Martial Arts skills, techniques, and principles for your daily life

First there is God and then family. These are the two most important things in my life. The third is Martial Arts. These three values of life are how I function. I have learned so many life skills through the Martial Arts. It has given me the confidence to do so many things. Before the Martial Arts I had no confidence. I have learned humility and being humble which are needed in ones day-to-day life. I have adapted the mindset, when something appears to be impossible; impossible is just an appearance itself. Negativity is all around us. Martial Arts is a shield for negative situations. Even through the roughest times. My instinct for never ending improvement helps me become a better father, husband, son, and employee in life. Maintenance for a vehicle is needed to maintain a long existence. Just like Martial Arts is for ones body, mind, and spirit.

Hello my name is Thomas. Working out was something that I always wanted to do, but like so many other distractions I put this on the bottom of my list. Two months ago, my buddy started to have some health problems. His doctor recommended working out. Like most friends he asked me to work out with him. At first we both thought it would be fun and something we could just get in and out. To my surprise, it was the best thing I ever did. Not only did my energy go up, his health problems seemed to be getting better. They way I thought about things changed; I always notice an opportunity in everything. I see things in a positive way, my attitude towards life changed. My friends health issues disappeared with time. We enjoyed it so much, that I’m mad it took me so long.

When I first came to the Academy of Tae Kwon Do I was a little skeptical about whether or not I belonged here. I saw the advanced students and wondered if I would ever be able to do the things they are doing. I was out of shape and unfocused on my physical fitness. Well after a year and a half I feel totally different! I feel more focused, a great deal calmer, and I am getting in great shape, mind, and body! I feel such a sense of pride in being a student at the Academy of tae Kwon Do. Master Littlejohn has shown my wife and me a fresh new outlook on life through martial arts. He teaches us that martial arts isn’t a means to hurt someone but a path to peaceful resolutions through being prepared for anything. I am proud to say I am a student at the Academy of Tae Kwon Do and will be for a very long time. The study of martial isn’t a hobby it’s a way of life and I am lucky to have Mr. Littlejohn as my teacher.

Michael has improved in the areas of responsibility and self-confidence. We do not have to remind him as often concerning homework, chores, etc. We credit his experience at the Academy of Tae Kwon Do with him being able to compose a memorial speech which he read at his grandfathers funeral mass. We have received numerous compliments about him looking out for the younger children and befriending those who are ‘different’. We are very proud of the person Michael is becoming.

Adam’s level of self-confidence has grown a lot. He has become a leader – not a follower. He shows respect to his family and teachers. Everyone remarks what a nice boy he is. He takes great pride in receiving good grades and works hard in school

Renee has more self confidence and discipline. She joins right in and helps with activities, like the Academy of Tae Kwon Do cookouts. Her training has helped her to perform comfortably in public as can be seen by her participation in school events, caroling at Carriage Inn, swim team, Girl Scouts, and church activities. She has gained the discipline needed to practice for her activities and put school work before play. Her manners have improved. She is polite and she shows respect to others. She assists with younger children at school. I believe her training has helped Renee in many ways.

Jordan has been attending the Academy of Tae Kwon Do for several years. I truly believe starting at such a young age has been to his advantage. Since being in the Masters Club – the work is harder the physical conditioning is intense and the entire class is challenged to be their best. Jordan loves the weapons training experience! We have noticed that this is the same level that Jordan now expects from himself in many other aspects of his life. (ie. Grades, sports accomplishments, type of friends he chooses to have) This commitment is teaching him self-control, dedication, respect for himself, family and friends and a drive to work hard. Not to forget the excellent defense skills. This has shown through in his behavior at home, by his teachers at school and the personal interests he has pursued.

Nick has been training so long that I don’t know how he would be if he weren’t. I think you have a nice program going and so does Nick. He enjoys coming out and I think he is making real progress. He studies hard and makes good grades. He tries his best at whatever he is doing.

I started working out at the Academy of Tae Kwon Do in the fall of 1996 and with positive encouragement, determination and hard work I received my black belt in 2000. A few of my co-workers encouraged me to start studying Tae Kwon Do. I originally just wanted to get some exercise, learn self-defense, and relieve some stress. Attending class has become a habit. Whenever I get too busy at work and miss a class or two, my students remind me that I need to get back to the TKD studio. I guess it is a better stress reliever than I thought.I have gained so much in the last 8 yrs with the TKD team. I am much more confident and I am positive that I could defend myself if I needed too. I am also much stronger both physically and mentally. I am so blessed to have met the Littlejohn family and to be able to work out with such an amazing TKD family here at the Academy of Tae Kwon Do. The positive atmosphere, loving people and friends that I have made here, have truly changed my life!

Martial arts, for me, have been and are still a quest for many things. I hope to better myself in several different dimensions but mainly physically and mentally. Briefly, I’d like to outline what I have personally gained through my pursuit of martial arts. First of all I’d like to talk about my physical gains. I, of course, have improved in the stereotypical ways. I have gotten in much better physical condition and through hard work I hope to maintain these gains and to improve on them in the future. I have gained the confidence to believe that I can now defend myself in a conflict if necessary but have also learned to make sure that these skills won’t be needed. In fact, I’m just more confident in myself physically which leads to most situations being much less stressful. As you can see, these three concepts: physical improvement, confidence, and stress relief are all interrelated. Most important to me have been my mental gains. I have noticed a great increase in my confidence in dealing with people. This has translated into a much-improved atmosphere for me at my workplace and has reduced my stress load immensely. The greatest ideal I have taken from the martial arts is “Black Belt Attitude”. Mr. Littlejohn once told me “You are a blackbelt, you can do anything”. This simple idea came into play in a big way for me on a scuba trip. I was diving in about eighty feet of water and got immersed in the air bubbles of a diver below me. As I began to panic and to rise with the bubbles (a very dangerous thing to do) I remembered those words and regained my composure and swam sideways out of the bubbles and out of danger. From that time on I have thought of those words often and have used them to keep my head in situations where I would have previously lost it. In conclusion I would like to point out the fact that no matter if I was talking of physical or mental gains the same themes kept emerging. Martial arts improve your confidence and your ability to deal with whate

About nine months ago, after a conversation with Mr. Littlejohn (in which I must have asked too many questions about martial arts) I was invited by Mr. Littlejohn to stop by the Academy to see if I might have an Interest in leaning about the martial arts. After two introductory classes I enrolled in the Academy's basic program. Since joining, many positive things have happened in my life. My self-respect has improved dramatically as well as my respect for other people. I have increased my self-discipline as well as my self-motivation. I have learned to be aware of what is going on around me and also numerous forms of self-defense. I've even lost a few pounds. So far my whole experience has been positive. After each class I feel refreshed and eager to return. In closing, I would like to thank all of the people associated with the Academy, from the instructors to my fellow classmates. I have enjoyed our time together.

I have always been one to try new things, to test myself and remain open-minded to new activities. I am a person who is naturally active and enjoys different sports and staying physically fit. At times in life, challenges arise, challenges which test your determination, belief in yourself and others. They are challenges which ultimately push you to become a better and stronger person. In the last year and a half, Tae Kwon Do has become an intricate part of my life. It has helped boost my self-confidence, cultivated me into being a more alert person, one not ready to get into a fight, but to conduct myself in such a way to avoid confrontation but ready should I need to defend myself. The training is more than that though. The training has helped create an even stronger bond in my marriage, Gary and I enjoy training together and learning from each other. I have created friendships with others who train and have developed a great respect for my instructor. I do come to class each night with my cup empty, ready for it to be filled with information and to be taught all I can receive. This training, I see, is beneficial for anyone, young and old. I appreciate the experience and look forward to months, years and classes to come.