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After many years or a long time of training in Martial Arts, you will sometimes feel bored, tired, discouraged, and ready to quit. This is the moment your taekwondo lessons truly begin! Life is hard, so is karate, so you must learn to be too! At Mueller’s Martial Arts we know that the only way to truly succeed is to keep moving forward.

Beating Boredom:

When we practice the same thing over and over again we can become bored. We get bored at school, in our jobs, and with the everyday requirements that life calls for. It is possible to get bored in Martial Arts too. As with life, the best way to beat boredom in training is to learn something new! There are always new skills to try and learn in taekwondo. That could be trying elevated and learning tricks or weapons- there are five different ones all with different moves. Each time you earn a new rank you learn new kicks and punches or compete in a tournament. Taking it to the highest level, you can teach others what you have learned. There is always something you can try.

Staying Positive:

We all get discouraged sometimes in life. Life is hard! We can try our best and still find that it isn’t enough. Martial Arts training teaches us to find the positives in life. When we get discouraged it’s an opportunity to show what we are made of and keep moving forward. People that are positive are more likely to succeed in everything that they do. You can find encouragement inside the dojang where you are a part of a community that loves and supports you through your good days and bad ones.

Never quitting:

Life is challenging. We are constantly going through ups and downs, good times and bad. The same can be said for training Martial Arts. There will be times when it seems too hard and your body and mind are beat down. We never quit in life when things get tough. In fact, those are the moments that help us grow the most and build us into the people that we are meant to become. By not quitting you proved that you are strong and resilient. In fact, people that get through that feeling and keep moving forward become champions, the best in the world. They prove that nothing can keep them down and they are strong enough to handle anything that life throws at them.

When you are feeling down about life or taekwondo training, that is a moment of growth for you. It’s not a time to give up, it’s time to learn a new skill, lean on the family you’ve built inside the school, and prove that you don’t quit when things get hard. Training is a metaphor for life, if you can keep moving forward in the dojang, you will always move forward in life. We teach and train this at Mueller’s Martial Arts. To learn more about our program, click here.

Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is acting in spite of fear. In life we face many challenges and there will always be things that we are afraid of. The same can be said when you step on the floor of a dojang for the first time or for the thousandth time. Taekwondo teaches us to overcome our fears both on and off of the mat.

It can be scary to start taekwondo. If you’ve never kicked or punched before, never had to memorize movements with your body. At first glance it can be intimidating, but by stepping in the school and continuing to go you overcome that fear. As you advance in rank, more scary aspects arise. Sparring for example, can be extremely fear inducing at first. There’s a chance you will get punched harder than you expect or even get kicked in the head. It takes courage to try anyways and to keep going until you get better at it.

Breaking boards can be scary. If you do it wrong you might hurt your hand or foot. You might not even be able to break through the board. But you keep trying and practicing until you get it right and it doesn’t hurt. You keep going until you break through the hardest board on the first try. Learning forms is the same way. At first you may not feel like your body can move like that. Or that you might not be able to memorize all those moves. The scariest part can be at testing where you are in front of dozens of people all watching you. If you mess up you don’t get your next belt. The pressure can cause anyone to be afraid! But you face that fear, show up to class, and memorize that form to the best of your ability. You stand proudly in front of everyone and show what you have learned.

Getting a Black Belt can be the scariest of all taekwondo. You’ve trained for years to get there but it is the moment where you have to remember everything you have learned in your Martial Arts training. You show it to people that are high ranks and even Chief Master Horn, the leader of the NMAA. It’s scary to think you might mess something up or forget something. But years of training have taught you to face those fears. In reward, you earn your Black Belt, one of the highest achievements in karate.

Those lessons learned in class carry through to the rest of your life. You are trained in mind and body to never back down from a challenge. Though it may scare you, you know that by facing your fears you can overcome anything. By overcoming your fears you become a stronger person that is capable of doing anything you set your mind to. Taekwondo teaches us that our minds and bodies are amazing and capable of so much more than we give them credit for. Through training our spirit to face our fears, we can do anything.

Mueller’s Martial Arts teaches students to face their fears and grow into stronger people because of it. To learn more about our program, click here.

The first color belt testing in taekwondo is one of the most important moments in a student’s taekwondo career. It’s the moment they go from a white belt to an orange belt and have taken the first bold step towards becoming a Black Belt.

When a new student first comes to learn taekwondo, they make the hard yet brave decision to try something new. Their parents are looking to get them involved in a new sport or activity, maybe because they lack confidence or discipline. They receive their uniform and their first belt, a white belt.

Coming into their first class is just a tiny step in their journey. They continue to show up and work hard in every class, learning new material that might be completely foreign to them. Their first form or Shimsan 1, is a series of moves that challenges them mentally and physically. They learn to chamber, kick, and punch, and block with proper technique.

Beyond the basics of Martial Arts training, they learn about bully self defense and stranger danger. They gain the knowledge on what to do if they are being bullied or if a stranger tries to take them. In addition, they are taught the eight life skills- confidence, perseverance, integrity, goals, respect, attitude, focus, and discipline. Not only do they know what they mean, but they use them in every single class. By attending lessons, they gain real world knowledge that is applicable in everyday life.

What does that have to do with their first testing? Their first testing is the opportunity to show everything that they have learned from coming to karate. They show their form, stranger danger, and bully self defense. They have to get a “parent stripe” which communicates with parents to make sure they have been using life skills outside of class. They get to take part in a huge testing with other students that have worked with them side by side everyday.

Testing for their orange belt keeps their momentum going and shows them they can earn something really amazing if they show up and put in the work. Students and parents are so proud of this accomplishment and it’s a victorious moment for everyone involved. Most importantly, it’s the first step towards getting their Black Belt, the ultimate goal.

While they still may be considered a beginner when they are an orange belt, they are part of something even bigger than themselves. They have been integrated into the life of a Martial Artist and can proudly call themselves one. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we honor our white belt testers for sticking with something new and earning this great honor.
To get started on your or your child’s white belt journey, click here.

The strength of a dojang lies not within the four walls, rather, it lies within the hearts of the students. It is not necessarily how strong each student is, how hard they can punch and kick and if they can break tough boards. Instead, it is how much they are willing to do without giving up and to keep moving forward.

At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we welcome students from every walk of life. They are often people you would never expect to become Martial Artists because they have a disability, are overweight, or struggle with depression or anxiety. We train them to embrace the best parts of themselves, and to push the discomfort of learning new things.

By teaching them eight essential life skills- confidence, respect, focus, discipline, integrity, attitude, goals, and perseverance- they have everything they need to succeed in life. Built upon that foundation, we strengthen their minds and bodies to overcome any challenge that lies ahead of them.

Developing the strength and character of each student as an individual contributes to the dojang as a whole. A whole community of students is built with mental toughness, living in the hearts of each one. They inspire and encourage each other to never give up and to succeed on the highest level as Martial Artists.

As a whole, they are humble, kind, and always willing to help others. They know they can defend themselves and their loved ones in any situation. They show up for their family, friends, and community in a way that can not be compared. The strength of the dojang lies in the hearts of the students, to change the world for the better, one Black Belt at a time. Now that’s strong.

At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we would be nothing without the incredible people we work with everyday. We are proud to call them students as well as Martial Artists. We truly believe that our taekwondo dojang is the best one out there.

To learn more about our program, click here.

Five years ago I began experiencing horrible bouts of dizziness that did not go away. I couldn’t get a diagnosis, couldn’t get the help that I needed. Fast forward to 2020, and I was finally diagnosed with Vestibular Migraines, a brain disorder that results in chronic dizziness. I couldn’t do even the most simple tasks- standing in the shower, walking alone, or even driving. My whole world was flipped upside down.

Being married to a Martial Artist and taekwondo school owner, I always wanted to earn a Black Belt. I trained over the years, but never consistently and it took me nearly five years to get to my red/black belt. When the dizziness hit, I couldn’t imagine training in taekwondo ever again. There were risks of getting kicked in the head during sparring, balancing on one leg during kicks, and the many turns involved in forms.

In January of 2023, I decided I was going to go for it- to earn my Black Belt. Through years of healing I learned that the hardest obstacle I had to overcome was my own mind. I needed to believe that I was capable of doing anything that I set my mind to, including the challenge of becoming a Black Belt.

The training to get there was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do both mentally and physically. Being married to Mr. Mueller has its perks, we would go to the gym together three times per week, training two hours on those days. I would practice forms one through six back-to-back, over and over again to get them to the best of my ability. I attended class five days a week and practiced even more.

My body and mind were run down and beyond tired. Balance and mind body connection over the years of my health issues has been a constant challenge, but I pushed myself past what I thought I could do. Every day I got stronger and realized that I am capable of doing hard things. I noticed that I felt normal, not experiencing dizziness while training or throughout my day. I came to realize that I am healed.

I never thought I would be able to perform the forms, spar, and break boards like that. When I finished testing, getting that belt tied around my waist, it was a moment of pure empowerment. I set my mind to something, worked hard to achieve that goal, and accomplished it. I overcame my fear of not being okay, not being able to do it, and crushed every part of it.

It just proves that no matter what you are going through, if you have true belief in yourself, you can accomplish anything. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support system and training of Mueller’s Martial Arts. Getting my Black Belt will be a moment I will remember for the rest of my life and will cherish forever.
To learn more about our program, click here.

Black Belt testing is this weekend! Red/black belts and black belts will get the opportunity to show off their skills and test for the next step in their taekwondo journey. It is an exciting time but also one of the most physically and mentally challenging things that these people will ever go through. That made us want to share what exactly needs to be done to test for a Black Belt.

Step 1:

Students need to be able to perform Shimsan 1-6 (forms) to perfection. They need to be able to show every hand move, stance, in the correct order and time. They earn “stripes” on their belts for each form they perfect and then an “all or nothing stripe” to show that they know all of the forms. At any point they will lose a stripe if they are not able to perform it and have to re-earn that stripe. They must also know all of the belt meanings.

Step 2:

Students have to perform for their community. They must show others what they have learned in Taekwondo and the skills they possess. They also must tell why they like to participate in Martial Arts, and why earning a Black Belt is important to them.

Step 3:

Testers must participate in 12 hours of community service. They must show care and commitment to their community by volunteering for community service. It is their choice, but many people pick up trash, work at a food bank, read to the elderly, etc.

Step 4:

Martial Artists testing for their Black Belts must write a speech to be performed in front of color belts. They must talk about their journey to becoming a Black Belt, why they should follow in their footsteps, and why becoming a Black Belt is important to them.

Step 5:

Students must learn and remember the 31 Korean words that relate to Taekwondo. They must learn about the history of Taekwondo and memorize the Hwa Rang Code of Chivalry. They must also choose a philosophy question and write an essay on it. Adults must write an essay about how Taekwondo has changed their lives.

Step 6:

Six weeks before testing, students must do a fit test three times per week and practice their forms every other day. The fit test includes one minute of burpees, jumping jacks, situps and pushups. They must also run one mile per week and finish in under 8 minutes. At the end of the six weeks, your scores and times on your fit test and running should surpass the previous weeks.

Step 7:

Students must write an essay to be spoken at Black Belt testing. It should recognize and thank everyone that was a part of their Taekwondo journey and helped them get to a Black Belt.

Step 8:

Testers must show their skills and pass along their knowledge to others by helping to teach in five classes to lower ranks.

Step 9:

The last step before testing for a Black Belt is completing all eight steps and getting final permission from their instructor. Then they go and actually test!

Testing includes performing all of their forms, being asked all the words and belt meanings, breaking boards, and giving their speeches. If they are able to do all of that, then they earn their Black Belt!
Three students from Mueller’s Martial Arts will be testing for their Black Belts on March 11th at Venture Martial Arts in Flatirons. Wish them luck!

The journey to a Blackbelt is not an easy road. When you first step into a taekwondo dojo you are filled with eager anticipation to learn how to kick and punch. You make the choice to dedicate to becoming a Blackbelt. It’s a journey that takes years to achieve and as it turns out, the hardest part is when you are almost there.

Along the way you learn so many new skills. You learn and embrace the eight life skills to give you what you need in and outside the dojo to succeed- perseverance, focus, attitude, confidence, integrity, discipline, respect, and goals. Every single day you become better and better until eventually you have them so ingrained in you that they are just a part of your personality.

The years it takes to get there are difficult. There are moments where your knuckles are bloody from punching so many bags. Or your feet are covered in blisters from running barefoot on the mats for so long. Your entire body is tired and sore. All you want to do is quit. But you don’t. Some people may wonder why. The answer is simple: Blackbelts don’t quit.

Then you think you are almost there. You achieve your red black belt. One more step and you can tie on that belt. This is actually the hardest step. The work you put in before is at least doubled. You have to truly show what you are made of every single day. You have to show up and prove that you are worthy of the title of Blackbelt.

Then it happens. You’ve learned it all (at least as much as you can for right now). You know all of the forms to perfection. You can break the toughest boards. You know how to defend yourself and your loved ones in any situation. You’ve competed in tournaments and won. It’s time- you’re ready to earn your Blackbelt.

You step into the dojo and test for your Blackbelt. You show off your skills and all that you have worked to get you here. You’ve shed blood and tears and it’s been one of the hardest things you’ve ever had to do mentally and physically. But that moment where you tie on your belt for the first time and are met with admiration and pride from yourself and your peers is unlike any other feeling. You climbed the mountain and never gave up no matter how hard it was. You know that you can carry that perseverance with you for the rest of your life.

The journey to a Blackbelt will change your life in every single way. It shows you who you are, what you are capable of. A new journey lies ahead, but you can take the lessons you learned along the way and carry it with you for they will be useful in the years to come.
Three students from Mueller’s Martial Arts will be testing for their Blackbelt on March 11th. To learn more about our program, click here.

Meditation has been around for centuries but over recent years has once again gained popularity. The reason being is that meditation has amazing benefits not only for mental and physical health, but also for manifesting desires and self awareness. Meditation reduces stress, helps with anxiety, improves attention span, can prevent dementia, improves sleep, reduces pain, and overall makes people healthier and happier.

Meditation is great and all, but did you know that Martial Arts training can be a form of mediation in itself? By definition, meditation is to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time in silence or with the aid of chanting. It is to think deeply or carefully about something, or to clear one’s mind and look deep within oneself.

During sparring and forms practice, students are essentially meditating. When drilling techniques or practicing forms, students have to clear their minds and focus solely on their forms. They can’t think of anything else or they become distracted, losing focus and messing up their forms. Their mind has to be completely invested in each move every step of the way. When they become good enough at doing a form, their mind can actually go blank and they can do the moves without thinking about them. By clearing their thoughts and letting their bodies do the work, they are practicing a form of meditation.

Sparring is very similar. When sparring an opponent, Martial Artists can’t be thinking about the homework they have to do or something their boss said to them at work that day. If they lose focus, they will get kicked in the head! They have to stay completely invested in fighting their opponent. When they get good enough at it, they are able to clear their minds and once again let their bodies take control. They are able to spar not because they are thinking about every move, but out of complete instinct. Both ways of sparring are forms of meditation.

If taekwondo training is also a form of mediation, then it begs the question, does it have the same benefits of meditation? The answer of course is yes! Martial Arts training, just like meditation, has many benefits including lowering anxiety, greater physical health, improves memory and focus, and overall makes people that do it happier and healthier. Rather than sitting alone in the darkness and trying to clear your mind, you can get the same benefits from coming to class and kicking people in the head. Pretty cool huh?

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

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Keep Moving Forward

Facing Fears Through Taekwondo

First Testing in Taekwondo

Strength of a Dojang

Healing Through Taekwondo

Black Belt Testing

The Journey to a Blackbelt

Meditating Through Martial Arts