What Does it Mean to Sharpen Body, Mind, and Character?
The practice of traditional martial arts is more than an activity we do a couple times per week, it is a lifestyle. This lifestyle rewards us in ways that benefit all ages. We literally have participants in our association from age 4 through their late 80’s. Each age group has specific programs and activities that improve their lives. For example:
Children Ages 4 - 7
Our youngest martial artists begin training in our fun Tiger Tots program. They learn to direct their limitless energy in positive ways. They develop skills to focus on a single task and see complex challenges through to completion. This is accomplished through fun activities that also help them build physical strength and coordination at the same time they are learning about mental discipline.
Kids and Teens Ages 8-18
Older kids join our full Soo Bahk Do program, which expands upon the benefits of Tiger Tots by adding more complex challenges and more active self-defense, including bully prevention. We begin to study the mental benefits and character development aspects of martial arts more directly. It is at this stage that we frequently see our K-12 participants become leaders in their school and other activities. This is due to their ability to focus on complex tasks and assignments, and their confidence to take on challenges that more timid kids would be hesitant to try.
Adults
Unfortunately, some adults may have experienced a social stigma against participating in traditional martial arts. This is a development over the last couple of decades, and it is very sad. Those who ignore the stigma and try martial arts will find improvements in their health that they would have previously thought impossible. This is due to 21st century lifestyles. Adults believe that they "can't do the things they used to" because they are "getting old". This is rarely true. It is far more likely that sedentary lifestyle is harming their bodies, which they mistake for the advance of age. Adults need to regularly exercise their full range of motion with intensity, which is something that almost no other form of exercise does, at least not to the degree of martial arts training. I'm telling you, you do not need to live vicariously through your children. Get out there and do something both physically and mentally stimulating for yourself!
Seniors
Seniors benefit from the same range of motion and muscle strengthening benefits as adults, they just perform these activities in a slightly different way to more fully protect joints and bones. Our association has an additional program for seniors called the "Silver Moo Do In" program. If you think about this at its simplest level, one of the main reason seniors have a medical emergency is simply because they fall! Poor balance, weak muscles, and impaired joint mobility all contribute to falls. But even more basic, just the process of getting down onto the floor, and getting up again, can become a challenge for people as early as their forties. When you see what our adults are capable of in comparison, you will understand that we are orders of magnitude more healthy and have a much higher quality of life than our peers who do not train in martial arts.
Our Culture
Soo Bahk Do contains no mysticism, and no conjecture. Our martial art is science based, grounded in reality and practicality. There are nontrivial ways to utilize the formula F=ma to explore our maximum physical capability. Much of how we train traces its root purpose to this basic principle.
Our martial art’s membership tends to sway toward the scientist, engineer, mathematician, and anyone who likes to think deeply, with a grounding in the principles of science. We are just as likely to be introverted as extroverted, united under the common goal of cultivating a more powerful and fulfilled self. Our purpose for training is improving quality of life itself.
We have experienced that clean living improves our quality of life, and we are dismayed that so many of our neighbors seek happiness in ways that are harmful to themselves, and sometimes harmful to their loved ones. There is no place in our lives for any type of recreational drug use or heavy drinking. It is absolutely contrary to our training.
We offer this program at the Gilpin Community Center because we have experienced the benefits in our lives, and we want to help our friends and neighbors experience these benefits in their own lives. The journey to Black Belt is a life changing and life improving experience, no matter your age.
For a deeper dive into Altitude Martial Arts leadership as individuals, check out our Bios: Steve Schwettman Betsy Schwettman
Benefits of Martial Arts Training
Self-Defense
“Begin by learning how to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations before they start.
Then, you’ll learn releases to escape common grabs and restraints.
As you advance, you will be able to take control of an attacker through compliance techniques.
Finally, we’ll apply techniques you’ve already learned in new ways to defend against weapon attacks.”
Fitness
“Exercise doesn’t have to be boring! Build and maintain a healthy lifestyle that focuses on flexibility, balance, and whole-body lean muscle development. You don’t need to be in great shape to start, but we will get you there! We also make modifications for those with restrictions.
Our creed is to cultivate a more powerful and fulfilled self. Our purpose for training is improving quality of life itself.”
Character Development
“Kids and teens learn our Eight Key Values which build courage, focus, and self-confidence. Our process hones leadership skills and always stresses respect for others.
All while learning cool moves!”