Taekwondo

It's news headlines like these that drive us to insist that children (and adults) learn real, usable martial arts:

We can think of very few things more important than learning to defend oneself.

The newspaper headlines shown in this letter are all taken from our hometown newspapers.  They illustrate why we are so adamant about people learning to defend themselves.

 If you are serious about you or your child learning self-defense, we would urge you to investigate our school. 

As a general rule we accept committed and dedicated students seven years and older into our Taekwondo program.  

 We will be happy to talk to you about your five and six year old children, but we will not baby-sit your children with our Taekwondo program.  They will have to be here to learn and develop skills and character.

 There are many reasons besides kicking and punching to study the martial arts in addition to self defense…we use kicking and punching as a vehicle to learn, first how to focus, pay attention and concentrate, then to learn and polish life skills.

 Our Taekwondo program is a traditional martial arts program based on discipline, respect and courtesy.  We are not martial arts themed daycare or martial arts entertainment. It is not a recreational program.  We do not play games although we have a lot of fun.  We expect our students to learn to earn.  

 Ours is a very direct style of teaching, which is very effective.  The children who attend our school tend to become capable, confident and powerful.  They develop a strong sense of self and well-developed notions of personal boundaries.  They develop high levels of real self-esteem (based upon accomplishment), a positive outlook and a high level of self-confidence.  As a result, they tend to naturally steer away from bad habits.  Cross-cultural research has also linked our teaching style with children who excel in academics.

 Research suggests that a high level of teaching (and parental) demandingness is positively associated with high levels of social assertiveness on the part of children.  That is, if a strict set of standards are enforced, children will likely internalize these standards and hold themselves to them, as they grow older – even in situations where peers are acting in ways that violate these rules.  The rules and standards we adhere to have been set down throughout the history of traditional martial arts.

 We go to great lengths to enforce the rules and standards, but also to make clear the reasons behind them and the personal benefits that the child will reap by following them.  The students learn not only what they should not do, but what they should do as well.  Moreover, they learn what ever they do, they should do it striving for excellence.

 We have a high degree of classroom control, which research suggests is a very good thing for your child.  High levels of classroom control along with consistent attendance can have quite positive ramifications in your children’s lives - everything from interest in academics to high self-esteem and independence.  The boundaries, goals and standards we set-up are constantly enforced, thereby providing a consistent and predictable sense of what is expected.  This sort of teaching teaches children to engage their curiosity and spontaneity in a safe, emotionally comprehensible, and approachable environment.

 We teach the students to value work, tradition and respect for authority, and to abide by and honor agreements, whether written, spoken or simply understood.  

 Perhaps one of the most over-looked, but most important aspects of our teaching is consistency and maturity.  We are both in our 50s and have been married for 23 years.  We offer a consistent view of what any student needs to succeed.  Some schools have only one teacher, others have many teachers, most are teenagers or young immature adults and all of them will have different opinions of the student and their ability.

 Most of our students attend classes 4 or 5 times a week and we encourage that, and there is no extra charge.  You are not limited to one or two times a week.  No one can learn if you only practice one or two times a week.  You can play at it or have a hobby but you cannot learn and benefit from it.

 If you are more interested in playtime martial arts, martial arts daycare or a teaching that will accept mediocrity then you will not be happy here.  We will be fair with you, but we will challenge you.  We will hold you to always doing your best and push you past your self-satisfied limits.

 While our students have a great deal of fun, our school is just that, a school, where children have a counter to the violence in mass media and lack of values in society.  Our school balances this unwelcome exposure with lessons in self- respect, self-discipline, self-confidence as well as self-defense.  Our self-defense is real and it works for both young and old.  Self-Defense of the mind, the body and the spirit.

 CrossTraining Martial Arts promotes personal development and teaches life skills that will help students succeed in the world.  Attentiveness, respect, self-control and maximum effort go hand-in-hand with the balance, coordination, posture and breathing skills that are taught.  Nowhere else are skills to develop the mind, body and spirit offered. 

 Our program is designed to re-enforce what you may already be teaching at home and will help develop the individual’s personal conduct.  

 Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that Taekwondo is the best exercise regimen you can imagine.

 We take martial arts seriously and because of that, if you stick with it, you will get seriously positive results.  It will not always be easy, but nothing worthwhile in life ever is. 

 Some things to think about when you are searching for an effective martial arts school.

  Grandmaster S. K. Yang

Grandmaster S. K. Yang is a Korean born Taekwondo Master who we have partnered with in order to maintain the best possible martial arts education available.  Mr. Forrest and Ms. Beth teach all the classes, but Master Yang conducts the belt tests.  Master Yang (pronounced Yong), is a two-time world champion, a former USA National Demonstration Team coach, a former Korean Special Forces Taekwondo instructor and former body guard for one for Korea's former presidents.  He has been professor of Taekwondo for over ten years at Northlake Community College in Irving, Texas.  He is very well known in the world of Taekwondo. 

Here at our school, Master Yang conducts all the belt testing and he oversees a weapons class open Green Belt and above.

At CrossTraining Martial Arts, we have combined state of the art teaching techniques (approved by the American Council on Martial Arts and the renowned Cooper Aerobic Center) with traditional Taekwondo techniques and philosophy.  We are affiliated with the World Taekwondo Federation.  We award Black Belt Certificates and belts from the Kukkiwon, headquarters for Taekwondo, in Seoul, South Korea.  Both of these distinctions allow the student to compete in International, World and Olympic Taekwondo events if the student chooses to compete.  Tournaments are not stressed or required at our school.  Tournaments traditionally have played a very small part of the over-all Taekwondo life and so it is with our school, however  those who have competed from our school have been quite successful.

The first class is always free....please come see for yourself how and why we're different. 

One look and you'll see we are different from any other Martial Arts School you've ever been to, click the box and see for yourself.                                                                                                   

If you are concerned with your child defending themselves against the bullies of the world, click  the box  below.