The Minnesota Taekwondo Center
The Minnesota Taekwondo Center is one of the oldest martial arts centers in Minnesota. Since 1977, the Center has been helping men, women and children discover more about themselves and their potential.

The Minnesota TKD Center is committed to helping each member find balance in their lives and in their bodies through teaching modern and traditional Taekwondo and related martial arts in accordance with proven scientific principles.

Why Study a Martial Art?
Martial arts are not for everybody, though anybody can do them. They are not esoteric, magical or brutal. In the highest sense, the practice of a martial art consistently over time is about self discovery, about knowing who and what you are in this vast place - here and now - on the earth and in the universe. It is an activity developed historically to unify the body, mind and spirit.

There are many practical less lofty reasons to study a martial art. Learn self- defense, get in shape, become more flexible, sweat, meet new people, and have fun. But even on an everyday level, the value of integrating your mind and body, of uniting special attitudes like respect, discipline, perseverance and responsibility with physical movements and high level attentiveness in a very structured environment relieves stress and helps you get your act together.

The martial art you practice should be compatible with your body, and you should stick with it long enough to realize its benefits. Since the real benefits from martial arts training are long term, it isn't a quick, impulsive thing to do.

As in any situation where learning is critical, a good teacher, whose personal development transcends physical techniques, is essential. Recognize that the serious practice of a martial art is about self knowledge, managing fear and anger, and finding inner strength.

This results in the confidence and greater ability in coping with uncertainties that so many accomplished martial artists possess.

Why Study Taekwondo?
Like other classic martial arts, taekwondo stresses proper attitudes and the balance between mind and body. Taekwondo is the way of hand and foot fighting for self defense. It originated in Korea, but is now practiced in enough countries (over 120) that it has become a world martial art derived from Korea, as opposed to a Korean martial art. It is also scheduled to become a full medal sport in the 2000 Olympic Games.

It is distinguishable from other "empty hand" martial arts by its extensive use of the legs for kicking. This makes it a superb conditioning art and great cross- trainer. You will get in great physical condition, become much more flexible, and be capable of fast and balanced striking movements with your hands and feet.

Taekwondo stresses the art (or way) of a classic martial art. It offers the rigorous demonstrable results of a science and the physical and mental training of a top athlete, tailored to your specific starting condition and goals.

Why Join the Minnesota Taekwondo Center?
Taekwondo is entering a period of great change. Its position as an Olympic Game has made its emphasis on sport deeply disturbing to those who fear the art will be lost in the competitive battle for Olympic stature.

While its roots are old, the unification of many of the Korean unarmed martial arts under one name is as recent as 1955. As a result, most of the older taekwondo instructors are caught in the apparent conflict between the art and the sport that results from the Olympic sanction and their need to make a living from teaching the art. Only a few schools are fully integrating modern science with traditional martial arts philosophies in order to truly offer taekwondo as the martial art and sport of the 21st Century that it is destined to be.

At the Minnesota Taekwondo Center we strive to create an atmosphere of friendship and family with respect, discipline and humor. We are particularly proud of our cross cultural approach as represented by members from many diverse backgrounds. Here you will meet families, children, students and teachers with roots in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Korea, the Phillipines, Scandinavia, Ireland, Germany, Africa, and rural Minnesota.

The instructors of the Minnesota Taekwondo Center are leaders in their ability to work with diversity - including "at risk" youth, the older athlete, the competitive young person and those who seek deeper meaning without the cult-like adherence to Master/student protocol - the Minnesota Taekwondo Center is unique.

Check us out - carefully -and discover for yourself what sets us apart from most of the other taekwondo schools.

Attitudes Stressed
The attitudes we stress are respect, self-discipline, balance, integrity, and responsibility. We define these attitudes as follows:

1. Respect. For your self, for all others, and for the rights of others. Respect is based on a deep reverence for life, expressed through care and consideration. It requires that you know the limits beyond which your freedom encroaches on the freedom of others.

2. Self discipline. It has two important components:
a) making yourself do something (self motivation)and staying on track (persevere) and
b) controlling your behavior and your thoughts.

3. Balance. The ability to be able to maintain equilibrium in the face of extremes.

4. Integrity. Wholeness, soundness, honesty; pure in motive, direct in action.

5. Responsibility. For yourself and to your commitments.

Elements of Taekwondo Practice

Basic techniques. Our basics are derived from song moo kwan, ji do kwan and chung do kwan.

Poomse or forms (patterns of motion).

Self defense. We teach both mental and physical techniques.

Sparring. For fun and for competition using World Taekwondo Federation (WTF).

Breaking. Emphasizing inner states of confidence, visualization and letting go, together with technical abilities for accuracy, focus, speed (timing) and follow-through (penetration).

Stretching. Becoming more flexible, safely, at any age.

Breathing. Central to centering, generating ki and improved health.

Meditation. Learning mindfulness and endless moment-by-moment awareness in the vipassana style.

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©2002-2008 Minnesota Taekwondo Center, Arden Hills, Minnesota.