Josephine Hobson, Elise Smioth and Keoni Derosia

Team Daniel D. Tompkins - Clayton Garner, Abdu Kikhia, Hope Morgan, Thomas Sautel, Eilidh Spery, Jack Eddy, Eric Bear, Sean Lawlor, Lexi Johannes, Anna Good, Mason Louth, Gwen Gutierrez, Mya Field, Caleb Johnson and Elijah Nelson

Running this year's Camp MSK were:  Master Erik R. Albrechtson, Master William R. Jones, Master John T. Sautel, Master Merinda J. Sautel and Grandmaster James M. Sautel

Click here for a few photographs or this special week! http://www.coloradotaekwondo.com/page/show/277786-camp-msk

A Lifestyle Choice

Student Doing a Block at Camp MSK

By Kelsey Smith, blue belt

It isn't a feeling or an attitude: it's a lifestyle choice.

The first thing you need to understand is that "integrity" is more than being honorable or honest. It isn't an attitude or feeling you can have fleetingly; in short, integrity is something that affects all aspects of your being, and everything that you do. It isn't a feeling or an attitude: it's a lifestyle choice.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines integrity as "(a) firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility." This is a good definition, but it does not emphasize the weight of of the importance that integrity holds. It is not something that can be done half-time or with half-effort. It's all or none, plain and simple. Integrity is a trait that affects all of our choices, our ideas, and our judgement. You either have integrity, or you don't. There is no in-between.

Like I said before, integrity affects everything, from being honest about our age, to honoring the societal rules and etiquette and having the courage and honesty to admit when you've done something wrong. Holding yourself to a higher level of honor and honesty at all times is only a part of integrity. There is also the matter of how you treat yourself. How can you treat others with respect and honesty if you don't respect or be honest with yourself?

I try to hold myself with integrity, but it's difficult. One such occasion where I was tempted to just let my integrity hit the ground was during a gym class basketball tournament. The winners would receive 50 points of extra credit, guaranteeing a passing grade in the class. My team was in one of the final rounds. The opposing team lost control of the ball, and just as it was about to go out of bounds, I touched the ball, trying to catch it. The referee didn't see me touch the ball, and called it an out on the opposing team. But I knew that wasn't right. It was their ball. My team members told me not to tell, to just let it drop this one time. They needed those 50 points, they said. Don't make us lose, they said. But I wouldn't hear any of it. If I let this go, what else would I be excusing? I had to maintain integrity at all times, not just when it was convenient for me. I went to the referee and told him about the ball. In the end, we lost the tournament that day. But I didn't lose my integrity.

It's hard. It's going to push you to the limits of what you know is right, and what you know you want. There will be hundreds of times where you want to just "forget" integrity and let things be as they are. But despite these temptations, you must push through, and hold to your integrity. Because at the end of the day, either you have it, or you don't. And as a member of Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo, I want to have the honor of being able to say that I am one of the handful left in this world who believe in true integrity.

Source:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity

A Very Special Flag

Last Camp MSK, each of the Campers wrote a letter to a former Moo Sul Kwan brown belt and one of GM Sautel's first students at his first teaching assignment, the Perryville MSK.  His name is Robert Jones and he is now a Lt. Colonel.

Col. Jones was serving in Iraq at the time of the letter writing. Every few days a few letters were mailed to Col. Jones and the impact on him and his fellow soldiers was enough for them to send us a very special flag.

At Camp MSK '11 during the final demos for our parents, family members and friends, Master William R. Jones, brother of Col. Jones, presented this special flag and a plaque explaining the situation.

The plaque reads:

Flag of the United States of America

Presented to

The Students of Colorado Taekwondo Institute

This American Flag was flown over the Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Baghdad, Iraq, during Operation New Dawn on Veteran's Day 2010.  Thank you for your support of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen presently deployed.

Joseph R. Allen, CSM, USA  Command Sergeant Major, United States Forces - Iraq

Lloyd J. Austin III, Commanding General, United States Forces - Iraq

Tournaments

Girl Performing a Kick

Tournaments are a perfect opportunity to make friends, become better with technique and form, and show everyone what you have learned! Imagine a boisterous gym full of kihaps (korean for yell) and power.  A CTI tournament is both a place for competition and fun.  Here you can make friends and bring family to watch.  There are many advantages of going to a tournament.

To begin with, a CTI tournament is the best chance to make friendships and meet new people.  Also, a tournament is an opportunity to have fun.  Since a tournament has lots of competition, the competitors can understand sportsmanship too.

Another purpose of the CTI tournament is to show your instructors and family all you have learned and achieved.  We can learn from our mistakes at our tournament then become better in MSK Taekwondo. Also, at the tournament, when you compete, you can see if you were prepared for competition.

Lastly, CTI tournaments are important because preparing for them improves and advances your training. Tournaments give students a goal to work hard for, so they will compete will. This extra preparation training will take them to the next level.

To sum it up, CTI tournaments are important for many reasons.  It is a perfect opportunity to make friends, become better with technique and form, and show everyone what you have learned.  Tournaments are an essential part to Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo.