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Mueller’s Martial Arts has a beloved mascot name Philo the Phoneix! Mascots are animals, people, or objects meant to represent a team or group of people with significant meaning. Phoenixes are mythological creatures that burn down in the flames of a fire and are reborn from the ashes to new youth and a brand new life. The phoenix is a significant creature in Mueller’s Martial Arts taekwondo school and in the journey that students take both on and off the mat.

The Journey of Mueller’s Martial Arts:

Mueller’s Martial Arts opened its first school location in Lakewood in 2019. The first year was spent working to make the first few students the best they could be. We grew slowly, adding a few students here and there mostly through word of mouth. We were small but mighty, a family of Martial Artists learning and becoming the best they could be.

Then 2020 hit. We had high hopes for the year to impact more lives through taekwondo training. But everyone knows what happened in 2020. COVID-19 hit and the world shut down, including all taekwondo studios. Classes were moved online. People lost their jobs and their lives. It was a rough time, and students had a hard time staring at a screen all day for school and then doing it again for karate classes. It lost some of what makes taekwondo amazing- the community, the friendships, and the experience of being together.

Mueller’s Martial Arts nearly shut down. After losing many students and paying rent for a building that was never used, business was tough. No one was signing up for classes they couldn’t attend. We were burning in the fire of the pandemic with little hope for the future. After what seemed like the end for MMA, as we were laying there in the ashes of our dreams, a light appeared.

Mr. Mueller’s longtime friend and fellow Martial Artist also owned a taekwondo school in Lakewood. The pandemic was brutal on them too and they were also on the verge of shutting down. The two decided to combine forces and bring their schools together. Mueller’s Martial Arts was born again and survived through the pandemic to bring new life to the dojang. That’s what Philo the Phoenix represents for us.

The Phoneix of Taekwondo:

While MMA’s is certainly a story of redemption, that is also the case with many Martial Artists. Many people join taekwondo because the world has burned them and they want to be reborn into new people with strength and the skills needed for life. The truth is, everyone will go through hardship in their lives, especially people that partake in sports. There will be failures, letdowns, setbacks, and disappointments. It’s in those moments where they get back up and keep fighting.

Taekwondo teaches perseverance and without it, MMA probably wouldn’t be here today. Without fighting through the flames our World and State Champions wouldn’t be winners, we wouldn’t have any Black Belts, and students wouldn’t show up every single day. The skills that taekwondo teaches are used in everyday life and through all the ups and downs we experience as humans. Like Phoenixes, Martial Artists have to rise from the ashes and keep moving forward.

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

Mueller’s Martial Arts teaches taekwondo for ages 4 to 100. It’s truly an activity for everyone! This week we really wanted to talk about the benefits of Martial Arts training for kids. There are so many incredible benefits including physical fitness, mental health, and life skills that children can take with them throughout their entire lives.

Physical Fitness:

Karate at its base form is a sport! Kids get out of the house and get their bodies moving. Taekwondo is unique in that it is a great cardiovascular activity, meaning that you sweat and get your heart pumping. This kind of training is good for your heart, lungs, and brain. It also includes strength training to build lean, strong muscles. The most underrated aspect of Martial Arts is improving flexibility. Being flexible helps prevent injuries and supports the body in everyday life activities. It helps with aging and living an active, full life for the years to come.

Mental Health:

Life is hard, no matter what age you are! Taekwondo can be a positive outlet for pent-up emotions and aggression. It is also a community full of supportive friendships that build each other up and support each other no matter what. Mueller’s Martial Arts wants the dojang to feel like a safe place, a home for all students. By having a positive, safe environment to release emotions and work on bettering yourself, taekwondo training improves the mental health of kids.

Life Skills:

In each and every class, Mueller’s Martial Arts teaches the eight life skills that children need to help support them while growing up. The eight life skills are integrity, focus, discipline, goals, perseverance, attitude, confidence, and respect. Each of these skills is taught and trained in classes so that the students have a firm grasp on how they apply them to their lessons. By practicing them on a daily basis they become the foundation for who they are as people and they carry those life skills into their everyday lives. They use them to excel at school, at home and doing whatever they set their heart to.
Learning Martial Arts helps kids become the best versions of themselves and grow into successful and respected adults. They become more physically fit, are supported in their mental health, and have the skills they need to lead a great life. To learn more about Mueller’s Martial Arts, click here.

Everyone wants to feel like they are included. They want to feel like they are a part of something bigger than themselves. The sad reality is that many people end up feeling like they are misfits, that they don’t belong anywhere. While this might not actually be the case, it definitely stinks to feel that way. At Mueller’s Martial Arts we consider ourselves to be the Island of Misfit Toys because we bring in the people that may not belong anywhere else, and give them a place to call home.

Mueller’s Martial Arts is family owned and operated, led by Mr. Sean Mueller himself. The instructors are long-time students of his as well as former students of Chief Master Horn, the leader of the National Martial Arts Alliance. The NMAA is the organization that we are proud to be a part of. Mueller’s is proud to accept any student regardless of race, gender, age, or skill set. All we want is for people to feel like they can make a difference in their lives by showing up to their classes and getting the most out of what they are taught.

By training together towards a common goal- to become a Black Belt, students bond over the journey through taekwondo. As they progress, they begin to realize that they are part of a community that supports and uplifts them through the entirety of their journey no matter what. Even if they are the most popular kid in school or the one who gets bullied the most, they learn the skills they need to make their lives better in every single way.

Our goal is to help kids find a positive outlook for their struggles whether that be anxiety, bullying, temper, or not listening. We find constructive ways for them to overcome any obstacles in life by teaching them to have a positive attitude, confidence, perseverance, goals, integrity, focus, discipline, and respect. They use these skills to continue to grow in their Martial Arts practice. By learning the values and skills through karate training they fit in when they need to, and stand out against the rest in the best way.

Even if you are an outcast, a misfit, or feel like you don’t belong, you belong in Mueller’s Martial Arts. We’ve taken students that had no confidence and felt like they couldn’t do anything, to be State Champions and be beloved by their team. Everyone is unique and different in the best way, but are part of the big family in Mueller’s Martial Arts.

This week we want to do a special highlight post for our owner and namesake of Mueller’s Martial Arts, Mr. Sean Mueller! Sean began his taekwondo journey when he was 14 years old. He had back problems when he was young and his chiropractor suggested he train in Martial Arts to strengthen the bones and muscles. He began training in Conifer, Colorado, and instantly fell in love with the sport.

For the next two years, Sean trained and eventually became a junior instructor. He found his confidence in training other kids in taekwondo by taking his knowledge and teaching it to others. He found passion in teaching others how to take their anger, anxiety, and other negative emotions and train it into something positive instead. By age 16 he knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life, train and teach Martial Arts.

At 18 after he graduated high school, Sean was given an offer to teach taekwondo for a living. With any first step towards a dream, there came a lot of ups and downs, and during that time he learned and grew as a person. At one point he stepped away from teaching completely but was always called back to it because teaching Martial Arts was what he was meant to do. Over the years he taught and trained for several different schools in several different organizations. Eventually, he found his home in Lakewood and joined as a member of the National Martial Arts Alliance.

In 2019, Sean opened his first school, Mueller’s Martial Arts in Lakewood. He started with six loyal students that had the same drive as him to become successful. The groundwork was laid with a family atmosphere training to become the best Martial Artists they could be. By the end of the year, the school was growing organically and looked like it had a bright future ahead. Then in March of 2020, COVID-19 hit.

The world shut down along with Mueller’s Martial Arts. Classes were moved to online only. It was one of the most challenging periods for everyone, especially for in-person fitness classes. Knowing that he needed to pivot, Sean combined schools with his long-time friend and fellow Martial Artist, Micah Martin. Micah trained with Sean in Confier when they were young, and owned a taekwondo school in Lakewood too. They joined together and made it through COVID.

Mueller’s Martial Arts is now in the heart of the Lakewood community working hard to impact as many lives as possible. Sean has always thought of the school as the Island of Misfit Toys, and a place where all are welcome, especially those that don’t usually fit in. Sean’s story is one of resilience, hard work, and perseverance against all odds. He never gave up on his dreams, and that is something he works to teach every single day to his students.

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

Students of Mueller’s Martial Arts will be competing this weekend at the tournament held in Golden. The tournament is hosted by the National Martial Arts Alliance, the organization that we are proud to be a part of. You may be wondering, why should my child (or why should I) compete in tournaments? While Martial Arts training is very different than sports like baseball and soccer, there are still many benefits of taking part in a competition.

We are firm believers that competition builds character. It isn’t about winning or losing, it’s about giving it your all and how you react to your success or failures. The person you become over time all depends on how you handle competition because let’s face it, there will always be competition whether it is getting into a great college, getting a good job, or even winning at a tournament. Here are the benefits of competing in a taekwondo tournament.

Perseverance:

Students that train in Martial Arts learn the meaning and value of perseverance in classes. But often times we don’t understand the actual value of something until we have to face it. While competing in tournaments, Martial Artists have to learn never to give up. They will not win every event, they may not win anything at all. It would be easy to say that they haven’t learned anything or aren’t good enough, and never try again. However, they know that with perseverance they can accomplish anything, and eventually, they will win. When that happens, it’s an unforgettable experience and they know their hard work has paid off.

Confidence:

Over time as students train, they gain confidence in their abilities as a Martial Artist. They are taught to be loud and respectful. Competing in a tournament is the moment where they are able to show off the skills that they have learned and worked so hard to improve. They realize that they are doing great in their training and they win a first-place medal. Winning something for their hard work is the ultimate confidence booster, and they remember and carry that mentality through to the rest of their lives.

Meeting new people:

One of the best parts of competing in a tournament is the chance to meet new people. Students get to meet and learn from people their own age and rank. While they are competing against each other, they also want everyone to do well and succeed so they cheer each other on and support each other no matter what. They learn new moves and skills and absorb things that they may never have thought of before. Some students form lifelong friendships with people that they meet at tournaments.

Tournaments are a great way for Martial Artists to practice perseverance, gain new confidence, and meet new people. All of these traits build their character and form the person that they are going to be for the rest of their lives. Tournaments also earn them points to qualify for the World Championship competition. Who doesn’t want to be a World Champion? For more information about competing to build character, click here.

Martial Arts training is hard work. To be successful requires a great deal of dedication and focus and a willingness to never give up. Life, in general, is challenging, and taking on taekwondo training students adds another challenge both mentally and physically. That’s why it is extremely important to add some fun into life as well as karate lessons. To add to a great time of training, Mueller’s Martial Arts hosts Competition Fridays.

Competition Fridays bring together students of all ranks and ages in the family class and give everyone an opportunity to win. Champions bring home one of the four prizes earned for winning one of the “events”. The prizes range anywhere from a toy, scooter, Lego set, speaker- any sort of random item that would be fun to win. The competitions can be anything from a side kick competition, obstacle crouse, relay race, board breaking, etc.

You may be wondering, how does Competition Friday benefit my student’s Martial Arts career? Well, besides the fact that it is fun, which makes students want to come more if they are enjoying it- there are many benefits of this type of class. First and foremost, it highlights the competitive aspect of taekwondo. Throughout the year, the National Martial Arts Alliance hosts tournaments in that students can compete. They get the chance to earn titles and medals and eventually even a State and World Championship. Competition Friday gives them a taste of that success.

It also allows students to work as a team. In general, Martial Arts is mostly an individual sport. Students earn their new ranks and win tournaments on their own merit, based on the hard work that they have put in. Competition Fridays allow them to build their teamwork skills by working with others to win the competition. They win as a team and lose as a team, but have to learn communication skills, cheer each other on, and take turns.

If the competition is a solo task, the students have the opportunity to win something based on their skill and perseverance. They may never go to tournaments or play in other sports and this is their opportunity to shine and win a fun prize. There’s a sense of excitement for the opportunity to win something in taekwondo class. Everyone seems to like it and it’s one of the biggest classes!

Join us this Friday for Competition Friday! To learn more about Mueller’s Martial Arts, click here.

Martial Arts training helps with strength, flexibility, and an overall improvement of physical health. Students learn self-defense techniques and are empowered to keep learning as they advance in rank. The goal is to become a Black Belt which is a fantastic physical accomplishment, but there is more to learning taekwondo than the physical aspects. In each class at Mueller’s Martial Arts, students will learn the eight life skills to make them the best person possible.

Respect:

Students are taught to show respect- showing others you care through your actions. They show their instructors respect by saying “yes ma’am” or “yes sir” and listening to what they are instructed to do. They show their peers respect by bowing to each other and supporting them along their own karate journey. They show themselves respect by continuing to try their best on their journey to a Black Belt.

Confidence:

Martial Artists are taught to believe in themselves. As they continue to train they get better techniques and earn higher ranking belts. By continuing to improve they gain confidence in their abilities. They are taught to be loud in class so that their voice is heard. They use that confidence during self-defense training where they gain the knowledge to defend themselves in any situation.

Perseverance:

It’s easy to quit when things get hard. But Martial Artists practice perseverance- giving 100% and never giving up. Training in taekwondo can be hard. It requires you to learn new techniques and challenge your body in new ways. You may fail a belt testing or lose at a tournament. A true Martial Artist does not quit and will keep trying until they achieve success.

Integrity:

While it is easy to quit, it is also easy to cut corners and do something wrong because it’s the easier option. Students in karate are taught integrity- doing the right thing even if no one is watching. There are moments when they are empowered to work independently, whether that is practicing outside of class or working hard when the instructor isn’t looking. They know that they will never get what they want unless they follow the right thing so they practice that at all times.

Attitude:

No one likes someone with a bad attitude. Students learn to have a positive attitude- the way they act. Even if they are having a bad day, they walk into the dojang knowing that things will get better if they are positive. Life is hard and bad situations happen, but a Martial Artist is able to work through the bad while keeping a positive light in their lives.

Goals:

The goal when you begin taekwondo on day one is to become a Black Belt. Along the way, there are many smaller goals. They learn that a goal is something you have to work to achieve. It takes hard work to get anywhere you want in life but by setting a goal and working to achieve it, they can accomplish anything.

Discipline:

In order to achieve a goal, students have to practice discipline or obeying what is right. The right thing to do is to come to class, practice at home, and using the life skills outside of class. By being taught and practicing discipline, they obey what is right in all situations.

Focus:

In order to learn anything new in life, focus is required. Martial Artists are taught to pay. specific attention to something. They pay attention to the details of every form they learn, every new move, and everything the instructor says. Their focus makes them better Martial Artists and better people, listening and paying attention to the world around them.

By learning and practicing the eight life skills on a daily basis, students learn to become better people. They take the life skills and apply them to their everyday lives whether that is in school, playing other sports, being with friends, or interacting with their parents. At Mueller’s Martial Arts we teach people to change the world for the better, one Black Belt at a time.

This year is going to be different. This year is going to be better! Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. This is where we come in. Summer is almost over, can you believe it? With summer ending, that means that school is starting again soon. Going back to school requires a lot of demands for both parents and kids, so it’s important to be armed with the best skills possible to make it a great experience. Taekwondo training has been proven to help kids with better focus in the classroom, discipline while doing homework, and perseverance to overcome the hard days which results in achieving better grades.

During Martial Arts classes, instructors will teach the eight life skills- attitude, perseverance, focus, discipline, integrity, goals respect, and confidence. These skills enable students to achieve success in school. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we help prepare students for anything that life throws their way this crazy school year.

Focus:

Students are taught to pay specific attention during their classes. They focus on the details of the skills that they are learning on pay attention to the instructor. This directly translates to when they are in school. They pay attention to what their teacher is saying and focus on the details of their lessons. By learning focus they are able to remember more and do better on homework and tests. They absorb the information on a higher level.

Discipline:

Students are taught to obey what is right while learning discipline. They are taught that the right thing to do is to practice what they learn in classes and put in their best effort. During school, discipline correlates because they are disciplined to do their homework and study- practicing what they have learned. By practicing they become better Martial Artists and better students. They know that the right thing is to do all of their responsibilities and they obey them.

Perseverance:

Martial Artists learn to never give up. Learning anything new is challenging and it can be easy to give up. That is not acceptable in the taekwondo world and they practice perseverance to never give up when things get hard. The same can be said for school. Learning new material is difficult and takes dedication. If they fail a test or get a bad grade on a paper, it would be easy to accept that they are never going to understand the content or never do better. Because they have trained perseverance during karate classes, students never give up and keep working until they master the material. This means better grades, more experiences, and a great school year.

There is a reason that so many Martial Artists are top in their class at school. They practice the skills needed to be successful in life on a daily basis and bring them into their everyday lives. At Mueller’s Martial Arts we teach the eight life skills in every single class and work to build students into the best people they can be. With our help, this can be the best school year that the students have ever experienced! Learn more about our program by clicking here.

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Philo’s Phoenixes

Martial Arts for Kids

The Island of Misfit Toys

Meet Mr. Mueller

Competition Builds Character

Competition Fridays

Life Skills Learned in Martial Arts

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