In Nae Taekwon-Do, Northern Colorado

Why we have standards rather than contracts: If you weaken the standard to accommodate incompetence, you weaken the culture and the art.

Had a rank test. Here are a few pictures of our high blue belts testing for red. They did very well!

Taken from:

When people talk about earning a Black Belt, they often imagine it as the final destination — the moment you’ve reached the top of the mountain. But after decades in Taekwondo, I’ve learned that gaining a Black Belt is far more like earning a degree than reaching an ending.

Think about your time at university.
You study for years. You struggle, you grow, you push through challenges. Then one day, you walk across the stage in your black gown and receive your degree at the commencement ceremony.

But here’s the part most people forget:
The word commencement doesn’t mean “ending.” It means “beginning.”

That ceremony marks the moment you step into the next phase of your life — where the real learning begins.

A Black Belt is exactly the same.

When that belt is tied around your waist, it doesn’t say, “You’ve mastered everything.” It says, “You now have a strong understanding of the basics. You’re ready for what comes next.”

In Taekwondo, the Korean term for first‑degree Black Belt — Il Dan — literally means “first step.” Not final step. Not highest step. First.

From that moment on, your training becomes less about techniques and more about embodying the principles behind them.
Humility.
Grace.
Discipline.
Respect.
Courage.

Anyone can learn to kick, punch, block, or perform poomsae. But living the art — carrying its values into every part of your life — that is the true journey of a Black Belt.

So when you earn yours, remember this:
You’re not finishing anything. You’re commencing something far greater.

Your next step begins the moment you tie that belt.

GM Hudson

In September 2025, we added 2 online students to our classes. Life happens and students move, get different jobs, but still love TKD... We are hoping to transition one of our in-person students to our online classes. And we are ready. We cleared out most of the family room in the basement to make our official In Nae TKD Online dojang. We love watching In Nae and our students grow. It is so fulfilling! ❤️🥋❤️🥋

Wishing you a very Happy Easter!

Our Butter Braid Fundraiser was a huge success! 270 items sold! 😲😁 Thank you to all of you that supported us!

It is not often we get to hand out rank in person to our students in Texas, but we got to this time! Congratulations on your new rank Mr. and Mrs. Knighton!

🤣

Taken from Ipswich Karate (modified with TKD terms, instead of Karate terms)

Let’s be honest...promoting someone who hasn’t earned it teaches them nothing.

No Instructor or Master enjoys telling a student they’re not ready for a belt exam. But a real teacher stands firm. If they don’t, they’re not teaching value. They’re just selling rank.

In a culture of participation awards, many people think showing up and going through the motions is enough. It’s not. That is not how martial arts training works.

We teach the standards. We drill the material. You go home, study, practice, and return ready to prove you’ve mastered it. Only then should promotion even be considered. Otherwise, we are failing to teach how achievement actually works.

There are no participation trophies in a good martial arts school. We push students to become better than they were yesterday. An Instructor or Master must clearly define expectations and stand firm on them. If we don’t, we fail to instill one of the most important traits martial arts builds: indomitable spirit.

That spirit is what carries students to heights they never imagined...both in their Martial Art and in life outside the dojang.

It’s easy to spot someone who was handed a black belt instead of earning it. The fundamentals aren’t there. What’s tragic is that many of those students might have truly earned it under proper standards...and been GREAT had they had a good Instructor or Master.

If you’re afraid to tell a student they’re not ready, you’re not helping them. Promotion should come only after the work has been done, the standards met, and the skills proven.

Anything less is catering to comfort instead of building character.

That’s how I see it.

Today we had our fifth annual Cupid's Quarrel tournament. The turnout was great! Much fun was had! Many medals were won! We had 64 participants!!
We are so proud of how our students performed!
We are so thankful for the support from Master Karen Kramer, all the Hansen's, and all our Aurora TKD friends, as well as Silva's Freestyle Taekwon-Do, and Integrity Martial Arts!
Thank you for spending your Valentine's Day at our Loveland Tournament.