“In the short amount of time my son has been going here he has gained confidence, is doing better in school and is learning many new skills.”
-Keek M – “In the short amount of time my son has been going here he has gained confidence, is doing better in school and is learning many new skills.”
"I wish for little brother to be healthy and happy."
-Mark S -"I wish for little brother to be healthy and happy."
“I love Teakwondo. It taught my daughter a lot of things, and I love the fact that she has the best teacher, Master Woo. He is great with all the kids. And you can see he really loves his job.”
-Christina B –“I love Teakwondo. It taught my daughter a lot of things, and I love the fact that she has the best teacher, Master Woo. He is great with all the kids. And you can see he really loves his job.”
“Master Woo! You are hundreds of miles away and she still looks up to you. For that I am grateful for you. You have made her life so much better by bringing her the love of discipline and self-defense you are awesome!”
-Amanda H – “Master Woo! You are hundreds of miles away and she still looks up to you. For that I am grateful for you. You have made her life so much better by bringing her the love of discipline and self-defense you are awesome!”
"Everyone that has helped me in this journey!"
-Bill M -"Everyone that has helped me in this journey!"
"Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher, mentor and person to our kids."
- Kayla A -"Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher, mentor and person to our kids."
"We have so many wonderful memories of you."
-Marie E -"We have so many wonderful memories of you."
"They all have one huge in common that is how crazy they are about you!
-Nikki F -"They all have one huge in common that is how crazy they are about you!
"Five and a half years ago at the playground Keegan spotted a bunch of kids from a taekwondo summer camp. Curious as ever, he went over and talked to them and thus began our journey with taekwondo. Our family has been changed in countless positive ways by taekwondo. Most of the friends we've made after we moved were made through our involvement with taekwondo and now they're like family. My kids have learned lessons in perseverance, self-control, respect, kindness, hard work and resilience."
-Katrina D -"Five and a half years ago at the playground Keegan spotted a bunch of kids from a taekwondo summer camp. Curious as ever, he went over and talked to them and thus began our journey with taekwondo. Our family has been changed in countless positive ways by taekwondo. Most of the friends we've made after we moved were made through our involvement with taekwondo and now they're like family. My kids have learned lessons in perseverance, self-control, respect, kindness, hard work and resilience."
In every class and belt test, we try to give our students the opportunity to experience small successes. When they successfully perform a new kick, count loudly in Korean, or complete a form for the first time, we sincerely encourage them. These small achievements plant the seeds of confidence.
However, in Taekwondo training, success is not the only important thing. Sometimes small failures are also an essential part of a child’s growth. During this week’s belt test, one student attempted board breaking but was unable to break the board. In that moment, the student felt embarrassed and emotional. The top of the foot also seemed to hurt, and the student began to cry and could not finish the test at that moment.
Watching this was difficult, but at the same time I realized that this was a very important moment in the child’s growth. We cannot allow children to experience only success. And honestly, we should not try to. Life does not always go the way we want.
Sometimes students do not get the score they hoped for on a test.
Sometimes friendships become difficult.
Sometimes we work very hard and still do not get the result we expected.
What children need is not only success, but the strength to face failure.
Taekwondo training is not just about kicks and forms.
It is about building a strong mind. Experiencing a small failure, trying again, and slowly overcoming the challenge. These experiences become a kind of vaccine for the heart. A vaccine is not meant to harm the body. It prepares the body to overcome bigger illnesses. In the same way, small failures build mental resilience in children.
Later in life, when they face bigger challenges, they will not collapse easily. Today, we sometimes try to give children success too quickly. We try to protect them from embarrassment, failure, or disappointment.
But children grow through failure.
A child who has fallen learns how to stand up again.
A child who has failed learns how to try again.
A child who has cried learns how to smile again.
After the belt test ended, the student who had cried earlier came back, gathered courage, and finished the board breaking. Seeing the student return and face the challenge again made me very proud.
We do not want our students to become people who only succeed. We want them to become people who stand up again after they fall. That is one of the most important lessons Taekwondo can teach. At our dojang, training is a journey of building confidence through small successes and strengthening the mind through small failures.
Through this process, our students slowly grow into stronger individuals. I hope our students continue to challenge themselves, face difficulties with courage, and grow into people who are not afraid of failure.
I will always support them on that journey 🥋
Lion Martial Arts Taekwondo