Colorado Taekwondo Institute

The Model Concept is news and information for the students, instructors, family members and friends of the CTI, MSK and the AMASEA.

Send in your articles and pictures to info@startmartialarts.com.

Congratulations to our newest 1st dan Moo Sul Kwan Taekwondo black belts!

Zach Johannes (Green Mountain), Caleb Feagans (Conifer) and James Pennington (Littleton)

Below are photographs from the promotion tests that took place on December 17th.

The 38th edition of the CTI Superbowl is this month - February 24-25, at Alameda High School in Lakewood, Colorado!  This is our "end-of-the-CTI year" championships and promises to be a most remembered weekend! 

For more information click here.

CTI Birthday Parties are a blast!

Schedule your party today with any of our CTI Campus locations.

Breaking is something that we do at most tournaments.  It may not be as key as the basics or poomse but it’s definitely one of the most fun events!  Breaking sometimes can be challenging at first but the more you try and try, the better you get and you learn from your mistakes…like setting the breaks up where you want them.
 

The first step of breaking is put the board where you want it.  If the board is too low or too high than you have a high chance of not breaking the board.  If you are using plastic boards or pine boards hit your target to the side of center.   At the tournament you need to make sure that the judges can see all of the breaks your doing.  If you have a combination break then you should plan your breaks carefully.  You need to make sure that the judges can see your breaking and won’t score you down because they are unable to see all of your breaks well.  Remember, if you are fifteen or younger then you can only hit with the heel, for example you can use a Step Behind Side-Kick or Spinning Back Kick.
It is also important to hit with the correct foot or hand position (for older students) because that will be most effective for breaking and not cause injuries to yourself. 

Here are the proper kick techniques.
? Side Kick - With this kick you want to hit with the heel and your toes pointed down, try not to hit with any other part of the foot.
? Front Kick - On this kick you need to go through the board and hit with the ball of the foot.
? Round House Kick – You must kick with the ball of the foot on this kick using it in a break.  In class while doing the basics, we use the in-step, but the ball of the foot is safer in breaking.  Also on this kick you need to get your knee out to the side and get your whole body around.

When you first start breaking you must understand that you’re not going to break every board and if you have become good at breaking with the basic kicks just keep working to progress and work up to harder kicks or multiple boards.
 

Just remember, breaking is a very serious thing and we want to continue to do better at breaking all while making sure that we are safe.  Breaking can be a very fun thing but it is also dangerous if not done correctly, so only practice breaking in class with your instructor.  We want to be successful at breaking events, so practice, prepare and go after it!  Although challenging, breaking is a lot of fun!
 

The 2012 American Martial Arts Sports and Education National Convention is March 16-18.  Held at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau since the 1970's, the weekend always provides us with special guest instructors and a wonderful time. 

Students and instructors interested in the trip need to contact their instructor immediately. 

There are so many benefits to working out in the Colorado Taekwondo Institute that it’s hard to list all of them.  There is getting in shape, learning Self-Defense, building Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem, establishing balance, grace and harmony in all aspects of your life and developing friendships that can last a lifetime.  This article is going to touch on the friendship aspect of the CTI program.

I have been practicing MSK Taekwondo at the CTI for over fifteen years now and as I look at the list of friends that I have, most of them have been standing next to me while working out.  The friendships developed at the CTI tend to be a little different than maybe the normal friendships that you might develop outside of The CTI.  Because we work together, sweat together, spar together, learn together and socialize together I feel the bond with the friends I have developed at The CTI are a little stronger and more personal than those I have developed outside of the CTI. 

There is nothing like the hard work we experience to bring people together.  Watching your friends grow and accomplish goals that maybe you are trying to or already have accomplished allows for the growth of comradery.  It also allows for the opportunity to learn together which is another source of bonding.  In conclusion the more you come to class the more you have the opportunity to make good friends and strengthen current friendships.  Come to class and see all of your friends.