Martial arts have such a wide range of benefits, from increased physical strength to enhanced focus. The pros of learning these crafts are apparent for all ages and genders. However, an increasing number of women are racking up their belts and pursuing what used to be a male-dominated sport. The Hairpin interviewed Denise Williams, the former head […]

From autismspeaks.org The American Taekwondo Association (ATA) is proud to offer martial arts training specifically for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) at over 1,000 independently owned and operated licensed locations in the U.S. and abroad. Certified instructors in the ATA already have been successful working with kids with ASD and other special needs for […]

Since more than one-third of children and adolescents in the U.S. are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s always inspiring when a young person take steps to get healthier. That’s exactly what Irving Candelaria Jr., a 12-year-old from Northlake, Illinois, did. Since enrolling in karate classes at WhirlWin Martial Arts in […]

With testings happening all week, please note the following schedule: Wednesday, October 12 Tiger Cubbies 4:30-5:00 ATA Tiger Testing 5:00 Thursday, October 13 White-Yellow Belt class 4:30-5:15 Camo-Red 5:15-6:00 White-Yellow Testing 6:30-7:15 Black belt class 7:30-8:30 Friday, October 14 ATA Tiger Class 4:30-5:00 Camo-Black Belt Testing 6:00 Central Baptist Church

Physical insecurities aren’t the only things that contribute to low self-esteem, though. Many people feel as if they aren’t successful or powerful enough in their lives, contributing to their negative self-image. Martial arts also addresses this concern. While martial arts competitions do exist, the practice itself isn’t necessarily competitive. It’s meant to be a learning […]

Martial arts is a fantastic workout. It’s exciting and challenging, allowing you to push your body to new limits every day. Practicing martial arts gets you very in-tune with your body, and you learn to appreciate all that it does for you. Before joining martial arts classes, people may be self-conscious about their clumsiness. However, […]

The final pillar of self-esteem is one that many people struggle with – forgiveness.  It is much easier to hold onto a hurt than it is to let go.  Humility teaches us to think less of ourselves and more of other people. Therefore, forgiving someone shows that you have the ability to put the needs […]

Humility is something that all martial artists must learn on their journey to succeed at becoming a black belt. We learn very quickly that you cannot be the best 100% of the time.  There will be days where you will drop a weapon, miss the target, lose a sparring match, or even no-change at a […]

Having a higher level of self-esteems allows a person to see more of the world around them instead of focusing so much on self.  Like we spoke of with gratitude, being thankful for what we have allows us to see more of what others need.  This leads to an outbreak of generosity.  Generosity shows that […]