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About a month ago, Mueller’s Martial Arts started a new round of training new instructors in the NMAA’s NXT Level Instructor Program. The students invited to join the program showed leadership, confidence, and the potential to impact others. Because of their dedication to taekwondo and exemplary attitude each day, they get the exclusive opportunity to be a part of the NXT Level.

The goal of the program is to teach students how to become taekwondo instructors, just like the people that taught them. Each class they learn the life skills, instructors skills, and knowledge needed to continue to move through their certifications. Not only that, but they learn how to teach drills, forms, and lead classes.

If you’ve seen more junior instructors on the floor during classes, that’s why! They are training each day by shadowing and helping assist classes so that they can learn on the job. We believe that sometimes the best was to master something is to teach it, so in the process, they are becoming better martial artists themselves.

Throughout the program they will earn collars based on their knowledge and experience. That’s why when you see someone with a different color collar on their uniform, you know they are on the path to become certified instructors. The goal is to eventually reach the highest collar, which is a black collar. In order to get there, students have to test their knowledge for Grand Master and Master Horn to prove that they are worthy of being the highest ranked instructors in the organization.

The program is more than about becoming an instructor though. The students that take part in the program learn how to speak in front of large groups, become leaders, and gain confidence in their own voice. They take these skills into everyday life and become leaders in the classroom, growing up to become the future leaders of the world. These skills can translate into becoming amazing teachers, managing teams, and of course, becoming taekwondo instructors.

We’re so excited about this team of NXT Level Instructors and we can’t wait to see what impact they make not only in the dojang, but also in the world! To learn more about our program, click here.

There is only one constant in life, that things are always changing. We’re always in flux, the seasons change and we grow up—changing along the way. Changes are almost never easy. In fact, they are mostly tough and push us in ways that sometimes put us on the edge of breaking. But with taekwondo on your side, you can embrace life’s changes and actually flourish through them.

Changes:

When you step into taekwondo class for the first time, you begin as a white belt. You likely know nothing about Martial Arts and are jumping into the deep end of something new. Your life is about to change. Every day from then on, you embrace changes. You learn new material, earn new belts, and embrace life skills to become a better person. While changing in taekwondo, you change in your everyday life. You become healthier, stronger, more confident, and a better person. These lessons teach you not to fear change, but to embrace it instead.

Community:

One of the hardest part of life changes is feeling like you’re alone. If you’re part of a dojang, you are part of a large community. You have your fellow students, instructors, and a world wide organization behind your back. They want to support, encourage, and uplift you no matter what you’re going through. Built with the mentality of a black belt, they can help you on your journey of changing, in or outside of the school. They are your friends, but also your family.

Resilience:

In taekwondo, no matter how good you are, there will be times that challenge you. It might even make you want to quit. That’s the same way with life isn’t it? You will fail belt testings, lose at tournaments, and struggle to master a new skill. These failures and setbacks feel like a catastrophe, but in reality, they teach you how to be resilient. Those lessons transcend off the mat and into your real life, where moments will undoubtedly threaten your entire world. But in training, you’ve learned not only to keep showing up, but to grow from the hard moments and become the optimy of resilience.

At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we want you to know that you are stronger than you realize. No matter what changes you are going through, just know that you’re not alone. You have a whole community of martial artists behind you and your taekwondo family. You’ve learned how to embrace changes because you are resilient. We love you! You got this!

Last Friday Mueller’s Martial Arts kicked off with a new competition team! Comp team is one of our favorite parts of taekwondo, and we’re so excited to welcome the previous members as well as new people to the team! It is both an honor and a privilege to get invited to the team, but there is always a possibility that they could be taken off or not invited back if they don’t meet the high expectations we hold.

In order to make the team, students have to go above and beyond the call of action. These are students who have shown up for class consistently, rarely missing a day. When they are in class, they always work hard—putting in more effort than most other students. They’re always going above and beyond the call of action, pushing their limits each and every day. Most importantly, they have exceptional attitudes. They consistently have a good attitude and are the models for how other students should also act in class. They never complain, always listen, and are a role and friend to others.

When they’ve proven all of those traits, they are asked to join the competition team. While on the team they get a special uniform that they get to wear to any class, which shows they are part of the team to others. They have their own class to train in every Friday, where they get extra attention—but also have to work harder and push themselves further than in a normal class.

To stay on the team, they have to compete in every regional tournament. That means that every time there is a tournament in Colorado, they have to be there. They have to show up for every single comp team class, only missing for emergencies. During the summer, they participate in champ camp, where they train for three hours a day, three days a week in addition to their other classes. They have to be ready and willing to work hard and push past their limits. They have to be an example for other students and have a good attitude for every class. If they fail to meet any of these expectations, they will be asked to leave the team or will not be invited back next year.

It’s a great honor to be on the comp team, but it comes with a lot of work and commitment. We’re so proud of the students who were invited to join this year, and we can’t wait to see who will be invited next year. For now, welcome to COMP TEAM!

Mueller’s Martial Arts’s tournament is this weekend! This tournament is extremely special and unlike any other tournament in the fact that it is co-hosted with Venture Martial Arts! This is the opportunity for the two schools to come together and show that together we rise! Not only that, but students from all around the state of Colorado and those traveling in the National Martial Arts Alliance will come together to compete.

The tournament starts at 8:00am on Saturday and will be held at the Volk Gymnasium at the Colorado School of Mines. Students of all ranks and ages will get the chance to come home with a big, heavy medal shaped like a phoenix rising. More importantly, they’ll get to show off everything they’ve learned and see who the best of the best is.

Tournaments are an amazing opportunity for growth. Students are pushed out of their comfort zones and go in front of dozens of people to show what they have learned. They gain confidence, public speaking skills, and showmanship just by competing one time. Even if they don’t place, they still learn perseverance and never give up. It’s a challenge, but to prove to themselves that they can do it gives them one of the best feelings of accomplishment.

It’s also a chance to meet other people. Since students compete from all around the state, they get to meet and foster friendships with people they don’t see everyday. Some of these students become their friends for life. They get to share knowledge, competitiveness, and a passion for what they both love- taekwondo.

This tournament is particularly special because as we said before, it’s a partnership tournament. It’s the chance for Venture and Mueller’s to come together to make something incredibly great. By working together, we are uplifting and showing the power of the entire organization. We are all in this together, to support, to appreciate, and encourage each other. Plus, there will be a food truck- 5280 Burger Bar- and a dessert truck- Suz Cookie Jar Rescue. Who doesn’t love that? Most importantly, it’s to show the power of working together because TOGETHER WE RISE!

This weekend is black belt testing! Students across the state of Colorado as well as from Mueller’s Martial Arts will be testing for their black belts! It’s an exciting experience that is the culmination of all the hard work they have put in since starting at a white belt. In order to earn that belt though, they have to go through a great deal of challenges which pushes their limits.

In order to become a black belt, students obviously have to earn all of their previous belts. They had to start as a white belt, show up to class, and achieve each belt along the way. Because of this, they are required to know each belt’s meaning for their black belt testing. Each belt has a word and definition associated with it that they have to memorize and be able to recite upon command.

Speaking of definitions, testers also have to memorize the meanings of over forty Korean words. These are words like front kick, punch, attention, and spar. Like the belt meanings, they have to be able to recite the meaning of the words on command. Memorizing these words is an important nod to the foundations and beginnings of taekwondo.

That’s not the only way they show respect to the beginnings. They have to write an essay about the history of taekwondo or the history of the Korean flag. It’s not just about writing though. Students also have to prepare a speech about what getting their black belt means to them or thanking the people that have got them there. They have to present their speech in front of lower ranks to inspire them to also become black belts.

Because taekwondo is a fitness-based sport, testers have to complete what is called a tough test. They have to do as many jumping jacks, pushups, sit ups, and burpees as they can for a minute. They also have to run a mile as fast as they can. Their scores are tallied together and have to be high enough to pass their fit test. It’s both a mental and physical challenge.

Perhaps the most important and most difficult part of black belt testing is the memorization and performance of the forms. Students have six forms they have to memorize and perform to perfection. It may seem like a simple task, but hundreds of moves with perfect stances and techniques is a true test of a black belt. One mistake and they fail their all or nothing testing.

All or nothing testing is their final test before black belt testing. They have to be able to do everything- recite the definitions, show their perfect forms, and show that they have the mental and physical strength to become a black belt. One mistake and they fail, having to try again the next night.

Getting your black belt is one of the hardest feats you may ever accomplish in your life. But doing so will teach you that with hard work and dedication you can do anything. When you tie that belt around your waist, no one will ever be able to take it away from you. You will always be able to say, “I’m a black belt.”

Black belt testing is this Saturday, September 14th at the Venture Martial Arts school in the Flatirons Mall. Come support our students in achieving this dream!

In class, we teach our students the concept of “I can do it!” It may seem like a simple phrase, but yelling it as loud as you can definitely instills a sense of confidence. Whether they’re getting ready to break a board, try a challenging move, or get pushed out of their comfort zone, these four words have a profound impact on their minds and bodies. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we’ll always believe that you can do it.

Now let’s be honest, when you have a little dragon yell, “I can do it!”, they’re likely going to believe themselves immediately and complete the task. Even if they don’t get it right away, they will try and try again until they are successful. Believing in themselves and then seeing the reward is enough for their young minds to gain confidence and empowerment.

However, as we get older, we tend to lose our confidence. Whether we fail at multiple things, are bullied, or have pulled ourselves into a comparison game because of the things we see on social media, our belief in ourselves tends to decrease drastically. Sometimes when called to action, we hesitate or refuse because we don’t believe that we can do it, or we are afraid of judgment from our peers.

That’s where taekwondo training comes in. Every time you learn something new, you’re becoming an even smarter and better version of yourself! Think back to all the times you were nervous about martial arts- your first class, first testing, first time competing- you showed up and did all of those things! Were there days you failed? Sure! Everyone fails at some point in their life. But you got knocked down and continued to show up- you showed true perseverance.

That thought process should carry you throughout every aspect of your life. If you are faced with a challenge, look back and realize all that you have accomplished by pushing out of your comfort zone. Realize that you might fail and if you do, try again until you succeed! Remember that people are more concerned with their own lives than yours, so they probably aren’t judging you anyways. If they are, remember that it’s only your opinion of yourself that truly matters.

So next time you are faced with something that pushes you out of your comfort zone or your perceived limits, go back to that simple phrase and tell yourself, “I can do it!” Say it out loud and for everyone to hear if you have to. You’ll be surprised at what you are capable of when you believe in yourself.

We teach kids confidence and empowerment each day at Mueller’s Martial Arts. To learn more about our program, click here.

Can you believe it? Summer is almost over. Many kids went back to school this week! While most of us love the relaxation that comes with break, now many of us are feeling the season of getting back into a routine. That means it’s back to school time for taekwondo! Joining or getting back into a regular routine with martial arts is one of the best ways you can set your kid up for a great year. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we can help your kid have the best year yet!

Better Grades:

We all want our kids to get good grades in school. Getting good grades helps them feel more empowered, makes them smarter, and sets them up for a successful future. Taekwondo can actually help your kiddo get better grades this year! We teach our students to focus in class, which is paying specific attention to something. They focus while learning techniques and applying in their martial arts practice. This directly correlates with school. They learn to focus and pay attention to their teachers and the material covered which helps them get better grades!

Better Behavior:

In each class we teach kids the eight life skills they need to succeed in life. They are focus, respect, integrity, dedication, discipline, confidence, perseverance, and goals. By practicing these skills everyday, they start displaying better behavior in class. Again, they bring these skills home and to school where they behave better and better everyday. They respect their teachers and fellow students, become leaders in school, and are the model of a good student and person.

Higher Achievement:

Taekwondo teaches kids to set a goal and work hard to achieve that goal. They show up each day to go through the ranks and earn their black belt, win at tournaments, and become a great martial artist. Learning to set goals in taekwondo teaches them to set goals in all areas of life. They set goals to get good grades, make friends, star in plays, or anything else they set their minds to. By setting and working towards a goal, they learn they can achieve anything in life as long as they work for it. That can be going to college, getting a high paying job, or owning their own business. The possibilities are endless because they have the martial arts foundation built their entire lives.

One of the best things you can do for your kiddo this year is to get them into taekwondo this school year. Whether they are new or have done it before, training will set them up for success in every part of their life! Let Mueller’s Martial Arts help you! To learn more about our program, click here.

A few weeks ago we released an article about five reasons your child should do taekwondo. This week, we wanted to carry on that list! There are a million reasons and benefits to get your kiddo signed up to practice martial arts, but here are some of our favorites at Mueller’s Martial Arts.

Fitness:

We live in a world where there is a lot of sitting. Kids sit all day in school, then they come home and watch TV or play video games while sitting. Even during the summer, when they have the opportunity to get outside, most of the time they stay inside and are inactive. That’s where taekwondo training comes in. During class, they have multiple times a week to get out of the house and play a sport. Taekwondo not only is great cardio, they also gain strength and flexibility. Every class they come to makes them healthier and more physically fit!

Helpful:

Martial Arts training teaches children to be helpful and considerate. They are often empowered in class to lend a helping hand and to teach others what they know. Instructors will ask them to help out in demonstrations, picking things up, or teaching others. This helps them learn to be considerate, especially when they are helping people that know less than they do. Some kids really take to it, and eventually become assistant instructors! They carry these skills in everyday life where they become kind people and always help others in need.

To perform better in life:

In order to reach higher ranks in taekwondo, kids are always learning and improving. They have to perform in order to get their next belt, which means they have to show that they have gotten better in their time in class. While they are always becoming better martial artists, this also applies in every aspect of their life. Because they start to learn the life skills in class- integrity, focus, dedication, discipline, respect, confidence, goals, and perseverance- they start doing better in life. That means better grades, more respect, and being an awesome kid.

Develop a winning attitude:

Confidence is the key to any success in life. If you don’t believe you can do something, you never will. Taekwondo builds confidence by helping them earn success along the way. They achieve their next belts, win at tournaments, and have small success in each class. This helps them develop a winning attitude and lets them know that they can achieve anything they set their mind to with enough hard work and dedication.

Having fun:

Perhaps the most important piece of training is having fun! Taekwondo is FUN! It’s a great time to kick and punch stuff, to break boards, and to someday be able to tell people that you are a black belt. Is every single class fun? No. But knowing their goals and working towards them is a fun way to empower kids to be successful in life. They are active, learning to defend themselves, and having a great time doing it!

We may be biased, but we think taekwondo is the best! With the school year quickly approaching, here are five reasons we think your kid would love to train with us. To learn more about our program, click here.

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NXT Level Instructor Program

Changing Through Taekwondo

Competition Team

Together We Rise Tournament

Becoming a Black Belt

I Can Do It

Back to School in Taekwondo

Five Reasons Your Child Should Do Martial Arts Part 2