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School is out, taekwondo classes are on winter break, and we are surrounded by the temptation to relax on the couch and eat an entire bag of cookies. Most people love the holidays- they are filled with love, family, and special meaning. However, it is so easy to get off track of your Martial Arts goals during the holiday season. At Mueller’s Martial Arts, we’ve come up with a few ways to keep moving forward, even during the break.

Practice at Home:

The best way to stay on track this time of year is to practice at home. That can be something as simple as practicing your form. By taking ten minutes a day to run through your form you will not lose what you have been working on so hard for the last few months and maybe even years. Did you know that we have all of the videos of our forms on our website? Also, if you are feeling a full workout we have full class videos on YouTube.

Use Life Skills at Home:

This time of year is the time to be thankful and show gratitude to the ones you love. What better way of getting on Santa’s nice list than practicing your life skills at home? By showing integrity, perseverance, attitude, focus, dedication, goals, confidence, and respect, you are showing those around you that you care. That’s the best gift you can give anyone.

Enjoy Your Rest:

Life nowadays seems to always be go, go, go. This time of year is a time to slow down and focus on what is really important to you. If you have been feeling burnt out, take this time to rest and recover so that you can start back in the new year fresh and ready to go. Enjoy your time off and when it is time, get back to it with full force.

Set Goals:

Everyone has New Year’s resolutions, even kids! What goals are you setting for yourself this year? Is it to earn your blackbelt or get even closer? Is it to compete in a tournament or even win one? What about winning a World Championship? Whatever your goal may be, set your intentions high and work towards it with everything that you have! Take this time to set that amazing goal for yourself and don’t quit until you get it!

Mueller’s Martial Arts will be closed December 19th-December 31st. We will see you in the New Year!

The journey to becoming a blackbelt is a LONG process. It takes years of dedication and hard work. That’s why it is extremely important to celebrate the small wins along the way. It’s easy to get caught up in everything that needs to be done from a white belt to blackbelt, even what it takes to test for your blackbelt alone! But through that process there are so many things to celebrate and be proud of.

Showing up to class:

Step one of getting a blackbelt is showing up to class. It’s that simple. By showing up everyday you are improving your life through fitness, community, and learning new life skills. It’s not easy to commit to such a long journey, but by showing up each day you are on the path to greatness. That’s something to be celebrated.

Receiving a stripe or new belt:

Earring a new belt is an obvious celebration. When you go from a white belt to a blackbelt, you have to test for a new belt every time you are ready. This means learning new forms, self defense combinations, and even sparring! A smaller victory though is earning stripes. Stripes are giving along your journey as you accomplish new pieces of the belt puzzle. Each stripe is a step towards earning your next belt. This is all about celebrating the small things right? A stripe is a small win for you to be proud of.

Competing in Tournaments:

It takes a lot of bravery to put yourself out there and compete in a tournament. We all know that if you win it’s a huge celebration with receiving a title and a medal. But just showing up is an amazing accomplishment. You trained, put yourself out there, and tried your best to win. It can be scary and take overcoming a lot of fear but you did it and showed up. Now that’s worth celebrating.

Learning Something New:

The lesson most taken for granted on the journey to a blackbelt is learning something new. Each day that you step into class you are challenging your mind and body to learn new information and apply it not only in class, but in every aspect of your life. The only way to grow is by learning new things, and taekwondo teaches us that there is always more that can be learned. By taking the time to take part in every aspect of training, you are always learning something new. Celebrate that.

It’s easy to overlook the small wins in life but at Mueller’s Martial Arts, we want to celebrate every moment on the journey to a blackbelt. When you finally achieve that goal, you will realize every step along the way it took to get there. Be sure to always celebrate the small wins in taekwondo, but especially in life.

Everyone has probably heard that exercise improves your mood. It’s true, exercise releases endorphins, or feel good chemicals in the brain that actually make you happier. It helps your heart to deal with stress better and increases blood flow to the brain. It has a profound impact on depression, anxiety, and even helps improve memory. Taekwondo obviously involves exercise, but improves your mood in even more ways!

Community:

Not only are you getting a workout in, you’re getting it in with other people! You are taking part in a common goal that everyone shares- to test for your next belt and eventually to become a Black Belt. You get to meet and bond with other people which, you guessed it, improves your mood! Being part of the taekwondo community makes you feel like you are part of something bigger. You are, not only part of the dojang but also a member of the National Martial Arts Alliance, an organization spanning across the world.

Unique Exercise:

During Martial Arts training you aren’t just lifting weights or running on a treadmill. Students work on strength training, cardio, and flexibility. You work every part of your body to get a total body workout. You also exercise your mind, memorizing forms isn’t an easy task and it works your brain as much as your body. By training in new and different ways, you are challenged in a fun way that is bound to boost your mood!

Self-Defense:

One of the best mood boosters is empowerment. Taekwondo training not only empowers you because you continue to learn new things, but also because you learn self-defense. Learning to defend yourself physically and with your words is one of the best ways to boost your mood. You feel like you can take on the world and protect yourself in any situation. In each class you learn life skills that help to defend yourself against any obstacle that life throws at you. You are empowered to take on the ups and downs of life, physically or mentally.

Martial Arts training is the best mood booster. So many of the students at Mueller’s Martial Arts feel like the dojang is their home. They look forward to class every day because it makes them feel so much better, no matter what day they had. To learn more about taekwondo, click here.

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.

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Staying on Track During the Holidays

Celebrating the Small Wins

Mood Improvement Through Taekwondo

Thankful for Taekwondo

Nationals

Discipline Over Motivation

Halloween Taekwondo

Honoring Your Commitments