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Thanksgiving is a time of year to spend with family and reflect on what you are thankful for. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we are thankful for our taekwondo family! Our students, parents, and instructors are all part of our extended family, and we appreciate each and every one of them. This year we want to honor them by telling them why we are thankful for them.

Taekwondo is Home:

For many students, the dojang is their home. It is a place where they feel welcome and safe, a place where they truly belong. Everyone there knows their name and respects them on a deep level. They work together towards a common goal and uplift and support each other along the way. They are part of a community that goes beyond where they live, it is a place of acceptance and encouragement. We are so thankful for our taekwondo home.

Best Friends:

Many students build lifelong friendships through taekwondo training. A lot of times they go to the same school and form bonds beyond the dojang and into the classroom. Often it goes beyond that, they become friends outside of school, outside of taekwondo and into their daily lives. They rely on and trust each other as friends. These friendships can last a lifetime and take students further than they ever thought possible. They know they can lean on their fellow students, their friends, through good times and bad. One of Mr. Mueller’s best friends and business partners was fostered through taekwondo. We are so thankful for our taekwondo friends.

Attitude for Gratitude:

We all know that Martial Arts training teaches the eight basic life skills- respect, confidence, perseverance, attitude, focus, dedication, discipline, and integrity. By learning and training these life skills in every class, students foster an attitude for gratitude. They have a positive perspective and outlook on life, and are grateful for the life that they live. They learn the skills that they need to succeed in life, plus they get to have a great time participating in taekwondo training. We are so thankful for the opportunity to teach and learn life skills.

Every student that trains in Martial Arts is unique and amazing in their own way. We are so grateful to be able to work with kids from ages 4 to 100 and be part of this amazing community, but more importantly, our taekwondo family. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving from your family at Mueller’s Martial Arts!

Over the weekend, Mueller’s Martial Arts went to Nationals! It was such a wonderful experience not only for our students, but for the National Martial Arts Alliance as a whole. Held in Henderson, Nevada, students traveled from around the world to compete for a National title. We brought home six first places, four second places, and seven third places. Every single one of our students that competed placed in the top three!

We often get asked, why attend Nationals out of state when we can compete in-state tournaments? First of all, students that compete at Nationals get double the points that they would normally get at an in-state tournament. In order to qualify for State and World Championships, students need a certain amount of points that they gain competing throughout the year. By going to Nationals you double your chances of qualifying.

In addition to that, the day after Nationals is a regional tournament where you get another opportunity to earn points. That’s a lot of points you can earn in one weekend! That gets students that much closer to qualifying for Worlds and State.

Second, it was an incredible experience! Not very often in life do you get to stay at a world class resort and compete in taekwondo. Students got to meet people from all around the country and even the world including South Africa, Australia, and Peru! They get to showcase what they have learned and worked so hard to achieve over their taekwondo career. Bringing home a title and a medal is pretty awesome too!

Lastly, it is the ultimate bonding experience. We know that taekwondo training builds lifelong friendships, but going to an out-of-state tournament like Nationals allows teams to cond even further. Students get to spend time together outside of taekwondo and enjoy new experiences together. One of our favorite moments from the whole weekend was when we had a team dinner together. Students and parents sat together, ate good food, and just talked through the night. We definitely left with full hearts.

Nationals is such an amazing experience that we hope many more students can enjoy someday! Next year we want to bring even more students and have even more fun and win more titles. Put it in your calendar right now, come to Nationals next year!

We get asked all the time, “How do you stay motivated?” The truth is, motivation is hard to come by for everyone. Even professional athletes, Olympians, and people that love every second of fitness have trouble staying motivated. Sometimes you just don’t feel like doing it. That’s where discipline overcomes motivation. You go to class because you remember your goals and that is more important than the motivation that you lack.

When you practice discipline, you see far more success than if you just rely on your motivation. Showing up even when you don’t feel like it is showing up for yourself. No one ever got better by taking it easy and giving up on their goals. Luckily, we teach students to practice discipline in class. We teach them to obey what is right, which means honoring your commitments and keep moving forward even if you don’t feel like it.

What happens when you are disciplined? Incredible success! Last weekend, the most disciplined students from Mueller’s Martial Arts competed at the tournament in Golden. They were able to show off the skills that they have learned in taekwondo- whether training for a few months or many years. They showed up for class, worked their hardest, and kept going even if they weren’t motivated to do so. The result- honor and success.

Mueller’s Martial Arts had 20 students earn first place. There were 16 second places and 10 third places. Each student showed up, gave their best, and placed in the top three in the region. They earned points that got them even closer to winning a World Championship title. By staying disciplined they were able to achieve one of the goals that they are working for.

In the taekwondo world, those goals can be big or small. Students can work to win a tournament, win a World Championship, earn a Black Belt, become a Master, or even go to the Olympics. It all starts by overcoming the lack of motivation they are bound to experience and stay disciplined to achieve those goals.

When you wake up and say, “Ugh, I don’t feel like going today,” get up and show up anyways. You’ll thank yourself someday when you’re successful in the goals you’ve always wanted to achieve. To learn more about Mueller’s Martial Arts, click here.

Halloween is on Monday! On Friday at Mueller’s Martial Arts, students get to dress up in their costumes. Halloween is a spooky fun holiday that is a great time for kids of all ages, and adults too. People get the opportunity to dress up as a different person for the night and get treats along the way. One of the most popular costumes year after year is a karate or ninja costume. In recent years it’s been a costume from Cobra Kai! The reason that people want to dress up as Martial Artists, even if they aren’t one, is because people that participate in taekwondo are pretty incredible. With the skills learned in classes, who wouldn’t want to be a Martial Artist for Halloween?

Self-defense to keep you safe:

The most important part of Halloween is being safe. That goes for the entire family, but especially if a kiddo is going out on their own or with friends. Luckily, taekwondo teaches self-defense. Kids are empowered to protect themselves and their loved ones in any situation. They are taught stranger danger and what to do if they are approached by someone they don’t know. Parents can feel confident in knowing that their children are safe and able to defend themselves.

Skills that everyone wants to be able to do:

As Johnny Lawrence would say, “We’re bad***!” Martial Arts training teaches students to use their bodies in incredible ways and perform awesome moves. Kicks over their head, strong and fast punches, and even some tricks that include flipping- those are just some of the skills learned in taekwondo class. Not only are those moves incredibly cool, they also help students with hand eye coordination, strength, and flexibility. Everyone wants to be a skilled Martial Artist!

Honorable and awesome:

The way of the fist is more than just kicking and punching. It is a set of values that makes students honorable people. In each class we teach the eight life skills that set students up for success for their entire lives. They are respect, discipline, focus, confidence, dedication, perseverance, attitude, and integrity. All of the life skills teach students to be honorable above all else. Honorable people are certainly awesome people, and the type of people that everyone wants to be around.

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to dress up as your favorite Martial Artist, or even better, join taekwondo so you can actually learn those skills. Everyone loves to watch Cobra Kai, Bruce Lee, and the Karate Kid, but actually participating is far better than any movie, TV show, or Halloween costume. To learn more about our program, click here!

We live in a world today where everything is noncommittal. People make promises that they have no intention of keeping because they are too afraid of saying what they actually mean. Even videos on social media are 15 seconds or less because that is all that can hold our attention! No one is held accountable for their actions, no one has to honor their commitments.

Okay, I know, that was a negative way to start this. When you sign yourself or your child up for taekwondo, you are making a commitment. That commitment is not only for them to achieve a Black Belt, but to take a journey to a better life. There are so many benefits to Martial Arts training- confidence, positive attitude, integrity, discipline, perseverance, focus, and respect. To dedicate to that journey in the fullest is to give the opportunity to have the best life.

By giving up on that commitment you are doing a disservice to yourself and your child. In a noncommittal world, it is so easy just to give up when things get hard. But the things that are the hardest often lead us to our greatest destinations. If you give up you will never know what you are capable of. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, trying something new, and striving towards a goal is everything you need to succeed in life- or find the greatest opportunities.

On the other hand, honoring your commitments speaks to who you are as a person. You are trustworthy, people know that they can count on you and your word. You show respect to others by not backing down in doing what you say you are going to do. Most importantly, you show perseverance by not giving up when things get difficult.

It’s easy to make a commitment- it’s honoring that commitment that is hard. If you are able to do it though, we promise that something great is on the other side. Whether that be earning your Black Belt, winning a World Championship title, or inspiring someone because of the amazing person that you are, it’s all worth it to stick with your commitments. No one ever got anywhere in life by giving up, so don’t let yourself or your child do it either.
We at Mueller’s Martial Arts promise to push you to your limits so that you come out as the best version of yourself. All you have to do is make a commitment to better your life and keep moving forward.

In each class, Muelller’s Martial Arts teaches the eight life skills to help students to succeed not only in taekwondo, but also in life. They are- confidence, respect, integrity, focus, discipline, goals, attitude, and perseverance. However, Martial Arts philosophy in general emphasizes the essence of self control, respect for others, and a positive perspective to strive for the best in life. Using these three pillars students not only strive to become the best Martial Artists that they are capable of being, they also work to have the best life possible.

Self Control:

Martial Arts training teaches self control. On a very basic level, students learn to use their bodies to master challenging skills that are outside normal everyday function. They not only learn to kick and punch, they learn to do it with strength and accuracy. They learn to perform complicated moves and memorize what they are taught. Outside of the physical aspects, they learn self control of their minds. Not everything is going to turn out the way you wanted in life. Taekwondo teaches students to manage their emotions and use the sport as a positive outlet for their frustrations. By mastering the body and mind students have a level of self control not found in people that partake in other sports.

Respect for Others:

Martial Arts teaches respect for others. The very foundation is built off of respect for higher ranks in karate training. Students are taught to address each other as sir or ma’am, no matter their age and rank. They learn to support and uplift each other during every class, during every tournament, and during every event. Their fellow students are their family, they may compete against each other but they will always respect each other. The respect they are taught and receive in classes carries over to everyday life where they are noticeably more respectful to teachers, parents, and their peers.

Positive Perspective to Strive for the Best in Life:

Life is hard. It’s full of ups and downs, successes and failures. The same is true for Martial Arts training. Sometimes students will fail belt testing or they will lose a competition. Taekwondo teaches students to never give up no matter the circumstance and keep moving forward. They know that if they have a positive attitude and are willing to work hard, anything is possible. Training to become a Black Belt is a long journey, and quitting before you get there is just letting yourself down. The same is true in life, it’s a long journey and giving up on a dream kills your spirit. Going for a Black Belt teaches you to strive for the best in Martial Arts, in turn, taking that positive perspective and going for the best in life.
Mueller’s Martial Arts enforces the three pillars of Martial Arts training using the life skills in every class. To learn more about our program, click here.

Mueller’s Martial Arts has students partake in the instructor program, a program that empowers teens to take their training to the next level and teach other students. Martial Arts instructor programs teach accountability and work ethic to a generation that otherwise does not believe in teenage jobs. Students work 10-15 hours a week and are given responsibilities such as cleaning the school, creating lesson plans, and teaching in classes.

It seems like nowadays no one is held accountable for their actions. The instructor program in taekwondo teaches accountability to teens. While other teens are often sitting at home playing video games every night, teens in the instructor program are learning to teach others the skills that they know. It’s a rewarding process to both the teens and the students. It gives the teens the opportunity to pass on their knowledge, show their skills, and inspire others. Students see what they can do if they work hard.

This weekend, two of our teens in the instructor program volunteered to help out at Cider Days. They worked from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm helping break boards and encouraging kids who have never tried taekwondo before to give it a shot. They enjoyed every second of it and were grateful for the opportunity to be a bigger part of the school. During classes, they come in and help teach and contribute to the school, almost like having a job.

Having a job at a young age teaches teens responsibility and accountability. They have tasks that they are responsible for and it is their job to make sure it gets done. The quality of learning that other students get is their responsibility, so they need to make sure they do a good job. If they don’t, they are held accountable for their actions. The benefit is that they are working at something they love doing- teaching and working in a taekwondo dojang. They will take the responsibility and accountability they learn and carry it through the rest of their lives.

The instructor program is an amazing way to get teens out of the house and working towards creating the best future for themselves. They learn how to grow up and become the best versions of themselves, while also enjoying their responsibilities. Mueller’s Martial Arts loves to empower teens and all students. To learn more about our program, click here.

Mueller’s Martial Arts is proud to be a part of the Lakewood community! Lakewood is known for being an “inclusive” community, which means that everyone is welcome and there are no barriers as to who can live and be a part of it. The same can be said for Mueller’s Martial Arts! We pride ourselves in welcoming everyone and empowering them to show the world what they have to offer in their own unique way.

Community Events:

We love to support our community! You can find Mueller’s Martial Arts at many events in Lakewood throughout the year. We host a booth at the opening weekend of blockbuster movies at Belmar Movie Theater to invite new students into the school. This weekend we will participate in Cider Days at Lakewood Heritage to support the amazing cultural center and other local vendors. We also participate in Halloween events throughout Lakewood to give candy to trick or treaters. Most importantly, our students are residents of Lakewood and bring the skills they learn in class back to their schools, home, and community to make it a better place.

National Martial Art Alliance:

Muller’s Martial Arts loves to be a part of the National Martial Arts Alliance- the organization that allows them to compete with other schools. As part of the NMAA, MMA is connected to schools across the country and even around the world! Students get to compete against each other at tournaments and form lifelong friendships with new people that they meet. Everyone supports each other to become the best that they can be which means the best Martial Arts experience for every student.

Family Program:

We have several “family classes” during the week that allow students of all ranks and ages to train together. We also offer a family program that is a discount for the entire family to join taekwondo. A family that trains together stays together and we encourage families to gain all the benefits that karate has to offer. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, everyone is part of the family and we have many siblings and parents that move through the ranks together. It is such an amazing experience to journey to a Black Belt with your family.

Welcoming and Uplifting Everyone:

Mueller’s Martial Arts welcomes everyone regardless of race, age, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or any other barrier you might face in other Martial Arts schools. We believe that everyone has something special to offer and love to find that piece inside of every student and use it to better themselves and those around them. All we look for is people who have the willingness to learn and put in the hard work. With Mueller’s Martial Arts, everyone is welcome and part of the family.

To learn more about Mueller’s Martial Arts, click here.

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Thankful for Taekwondo

Nationals

Discipline Over Motivation

Halloween Taekwondo

Honoring Your Commitments

Three Pillars of Martial Arts Training

Instructor Program

Community of Martial Arts